Phantoms Look to Repeat 2009 History Against Babylon

Bayport-Blue Point football fans are hoping for a replay against Babylon—but not a repeat of their most recent game against the Panthers.

While the second-seed Phantoms prepare for Saturday’s Division IV semifinal against three-seed Babylon, they will remember their 45-21 drubbing at the hands of the Panthers back on October 15. But that’s not the game Phantoms coach Eric Iberger hopes his players are replaying in their minds. Rather, it’s the memories of last season’s 26-19 first-round playoff win against Babylon—that followed the Panthers’ 28-7 regular-season win—the coach hopes provides a motivational advantage for his team this week. (Bayport hosts Babylon, at 1 p.m.)            

“Our players are certainly aware of that,” Iberger said. “We’re experienced. They remember from last year. It’s not like they have to buy into my stories.”       

Four weeks ago, Rick Punzone’s Panthers took advantage of Bayport turnovers to jump out to a 28-7 lead. Running back Trevor Fudim scored four touchdowns, rolling up 140 yards on 28 carries. Punzone doesn’t plan to change Fudim’s workload come Saturday.

“We’re a run team. We live and die by the run and Trevor’s the guy in a close game that we give the ball to," Punzone said.             

Fudim, who is averaging better than 7-yards-per-carry, welcomes the challenge, but doesn’t think Saturday’s outcome will be decided by the offense. “We put up 45 points in the last game, but I think this game will be won on defense,” Fudim said.   

Babylon—Suffolk County champions in six of the past nine years—has had only one losing season over the past 35 years. They are used to going deep into the playoffs. So last year’s loss to Bayport is fresh on the minds of Panthers players.

“We remember being around for that loss, and seeing our seniors’ play their last game,” senior wide receiver/safety Stephen Loudon said. “We don’t want to end our careers against [Bayport].”            

Loudon had two receptions in the win against Bayport, gaining 92 yards and scoring one touchdown in a run-oriented offense. But it’s his play on defense that will be key, as the 6-foot-3 inch, 210-pound safety should see a lot of time matching up against 6-foot-4, 205-pound Phantom tight end Gary Farley. A two-time All County player, Loudon is described by Punzone as the type of player that “teams have to game plan against.”            

When Iberger’s defense lines up against Loudon, quarterback Sam Zamet and the Babylon offense, they will be without two starters. Defensive back Ian Bateman (elbow) and linebacker Zach Flood (knee) are both out with injuries sustained in the Phantom’s win against Port Jefferson. “We’ll see this week who’ll take their spots,” Iberger said.            

While two defensive holes will need to be plugged, a question mark Bayport fans had going into last week’s game was answered in the running of Ryan McCoy. The senior back missed one game and played sparingly in the regular-season finale due to a rib injury. But last week, McCoy rushed for 116 yards and scored two touchdowns in Bayport’s 51-12 win against Port Jefferson.            

“He ran the ball well and got progressively better,” Iberger said. “More importantly, he played a huge game for us defensively.”            

While Iberger considers his personnel options on defense, Bateman is confident in his teammates’ ability to pick up the slack. “I know we’re going to get the job done,” Bateman said. “We’re a veteran group.”            

Indeed they are, with 21 seniors on their roster. Coincidently, that’s the same number of seniors Babylon features. So two veteran teams line up against each other for the fourth time in two years. The winner earns a trip to the Division IV finals. The loser goes home, with 21 seniors having played their last high school football game.            

And perhaps a game that they will replay many times in their minds.