Week 3 Football Preview: Southampton at Babylon

Match-up: Southampton (0-2) at Babylon (1-1)

Time/Venue: Friday, September 23, 4 p.m./Babylon High School's Walt Williams Field

Last Week: Babylon lost to Amityville 24 - 14; Southampton lost to Port Jefferson 47 – 0.

After a hard-fought loss in a key early-season game against number-one-ranked Amityville, Southampton should be just what the doctor ordered for the Babylon Panthers.

“[Southampton] is struggling right now,” Babylon Head Coach Rick Punzone said. “If everything goes right for us, we should be ok.”

Struggling is an understatement, considering Southampton’s first two games: an opening-week 40–6 loss to Shoreham-Wading River, and last week’s 47–0 defeat at the hands of Port Jefferson.

For Babylon, their 24–14 loss at Amityville last Friday was highlighted by two turning points.

Trailing 6–0, Amityville’s Sean Walters was intercepted deep in Babylon territory by Zach Fredericks, the Panther’s starting quarterback, who doubles as safety. After eluding a couple of Amityville tacklers, Fredericks fumbled and Amityville recovered at the Panther 41.  Later, on a third-and-14 at the Babylon 23, Walters’ pass was tipped by Fredericks into the outstretched hands of Willie White, who managed to keep his feet inbounds in the back of the end zone. With just over a minute left in the half, the game was tied.

“You can’t fault [Fredericks] on the fumble,” Punzone said. “He was trying to make a play for us.”

Early in the third quarter, Punzone chose to go for a fourth-and-1 at this own 49. Babylon was stopped, and moments later, Walters scampered 39 yards for a touchdown, putting Amityville ahead for good, 12–6.

“Our plan was not to give them the ball,” Punzone said, reasoning his decision not to punt. “We were doing a good job [on defense] against them. They weren’t marching down the field on us. With Amityville, they’re going to beat you on long plays.”

The defeat should have little, if any, carryover into Friday night’s game. “Kids forget very early,” Punzone said.

Live Tweeting: Can’t get to the game? Patch will be tweeting the score after every quarter. Follow us every day through twitter @ BabylonVPatch.