Storm Surge: Hurricanes Score Early and Often in Rout of Islip

Right before the remnants of one hurricane were set to arrive in the area over the weekend, there was a different kind of storm surge under the lights in Westhampton Beach on Friday night.

A few hours before the remainder of Hurricane Ian made for a wet and windy Saturday locally, the Hurricanes football team did its damage early and often in a 34-13 rout of Islip that kept the ’Canes undefeated at 4-0 at the official midway point of the season in Division III.

As of Monday morning, Westhampton Beach was one of three unbeaten teams in the division. Sayville sat in first place with 127.700 power points, with Half Hollow Hills West in second (122.700) and Westhampton Beach in third (120.000).

Islip was 1-2 going into the game, and Westhampton Beach head coach Bryan Schaumloffel said he expected a hard-fought contest against the Buccaneers, a team he described as well-coached with tough kids.

That’s not what happened.

The Hurricanes went up, 14-0, after the first quarter, thanks to a 19-yard touchdown run by Nolan Michalowski, followed by a 21-yard run by Brody Schaffer. Schaffer, a sophomore, had 17 carries for 175 yards and two touchdowns on the night. A 10-yard touchdown reception by Jordyn Brown put Westhampton Beach up, 20-0, after a failed PAT, with roughly two minutes left before halftime, and the Hurricanes inflicted more pain on the visiting team when Gianni Amodemo had a 30-yard pick-six on Islip’s next series to close out the half, putting Westhampton Beach up, 34-0.

After a scoreless third quarter, Islip finally got on the board with a pair of touchdowns, but it was too little, too late, and the Hurricanes were never seriously threatened, thanks to their hot start.

After the game, Schaumloffel admitted that he expected the game to be closer, but he also expressed confidence in his team and in particular where his players are headed as a group.

“We’re getting better every single week,” he said. “And our kids are starting to believe, and they’re doing the right things and working hard in practice. We can be pretty dangerous, and I think we’re still getting better. I don’t think we’ve hit our peak yet.”

It’s a promising development for a team that starts 10 juniors on offense, including quarterback Will Gambino, who completed 8 of 10 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. Aidan McDermott led the defense with seven tackles, while Jordyn Brown, Andrew Mensch and Noah Hebberd each had a sack.

Westhampton Beach will be home for its next two games before finishing the regular season with two road games, and the competition promises to be tough. The Hurricanes will host East Islip (3-1) on Friday night at 6 p.m. before hosting Hills West (4-0) at home at 6 p.m. on October 14. On October 21, the Hurricanes will travel to Sayville (4-0) for a 6 p.m. game and will close the regular season at Rocky Point on October 28 at 7 p.m.