Colts Football Season Ends at East Islip

In an up and down, roller coaster year, it was only fitting that the Hills West football season came down to one more wild ride. That ride stopped short, as it turned out, as the Colts were eliminated from the Division II playoffs by East Islip, 27-24 on Saturday.

All East Islip had to do was get a first down, and they could run the clock out. Redmen RB Tyler Rigo did just that, but fumbled as Colts LB Jaquese Jones came away with the ball. Miraculously, was alive, taking over on its own 32 with 1:30 left to play. Unfortunately there would be no final drive, as Jake Klose's pass was picked off by Rigo on the Colts' first play, making up for his miscue and sending Hills West home for the winter.

"It was [our] season in a nutshell, that epitomizes our season," West coach Kyle Madden said. "Last second games, emotional games, roller coaster games."

Preceding the wild finish was a wild start for the Colts, as Klose hit Devante McFarlane on a 64-yard TD pass on the second play from scrimmage. Next drive, same result on the very first play as Klose found Deven Williams for 70 yards, and a 14-0 first quarter lead.

The Redmen settled down as QB Pete Hanabergh found Joe Modica on a screen pass on fourth down, 30 yards to the 5. Rigo scored from one yard out to make it 14-7.

On the Redmen's next drive, Hanabergh was picked off by Jessean Banks. Or so it seemed, as the officials ruled that the receiver tied up with Banks had possession, and it became an East Islip first down, in front of a furious West bench.

The Redmen took advantage of the call and drove down the field, with Hanabergh scoring from 13 yards out. East Islip missed the point after, and West responded, driving down the field in less than a minute. William Holmquist hit a 35-yard field goal to make it 17-13 at the half.

East Islip opened the scoring in the second half as Rigo's six-yard TD run capped off an 80 yard drive. West came right back down the field and decided to go for it on fourth down from the five. Klose looked for Williams in the endzone, and the pass was deflected into the hands of McFarlane for the improbable score and a 24-20 Colts lead.

The roller coaster was at full speed now, as the Redmen took two minutes to respond, with Hanabergh scoring from seven yards out. 27-24 East Islip, setting up the wild final quarter.

Fourth and goal from the five. Again the Colts went for it, but Klose's pass to Jagger Rebozo was broken up in the endzone. The Colts defense held, and on 4th and 9, Klose found Banks for 12 yards. Moments later, another fourth down, but Klose's pass to Williams fell incomplete.

As East Islip tried to run out the clock, it appeared again as if the Colts picked off Hanabergh, but the officials called interference, and the Redmen kept the ball. The two non-interceptions would be key, and Coach Madden didn't hide his feelings.

"The officials were awful, you can print that, they were awful," he said.

Then came the Rigo fumble and hope was alive, until the final game clinching interception seconds later.

"Things happen this way and you can't really take things back, if I could I would, but that's just how it goes," McFarlane said as his stellar Colts career ended in heartbreaking fashion.

The Colts finished at 4-5, and Madden said he's proud of his team, and the people they've become.

"I spoke a lot about character, I think that's something you have for your lifetime," Madden said. "Today their true character came out and I hope that carries on for their life."