Built, Not Given: Huntington Football Makes a Statement in 40-7 Win

Blue Devils Dominate Smithtown East to Improve to 2-1

The Huntington Blue Devils didn't simply beat Smithtown East on Friday night. They made a statement. From the opening whistle, Huntington played with the physicality, discipline and relentless effort that has become the foundation of its 2026 identity. The Blue Devils jumped out to a 27-0 halftime advantage and never let up, rolling to a convincing 40-7 victory over Smithtown East under the lights in what seemed to be the beginning stages of the Nor’easter.

For Huntington, the message this season has been simple:

Built, Not Given… Earn Everything!

And on Friday night, the Blue Devils showed exactly what that means. Huntington improved to 2-1 with a performance that featured a powerful rushing attack, a defense that consistently created pressure and turnovers, and contributions from players throughout the lineup.

“This team is built on earning everything we get,” Head Coach Ron Wilson said. “Nothing is given to us. We have to work for it, we have to compete for it and we have to earn it every Friday and Saturday.”

Huntington's offense set the tone from the start, rushing for an impressive 386 yards on 34 carries and scoring six touchdowns on the ground. Senior Shates Miller was at the lead and signal caller of the offensive attack. Miller carried eight times for 134 yards and two touchdowns while also completing two of three passes for 38 yards. His performance earned him the team's Team MVP award. “I give credit to our coaches for their great play calling and our offensive unit for making great blocks.”

Zayvion McCoy was equally impressive, carrying 11 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns. McCoy's ability to contribute on both sides of the ball was on full display, and his offensive performance earned him the team's Offensive MVP honor. McCoy expressed, “We don’t like when teams choose us for their Homecoming game, so we took it personal.”

Junior Spencer Sturges added five carries for 92 yards, while Shane LeGrow rushed four times for 49 yards and a touchdown. Alex Castro contributed six carries for 26 yards and a touchdown.

The numbers tell only part of the story. Huntington's success on the ground was also fueled by the blocking and physical play up front. Sturges was recognized for outstanding downfield blocking, while Joshua Roman earned the team's “Making Pancakes” award. “For a team built around earning every yard, those contributions matter,” added Coach Wilson.

While the offense was piling up points, Huntington's defense was making life extremely difficult for Smithtown East. The Blue Devils held the home team scoreless through the first three quarters and finished the night with 67 solo tackles, nine tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks, two interceptions, two batted passes, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Edgar Castro led the team with eight tackles, including four tackles for loss, and added an interception. Wesley Previle recorded seven tackles and a tackle for loss, while Blake Bender finished with five tackles and a forced fumble. Zach Matthews contributed five tackles and an interception, and Shane LeGrow added four tackles and two tackles for loss. Ricardo Berry also turned in a disruptive performance with three tackles, a batted pass and a quarterback sack. Berry and Edgar Castro were named Huntington's Defensive MVPs. “Our defense is starting to play together and understand what needs to be done,” said Berry a defensive back. McCoy continued to make his presence felt on defense as well, recording four tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack. Joe Rivers added two tackles while forcing and recovering a fumble. “Our defense's performance reflected another central piece of the Blue Devils' identity: every player has a job, and every job matters,” said Defensive Coordinator, Coach Dareus Smith.

“Built, Not Given” is more than a phrase Huntington has put on a T-shirt. It represents the team's approach to the season. They are “Chasing Greatness” and know its going to take everyone to get it!

The Blue Devils entered the 2026 campaign determined to build on the work put in during the offseason. The preparation, conditioning, competition and commitment were designed to create a team that would not depend on talent alone, but on toughness, accountability and the willingness to do the work necessary to win. Friday night provided another example. There were contributions from the offense, defense and special teams. Players who may not have appeared prominently in the statistics still played important roles in the victory. Joshua Roman was named the team's Special Teams MVP, while also earning recognition for his physical play. Roman, along with Bender and Colby Curran, received team recognition for strong hits. That mentality has helped Huntington establish its identity early in the season.

The Blue Devils aren't interested in being handed anything. They want to earn it!

The victory over Smithtown East moves Huntington to 2-1, but the Blue Devils know there is plenty of football ahead. Their next challenge comes Saturday, October 3, at 1:00 p.m., when Huntington travels to face North Babylon, which also enters the contest with a 2-1 record after defeating Bellport. The matchup will provide another opportunity for Huntington to test itself against a quality opponent.

For the Blue Devils, the approach remains unchanged: “Prepare, Compete, Finish, Earn it!”.