The Babylon Panthers Varsity Football team owned the field Friday night, sending the Greenport Porters on a long drive home following a 38-0 victory.
The Panthers were able to take a breather only a week after their tough 17-14 victory over rival John Glenn High School, scoring all 38 of their points in the first 9 minutes of the first quarter. Newsday reported the 38 points was a school record for points in a single quarter.
"It was a lot of special teams there," said Babylon Head Coach Rick Punzone, who notched win number 78 for his career. "The kids play well. Greenport played tough against us."
Wide receiver Jake Carlock led the way for the Panthers against the Porters (0-3). The Panthers opened the scoring on an interception by Carlock for 26 yards. A two-point conversion by quarterback Nick Santorelli secured an early 8-0 lead. Babylon's first play on offense a few minutes later produced immediate results as Carlock took the ball 41 yards to the end zone on the punt return, giving Babylon all it would need.
In Babylon's record-setting first quarter, the offense actually only scored twice – the punt return and a 10 yard pass from Santorelli to wide receiver Alec Zamet. The defense picked up much of the credit for the outburst, recording two interception returns for touchdowns, a fumble return and forcing a safety.
The defense also had a big day outside of the scoring – in all recording three sacks and four fumble recoveries.
After the scoring ended, Coach Punzone pulled his starters and gave his bench reserves a long look in over three quarters of time.
"It's gets some of these kids who practiced hard all week some well-earned time on the field," he said.
The win improves Babylon to 3-0, good for first in Suffolk County's Division IV. The Panthers are currently alone atop the division as 2-0 teams Hampton Bays, Mercy, Mount Sinai and Stony Brook play later this weekend.
