By Steve Zaitz
The Kings Park Kingsmen opened their season with a thud on Saturday, as they gave up three special team touchdowns in an unsightly 34-20 loss to the Islip Buccaneers.
Bucs return specialist and cornerback, Jake DeGenarro, returned a punt, for a 62-yard touchdown, and a kickoff, for a 93-yard touchdown, both early in the game, as Islip led 13-7 after the first quarter.
Kings Park running back Aidan Barbosa was responsible for a major portion of the Kingsmen offense.
He squirted open down the right sideline midway through the first quarter for a 32-yard touchdown reception, from Junior quarterback, Brandon Shapiro. Barbosa had two receptions for 36 yards, and 117 rushing yards, on the ground. Shapiro threw for two touchdowns, but was sacked by the Buccaneer defense 10 times.
Islip quarterback senior, Brady Nash, was 12 for 16, for 190 through the air, and added 60 on the ground, including a touchdown run of 12 yards. Bucs running back Christian Hall had a touchdown run of 17 yards, and he also blocked a field goal with his facemask, in the fourth quarter, picked up the loose ball and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. He had 80 rushing yards on 11 attempts.
For Kings Park, Frankie Buffolino had four receptions for 52 yards, including a touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. Kicker Alex Squillacioti made two field goals from 42 and 26 yards.
Islip will face the mighty Sayville Golden Flashes on Friday, Sept. 20th, while Kings Park will try to get on the winning track at home, against Amityville, also, on Friday evening, at 6:30.
