Babylon Peaking as Playoffs Kick Off Tonight

Match-up: Shoreham-Wading River (6-2) at Babylon (6-2)

Time/Venue: Friday, Nov. 4, 6 p.m. @ Babylon’s Walt Williams Field

Last Week: Babylon defeated Center Moriches 28 – 7; Shoreham-Wading River lost to Mt. Sinai 34 – 7.

Winners of four straight and five out of their last six, the Babylon Panthers enter Friday night’s opening round playoff game against Shoreham-Wading River with a good deal of momentum. “We’re peaking at the right time,” coach Rick Punzone said, following a spirited practice on Wednesday that included him taking a shot to his chin while playing quarterback against his first-team defense.

Punzone will look for his defense to dish a lot of that on coach Matt Millheiser’s Wildcat offense.

Shoreham-Wading River is certainly improved over last year’s 0-8 team. How much so is yet to be determined. Both teams lost to Elwood: Babylon lost 21 – 7 while Shoreham lost 42 – 13 and the Wildcats’ second loss was to Mt. Sinai last week, 34 – 7, a team the Panthers beat two weeks ago, 16 – 14.

“Once the playoffs start, we don’t look at records,” Punzone said. “We just look at what they’ve got [in personnel].”

For the Wildcats, they’ll look at a Babylon offense that is featuring several weapons.

Quarterback Zach Fredericks will be making his first playoff start as quarterback. Since Punzone called up sophomore quarterback/safety Nick Santorelli following the win at Bayport—a win where Fredericks rushed the ball well but had problems handling the ball—Fredericks’ game has improved. The senior admits that not having to play defense has helped him offensively.

“I’m a lot more comfortable,” he said. “I can focus on offense. When I come to the sideline, I can talk to the coaches about what I’m doing out there.”

“He’s playing a lot better,” Punzone said. “He’s doing a good job securing the ball.”

With an offense featuring running backs Frank Mankiewicz, Grant Shannon (returning to the lineup after an injury) and Nahari Jenkins, the Wildcats will have to play the run strong against Babylon. There’s no surprise in what the Panthers will try and do. But the emergence of sophomores Eric Schweitzer and Jacob Carlock, and the always-reliable Greg Dieterich gives Fredericks plenty of options when the Panthers look to the air.

“Sometimes we can’t get everybody into the game as much as we’d like. There’s only one ball,” Punzone said.

One player who has suffered in the lack of ball-handling opportunities is Jenkins, described by Punzone as “the best athlete on the team.” That may be some consolation for the senior, who understands that whatever is needed this time of year he’s fine with.

“[The playoffs] are an opportunity for us,” the senior running back/linebacker said. “Some teams will fold under the pressure, but it’s our time to shine.”

It’s also the time of year for the inevitable. “It’s the playoffs,” Punzone said, “and we tell the seniors that they may never put a helmet on again.”

Panther fans will hope that Friday night is not that time.