The Sayville Golden Flashes stayed undefeated in their homecoming game against East Islip on Saturday, Oct. 16, defeating the Redmen, 51-44.

The game started off uneasy for the Golden Flashes when East Islip went up 14-0 in the first quarter. The switch flipped, however, when Sayville’s Mack Murtha intercepted an Islip pass. That play later allowed freshman quarterback Jack Messina to run in a three-yard touchdown to put Sayville on the board.

In the second quarter, the Golden Flashes tied it up with another running touchdown from Messina, this one for 25 yards. East Islip came right back, however, with an astonishing 53-yard rushing touchdown from Leonardo Lopez, putting the Redmen up 20-14. After much back-and-forth, Sayville led 28-23 at the half. 

In the second half, East Islip kept it close with a 60-yard rushing touchdown from Lopez to put the Redmen up 29-28. But never fear, Sayville’s Messina ran it again for 11 yards to put Sayville up 34-30.

Things got a bit sticky in the fourth quarter when East Islip recovered an onside kick with just over two minutes left in the game. It was Sayville’s Murtha who saved the day with an interception on East Islip’s 32-yard line with under a minute to go to secure Sayville’s win.

Next up, the Golden Flashes will play Islip on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m.