Huntington Flag Football Opens Season by Topping Kings Park, 12-0

Malcolm Eugene is an optimist at heart and he felt it in his bones; his Blue Devil varsity flag football team was ready for a big day at Kings Park and he was right as Huntington won the season opener, 12-0.

Eugene, a former NCAA Division I football star at Stony Brook University is assisted by Patrick Reilly. He has quietly built up Huntington’s flag football program. This year, the varsity and JV teams drew 45 players to the field.

Eugene is nothing less than a fierce competitor. He doesn’t plan to rest until Huntington wins a flag football county title. At Kings Park, the Blue Devil passing game amount to only seven completions in 17 attempts and 41 yards total, so the team turned to the ground. Six players rushed 17 times for 189 yards including long touchdown runs covering 55 yards and 43 yards, respectively by Timeyah Hardge and Anabella Rafailan.

Mikiyla Blizzard carried the ball six times for 61 yards. Dakota Respass had four receptions for 25 yards and Khi Casey caught a pair of passes for 13 yards.

While Huntington’s offense proved to be efficient enough, it was the Blue Devil defense that really carried the team to victory. That defensive unit allowed just three first downs. Kymora Dorvilus record nine flag pulls and four pass breakups. Hardge had five flag pulls and four pass breakups. Izabelle Colato intercepted a pass and also pulled three flags and swatted away four passes. Genesis Maldonado sacked the Kings Park quarterback and had a pair of flag pulls.

Rafailan was outstanding on both sides of the ball. Defensively, she pulled two flags and busted a couple of pass plays. Khloe Graham, Gabby Jones, Ariana Zavala, Andrea Reyes and Blizzard all pulled flags to stop Kings Park’s offense.

Hardge was named the game’s MVP. “It was a great overall team victory,” Eugene said. “We have high hopes for league play.”

Huntington plays again on Wednesday at Bay Shore at 5:30 p.m.