By Steven Zaitz
In Week 4 of the regular season, Northport quarterback Enrique Hernandez piloted a desperate, two-minute drill for a touchdown to cap an exhilarating 20-19 victory over the Suffolk County Conference II defending champion North Babylon Bulldogs.
Five weeks later, the two teams met again in the first round of the playoffs, and the Tigers were again down by six points. This time, however, Hernandez was on the sidelines, his arm wrapped in a sling after being injured at the end of the third quarter.
With backup QB Simon Blissett also out, Tiger Nation turned its lonely eye to senior receiver Christian Campoli to step in behind center.
Could Campoli, who has played running back, wide receiver, kick returner and defensive back over the course of his Northport Tiger football career, lead another miracle comeback?
Yes … and no.
With five and a half minutes left, the Tigers, who had led for the first three quarters, were running out of chances. Campoli was operating what was essentially a Wildcat offense and a highly condensed version of the playbook, calling on himself and running backs Luke Loiacona and Asher Levine to chip away at the 70 yards between them and the potential winning score.
After a few modest gains on running plays, an automatic first down on a pass interference call and a critical 21-yard conversion on fourth down from Campoli to wide receiver Tommy O’Brien, the Tiger offense was set up inside the North Babylon 20. The home Tiger fans were now screaming and believing.
Six running plays later, their faith was rewarded.
Levine scored from three yards out behind a key block by Reid Johansen with 45 seconds remaining to tie the score at 20. Kicker Zac Loh trotted in to add the extra point for Northport and give them a one-point lead.
Loh, who was a perfect 24-for-24 on extra points this year, kicked a ball that skimmed the top of his offensive linemen and dribbledunder the goal post — and a wildly happy and raucous crowd just seconds before turned stone silent.
Instead of a one-point Tiger lead, the game would now be decided in overtime.
Bulldog star running back Jawara Keahey scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the extra session and their extra point was successful. This compelled Northport to hold serve.
Loiacona rumbled eight yards to set up first and goal at the five, as the Tigers looked to send the game into a second overtime. But Northport was stopped three times for minimal gain, setting up fourth and goal from the 2-yard line.
On the next, and what would be the game’s final play, Loiacona was swallowed up behind the line of scrimmage by three Bulldog defenders shortly after he took the handoff. The game was over, and with it, Northport’s football season.
As the visiting team in white threw cups of water and Gatorade into the air, the entire Northport offensive unit lay scattered across the end zone in various states of shock and despair. Campoli, who stood to be the game’s surprise hero was one of the few players left standing.
He looked to the heavens and held the front of his facemask in disbelief — his helmet, slathered in tiger paw print stickers for past acts of football heroism, gleaming in the western afternoon sun.
Despite the loss in his final game as a Northport Tiger, he deserves at least one more sticker for his helmet.
