Colts and Bulldogs Battle Each Other, and Weather

The much-anticipated contest between Division II favorite North Babylon and third-ranked Half Hollow Hills West lived up to the hype. With one exception: there was no winner. At least not yet.

With just 4:50 remaining in the game, play was suspended due to lightning, with the Bulldogs leading the Colts 35-21 in a game played Thursday afternoon.

Early in the game, Colts quarterback Chris Busuttil was sacked and fumbled, and North Babylon recovered the ball on the Hills West 9-yard line. Two plays later, Adam Amin ran it in from five yards out and the Bulldogs had an early 7-0 lead, which is how the first quarter ended.

After Hills West went three-and-out on their first possession of the second quarter, North Babylon marched down the field and appeared to score their second touchdown when Preshod McCoy went outside and scampered in from four yards away. But the play was called back due to a holding penalty and the Bulldogs came away empty. Hills West took advantage of the opportunity.

Busuttil connected with Devante McFarlane on a 32-yard strike, and followed that up with a 24-yard completion to Dan McCord, setting up a first-and-10 from the Bulldog 13. Busuttil then hit McCord for a 12-yard touchdown and Kevin Stanis' extra point tied the game at 7-7. It appeared the first half would end tied, but North Babylon quarterback Brian Kennedy completed his only pass attempt of the day to McCoy and the Colts entered the locker room at half down 13-7.

While the first half saw both teams move the ball somewhat methodically, the second half was highlighted by numerous long gainers, as North Babylon went exclusively to the run, while Hills West virtually abandoned the running game in favor of the pass.

The Bulldogs stretched their lead to 19-7, early in the third quarter on a 20-yard run by McCoy. The Colts answered back with a big play of their own: a 50-yard bomb from Busuttil to McFarlane, pulling the Colts to within five, 19-14. But their defense was beginning to show signs of fatigue, and North Babylon again marched down the field, exclusively on the running of Amin and McCoy, who scored on a short run. TQ Grant ran in a two-point conversion, giving the Bulldogs a 27-14 lead with 3:27 left in the third.

 In the fourth quarter, McCoy once again ran off right tackle for a touchdown, this time going 19 yards. Amin scored the 2-point conversion and the Colts were down 35-14. But once again, a big play made the game a bit closer, as Busuttil and McCord hooked up again, this time a 43-yard catch and run, pulling the Colts to within 14, 35-21 with 6:48 left.

Then the lightning came. And here we are. Still in anticipation of an outcome between two highly regarded teams.

1 2 3 4 F

Hills West 0 7 7 7

N. Babylon 7 6 14 8

Editor's Note: Final score: N. Babylon 35, Hills West 21.