Tigers avenge last season’s playoff loss with a 21-7 victory over West Islip

Tiger dad and on-the-field contributor John Mohlmann is back, covering the varsity boys in their latest game against West Islip.

This past Friday, September 17, the Northport varsity football team ventured out to West Islip to take on the Lions. With last season’s playoff loss fresh in their minds, the Tigers were dubbing this game the “Revenge Bowl.”

I spoke with three of the team’s seniors who were unable to play and/or attend last season’s loss due to being quarantined. I asked them all the same questions – I wanted to know how rough it was to not be able to suit up for the playoff game last year and if they had any extra motivation to win this time around.

“It was really upsetting to not be there,” said Luke Lamendola. “We want to avenge that loss.” Dylan McNaughton, the Swiss Army knife of the team because of his ability to play multiple positions at a high level, was able to attend the game, but was not medically cleared to play. “It was a helpless feeling,” he said.

Running back Jackson Campbell calmly agreed. “I was frustrated watching this game away from the team,” he said. “I missed being on the sideline. Our motivation to win this game is even higher after a big season opening win.” (More on Jackson later.

The Tigers came out roaring to start the game, with quarterback Owen Johansen immediately connecting with receiver Aidan Campbell for a 7-yard gain. On the ensuing play, he zipped a strike right into the waiting hands of Jack Helrigel. The team would commit two untimely penalties and have to settle for no points, though.

After a nice defensive stand, the Tigers got the ball back. When a West Islip defender came down with the ball for an interception, the Lions capitalized on the momentum: a long drive would result in a late first quarter lead of 7-0 for West Islip. With the ball back, the Tigers were looking for a quick score. And they got it. Johansen dropped back, saw JJ Ahlstrand with a step on the cornerback and dropped it right into his hands. JJ made the cornerback miss a tackle and made a beeline to the end zone to tie the game 7-7 near the end of the quarter.

With the second quarter underway and the score knotted up at 7, it was Tim Cleary’s time to shine. He made a huge play on fourth down, thwarting the drive and getting the ball back in Tiger hands. The offense fed off of this play by Cleary – they methodically marched down the field with a mixed attack of running and passing plays. Johansen hooked up with Drew Miller for an 8-yard touchdown pass to put the Tigers up by a score of 14-7 heading into halftime.

The Tiger defensive unit would come up big again to start the third quarter; Cleary made another big play to stall the Lions’ drive. The next two Tiger possessions resulted in turnovers deep in their own territory. Fortunately, the D was up to the task both times: Jackson Campbell came up with a sack and Ryan McEnroe came up with big stops for no gain or losses.

Good teams pick each other up and good players pick themselves up. In reference to his team’s clutch defense, JJ Ahlstrand said: “They gave us a big boost. They motivated us to get another touchdown.” QB Johansen agreed, saying the defensive line “did a fantastic job of picking us up and gave me a lot of confidence. Their plays made me relax.”

The Tigers weathered the third quarter storm of mistakes by playing team-first football with a no finger pointing, pick each other up mentality. With the ball back early in the fourth quarter and a third-and-8 situation, Johansen put another pass in the arms of JJ for a 30-yard gain.

The team’s offensive line and Jackson Campbell took it from there. Johansen kept feeding Campbell the ball as he ran off big chunks of yardage at a time. This scoring drive was capped off by Campbell when he stormed into the endzone from four yards out, wearing down the Lions D play after play.

The scoring would end there and the Tigers had themselves a beautiful 21–7 road victory against a well-coached Lions team, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Lions in the process.

The next Tigers game is Saturday, September 25 versus the Huntington Blue Devils. Come out to the field for homecoming and get a taste of great football and halftime entertainment from one of the best marching bands around.