Bonackers bow out with stellar second half

Recommend

Comment

Email this article

Print this article

Get news alerts

RSS Feeds

Share Digg Mixx Linked In Facebook Twitter Delicious

see all images

The East Hampton football team walked a fine line between greatness and mediocrity this season, but on Saturday the balancing act lasted one half too long.

The Bonackers came out flat on the road against second-ranked Sayville in the quarterfinal round of the Division III playoffs, and fell behind, 17-0, to the Golden Flashes by halftime. A remarkable second-half effort fell short, and the Bonackers’ best season in recent memory ended with a 17-6 defeat.

“It was tough getting into a rhythm in the first half offensively, and really that has been the story of the season,” head coach Bill Barbour Jr. said. “It was a tough game, but I’m proud of the guys and the way they played in the second half.”

East Hampton tallied just 12 total yards through the first two quarters, and failed to gain a single first down as Sayville, a proven playoff success, pounced on early opportunities to score. The Golden Flashes advanced to the semifinal round to play Hauppauge.

Top-ranked Half Hollow Hill West trounced Eastport South Manor on Saturday, and advanced to the second division semifinal to play Kings Park.

The Bonackers opened the 2009 season against Eastport South Manor back on September 12 and fell behind by two touchdowns in the opening half, only to rally for a 28-21 win. The team, led by a large and talented senior class, went on to win four of the next five games, some in equally dramatic fashion.

The tide of Saturday’s game, which could easily have flooded in favor of the Golden Flashes, turned toward the Bonackers as the second half began. East Hampton quarterback Austin Heneveld led a 63-yard scoring drive to the start the third quarter and plunged into the end zone from 1 yard on fourth down behind the blocking of center David Hansen and guards Joe Dowling and Dylan Greene.

East Hampton’s defense, which was led all season by senior linebacker Nick Jarboe, fought mightily the rest of the afternoon, and shutout the potent Sayville offense for the final two quarters. Tyler Buckley, who came alive in the second half on both sides of the ball, led East Hampton with 13 tackles, 
while Dowling and Jake Beyer had two sacks apiece. Jarboe finished his 
stellar defensive career with eight tackles.

Offensively, the Bonackers were unable to convert on two late drives in Golden Flashes territory, and also were stalled on an apparent missed call by the referees.

After a miraculous leaping interception by Steven Bahns, East Hampton took over and drove into Sayville territory with just under nine minutes to play. Facing fourth-and-long, Heneveld dropped back and fired what appeared to be a perfect pass to Brenden Mott in the middle of the field. A Sayville defensive back bumped Mott before the ball arrived, but referees told Barbour that both players had been going for the ball.

After the turnover on downs, East Hampton’s offense was kept on the sideline for the final six minutes of the game. Heneveld finished with 119 yards on 12-for-22 passing. Jarboe caught six of those balls for 75 yards.

“With a team like Sayville, you can’t make mistakes,” Barbour said while standing at midfield after the game, seemingly exhausted after having led the Bonackers to the playoffs for the first time in his three-year varsity career. “They’re a good team, and if you’re going to beat them you have to play your best.”

The Bonackers will graduate a stellar senior class in June, including Heneveld, Jarboe, Mott, Buckley, Beyer, Dowling, Rob Aaronson, Jorge Barros, Chris Gamble, Brian Eddy, Dayshawn Boynton, Eric Bartman, Joel Metzger and Freddie Stephens.

Four of East Hampton’s starting offensive linemen, including Dowling, Hansen, Greene and Joe Lupo, will also graduate.

“I’ve coached this group since they were in the eighth grade, and I love them to death,” Barbour said as he walked off the field for the last time of the season, headed home with another long off-season ahead.