Phantoms Crown Royals in Playoff Opener

Capitalizing on two Port Jefferson interceptions less than two minutes apart in the second quarter, the second-ranked Bayport-Blue Point Phantoms easily handled their Division IV opponent on Saturday, defeating the seventh-ranked Royals 58-12. 

The two teams knew each other from week one of the season, when the Phantoms shut out an undermanned Royal squad 48-0. On that afternoon, eight starters were missing from the Port Jefferson lineup, so the one-sided score really could not be used as a barometer for this first-round playoff match up.

"Coming out of the first game, we felt we've gotten stronger, and that they were going to be much more improved," Phantom coach Eric Iberger said.            

It certainly appeared that the Royals were ready to turn the tables on their opponent. On Bayport' first series, quarterback Corey Picone was intercepted by Dan Serignese, setting up Port Jefferson's offense inside the Bayport 36. Serignese, whose main responsibility is quarterback, followed up the interception by connecting with Philip Lanieri on a 9-yard touchdown strike and any thought Bayport fans had of a repeat shutout were erased less than four minutes into the contest.            

Picone made up for his errant throw on the next series, however, avoiding a sack and a big loss and scrambling for 19 yards down to the Port Jefferson 33. Later in the drive, Jack Sheehan burst through the line and ran 15 yards for the score. Ryan McCoy then added the two-point conversion—a lateral from Sheehan who was falling short of the goal line—and Bayport gained the lead, 8-6. The drive featured the running of Sheehan and McCoy, and an 18-yard hookup between Picone and Ian Bateman. On that play, Bateman was injured and was taken by ambulance to the hospital with a suspected dislocated elbow.            

Bayport added to their lead moments later, when Frank Gluchowski intercepted Serignese and returned the ball down to the Royal 6-yard line. On third down, Sheehan went in from four yards out and a Picone-to-Gary Farley two-point conversion upped the Phantom lead to 16-6. But just as quickly as Bayport looked as if it would take command of the game, Serignese and Lanieri hooked up again, this time from 35 yards, and the quarter ended with Bayport holding a slim 16-12 lead.            

"I saw [my coverage] biting on my move," Lanieri said. "Dan threw a perfect ball."    

Midway through the second quarter, Picone rolled right and nearing the sideline, found Steven Russell for a 17-yard gain down to the Royal 29. Sheehan then tallied his third touchdown of the day, running up the middle from the 12 for the score. Picone's quarterback keeper increased the Phantom lead to 24-12. Bayport moved the ball with a mix of passing and runs, most of which resulted in up-the-middle gains. But according to Iberger, the plays were designed to be outside, but developed into inside runs.

"Port Jefferson was lining up outside to take away our sweeps," he said. "Our backs did a nice job turning the play in." Whether by design or circumstance, Bayport's running game was beginning to take a toll on the middle of the Royal's defense.

"It was obvious that physically, our guys were getting worn down," Port Jefferson coach Jim Mimnaugh said.

"Since we were so much stronger, we knew we had them once we got them on their heels," Farley said. If the Bayport offense took control of the game, it was the Phantom defense that would quickly put the game out of reach. On Port Jefferson's next series, Mike DeBlasio returned a Serignese pass 20 yards for a touchdown. Now down 32-12 and abandoning the running game, Serignese was intercepted for the third time, this time by McCoy, who set up his offense at the Royal 16. The senior, who recently returned to full action following an injury, then had runs of nine and seven yards and Bayport finished the half up 38-12.

"We can't have the turnovers," Mimnaugh said. "We played a good first quarter, but we're a young team, making the kind of mistakes young teams make." With only five seniors, the Royals clearly lacked the experience that the Phantoms, with 21 seniors, have. "Their quarterback is young, and just trying to make plays,' Iberger said. "This is what we went through last year."

Royal mistakes continued in the second half, as Bayport pulled away. After Picone's quarterback keeper extended the lead to 44-12, Picone intercepted Serignese. That set up a 53-yard run by McCoy, who ran wide off right tackle and sprinted down the sidelines. A 7-yard run by Joseph Malia in the fourth quarter capped the scoring for Bayport, which sent in its second offensive unit with under a minute left in the third quarter.

Earlier in the week, Iberger talked about the importance of having McCoy back in the lineup, adding another offensive weapon. McCoy finished with 116 yards rushing (63 in the first half) and two touchdowns. "I feel a little rusty," McCoy said. "Our linemen did a great job today. They always make great holes for us."

Backfield mate Sheehan added 70 yards (60 in the first half) to go along with his three touchdowns. Picone finished 7-for-10 for 170 yards. It was the balanced attack Bayport was hoping for, and what Port Jefferson couldn't match up against.            

"We knew they were a young team, but they're improved," Sheehan said of the Royals, adding that when Port Jefferson jumped on top, "We knew we needed to get it in gear."            

That they did.

B-BP's next game is Saturday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. at home against Babylon.