Strong Second Half Leads To Another Bonac Football Victory

The East Hampton/Pierson/Bridgehampton/Ross football team defeated host Wyandanch, 35-12, on Saturday afternoon, marking the first time since 2015 that the Bonackers will post a multi-win season.

But they want more, and with what seems to be a potent offensive attack, having scored an average of 35 points per game through the first three contests this season, more success seems well within reach now more so than any other time in recent memory.

“Kids are working hard, definitely seeing a lot of improvement,” head coach Joe McKee said. “We have some talent. We put up, what, 42 points our first week, 28 points against Center Moriches, and then 35 against Wyandanch, so we’ve got some talent, we can get the ball in the end zone. We’ve got to sure-up our defense. We’ve struggled a little bit on defense, especially with outside runs. Otherwise we can put some points up which is nice.”

Saturday’s game was tied, 6-6, late in the first half when the Bonackers scored with just under 30 seconds remaining. Quarterback Charlie Corwin had good time in the pocket to throw a deep pass that teammates Will Darrell and Aryan Chugh both had an opportunity to catch. Chugh came up with the reception, catching the ball in stride and scampered into the end zone, and after a successful run by Finn Byrnes for the two-point conversion, East Hampton took a 14-6 halftime lead.

“I get the credit for it but it’s all the line,” Chugh said of his touchdown. “No pass can happen without the line. Every single one of them did their job, and Charlie was able to make that long throw and that’s all it was.”

It was Byrnes who started to turn the tide for the Bonackers in the second half, recovering a fumble at midfield early in the third quarter, then capping the ensuing drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown. Darrell made a nice diving catch in the end zone to convert the two-point conversion and make it a 22-6 ball game.

Wyandanch responded with a touchdown of its own but Corwin scrambled 60 yards for another Bonac touchdown and he tacked on another in the fourth quarter as well.

“Very, very proud of their second half effort,” McKee said. “It was a one-score game. We got fortunate enough to get a long touchdown pass right before the half, which usually happens to us so it was nice to see on the other end. To come out in the third quarter ... we went right down and scored, and that was pretty much a statement for them. That's all on them. That's them just buckling up and putting our nose down and saying let’s go.”

The players said the early success the team has seen so far this season comes down to one thing — hard work.

“I've been playing since the second grade, these are all of my brothers, I see them as a family, and every day we’re out there pushing the sled, hitting hard. We’re all in this together,” Richie Maio said after the game. “Not one person can win it, the whole team needs to win it.

“It just comes down to practice,” Chugh added. “This team works its ass off every single day and I’ve never seen more dedication from a football team in the four years that I’ve played. It’s amazing to see.”

The Bonackers (2-1 Division IV) will have a much stiffer test this week when they host Babylon (1-2 Division IV) this Saturday, October 2, at 3 p.m., but they’re going into the game feeling pretty good about their chances.

“I think we can play with them,” McKee said. “I’m actually excited to see where we are. That's a great measuring stick for this program.

“We got to work harder,” Maio added. “We got to work hard every day, everyone’s got to be out there early … no slacking off. We need the whole team there and everyone's got to put 100 percent in and it'll pay off on Saturday.”