SPORTS

East Islip defeats Bellport in county playoff game

Jordan Stankovich
Posted 11/14/24

Last week, East Islip hosted Bellport for the first round of the Division II Suffolk County football playoffs.

The defending Long Island champions were looking for a repeat and got the first …

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SPORTS

East Islip defeats Bellport in county playoff game

Posted

Last week, East Islip hosted Bellport for the first round of the Division II Suffolk County football playoffs.

The defending Long Island champions were looking for a repeat and got the first round off in style to defeat Bellport, 35-21, at East Islip High School. It was the No. 8-seeded Clippers (4-4) trekking to Sal Ciampi Field at Boomer Esaison Stadium on 100 Redmen Avenue, in Islip Terrace, to face the mighty undefeated East Islip (8-0) varsity squad.

On the first play from scrimmage, Thomas Costarelli aired it out for a long reception, caught by Jack Kalinowski all the way down to the Bellport 19-yard line.

Two plays later, Costarelli handed the ball off to Ryan Parker, who ran 16 yards for a rushing touchdown and after the ensuing successful PAT (point after touchdown) by Anthony Mariani, it was 7-0 East Islip.

Later in the opening period, Costarelli heaved a 57-yard torpedo that Kalinowski caught at the 19-yard line, then galloped his way into the end zone to give his team a two-possession lead.

Mariani converted another successful PAT, and it was 14-0 with seven and change left in the first quarter. At the conclusion of the first quarter, Bellport got back into the game on a 10-yard rushing touchdown just as time elapsed in the opening frame, and it was 14-6 after 12 minutes of play.

Kalinowski took a handoff from Costarelli and he had a clear open path, which he ran right up the middle for a 9-yard rush for East Islip’s third half-dozen score of the game. Anthony Mariani kicked it through the uprights again and it was 21-6 with 8:27 to go in the second quarter.

Bellport’s quarterback Braydon Cipp handed the ball off for a 2-yard rushing touchdown, then subsequently Cipp found No. 2 Daniel Romero for two points in the back of the end zone for a successful two-point conversion and it was 21-14, with just over three minutes to go till halftime. With 1:21 remaining in the second, Costarelli launched a 45-yard dart that Kalinowski caught at the one-yard line, then dove into the end zone to once again make it a two-possession game.

The score was 28-14 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Costarelli once again used his cannon to find Kalinoski for a 30-yard touchdown toss with 1:15 remaining in the third.

The final score was East Islip 35, Bellport 21. East Islip will host  North Babylon this week for the second round. 

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