“I’m very proud of this team’s heart and our ability to battle back in the face of adversity. Even though we didn’t win it all, we were able to bring Bellport football back to the top.””

Calvin Pedatella, senior

“Honestly, before the season, I was very confident with this team’s potential, but a Week 1 loss to Northport was a major setback and proved that this season to come wasn’t going to be easy and we were going to have to grind and fight for every win. As a team, we collectively put in the work and went on a 10-game win streak, but people were still doubting us in the Suffolk Championship game versus Lindenhurst. We had great weeks of practice leading up to the championship games and it showed in our effort in those games. Garden City is a great team, but I will do everything I can to make sure we have an opportunity to get another shot at those guys next year.””

Donte Phillips, junior

After winning the Suffolk County Championship the previous week against Lindenhurst, 13-0, a first-time win since 2010, the Clippers drove a valiant effort into the Long Island Championship Class II game against Garden City at Stony Brook University’s Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium last Saturday. They lost 14-6.

It wasn’t without hard-charging physicality.

Offense, led by junior Donte Phillips, gained 83 yards on 22 carries. Defense was led by seniors Calvin Pedatella and Marc Promutico.

“As a staff, we are proud of the way the boys competed and the level of intensity and effort,” said coach Kai Watkins. “Garden City was the top-ranked team for a reason: they are well coached and played mistake-free football.  As a staff, we are so thankful for the Bellport parents, administrators, teachers, alumni, and the Bellport football community as a whole for the tremendous support and love shown during this championship season. Football is family, and there is no better place to do then Bellport.”

Watkins commented on next season. “One of the goals for every season is to win a Long Island championship,” he said. “But that isn’t the only goal we strive for. We also strive to use football as a way to create better people. When a senior’s time playing Bellport football is up, the goal is for that player to be a better student, a better future father, a better future husband and a strong productive member of the community. We are very proud of this group of seniors because we felt that we accomplished that. Next season, the goal is for that group of seniors to continue with that tradition. We have a number of key players returning, so we are going to lean on that group for leadership and to continue with the rich traditions of Bellport football.”