Sports

Bayport-Blue Point shuts down Porters’ offense

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Bayport-Blue Point's Matthew McKinnon, left, and Martin Naro met Greenport/Southold/Mattituck's Joe O'Brien in a violent collision.
GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Bayport-Blue Point’s Matthew McKinnon, left, and Martin Naro met Greenport/Southold/Mattituck’s Joe O’Brien in a violent collision.

PHANTOMS 24, PORTERS 0

A football team’s fortunes can turn just like that. From losing streak to winning streak, back to losing streak.

Greenport/Southold/Mattituck knows only too well. After taking a 13-game losing streak into the season, the Porters won their first five games. They have lost back-to-back games since then.

The latest of those came on Saturday when Bayport-Blue Point’s defense clamped down on the visiting Porters for a 24-0 shutout at Bob Sullivan Field. Matthew McKinnon, a senior, scored 18 of the points from a touchdown reception, a touchdown run (on a 50-yard run off a fake punt), a field goal and three extra points for the Phantoms (5-2 Suffolk County Division IV).

The Porters (5-2), slowed by three turnovers, were held to only 30 rushing yards and 119 yards in offense.

Injuries are a big factor in football, and so they were for the Porters. Porters defensive end Jared Schenone exited the game in the first quarter with what appeared to be a foot injury. One of the team’s first-string linemen, Codey Fisher, watched the game from the sideline in street clothes with a banged knee.

A 67-yard run by George Ringer (14 carries, 111 yards) on the game’s second play from scrimmage set up the first touchdown. Ka’Sean Watlington spun into the end zone from five yards out two plays later for an early Bayport-Blue Point lead.

McKinnon’s 22-yard field goal early in the second half made it 10-0.

The Phantoms scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the second half. Brendan Bateman hooked up with McKinnon for a 14-yard touchdown pass, but it was the next touchdown that had to be especially painful for the Porters. On fourth-and-five from the 50, the Phantoms lined up for a punt. McKinnon received the snap, held the ball for a moment and then dashed untouched down the right side all the way to the end zone. The Porters were fooled badly.

The teams evidently shared some ill will toward each other as tempers flared from time to time. One of the Porters, Will Tondo, was ejected from the game with 8 minutes 15 seconds left to play for throwing a punch.

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