Last week, East Islip hosted Bellport for the first round of the Division II Suffolk County football playoffs.

The defending Long Island champions were looking for a repeat and got the first round off in style to defeat Bellport, 35-21, at East Islip High School. It was the No. 8-seeded Clippers (4-4) trekking to Sal Ciampi Field at Boomer Esaison Stadium on 100 Redmen Avenue, in Islip Terrace, to face the mighty undefeated East Islip (8-0) varsity squad.

On the first play from scrimmage, Thomas Costarelli aired it out for a long reception, caught by Jack Kalinowski all the way down to the Bellport 19-yard line.

Two plays later, Costarelli handed the ball off to Ryan Parker, who ran 16 yards for a rushing touchdown and after the ensuing successful PAT (point after touchdown) by Anthony Mariani, it was 7-0 East Islip.

Later in the opening period, Costarelli heaved a 57-yard torpedo that Kalinowski caught at the 19-yard line, then galloped his way into the end zone to give his team a two-possession lead.

Mariani converted another successful PAT, and it was 14-0 with seven and change left in the first quarter. At the conclusion of the first quarter, Bellport got back into the game on a 10-yard rushing touchdown just as time elapsed in the opening frame, and it was 14-6 after 12 minutes of play.

Kalinowski took a handoff from Costarelli and he had a clear open path, which he ran right up the middle for a 9-yard rush for East Islip’s third half-dozen score of the game. Anthony Mariani kicked it through the uprights again and it was 21-6 with 8:27 to go in the second quarter.

Bellport’s quarterback Braydon Cipp handed the ball off for a 2-yard rushing touchdown, then subsequently Cipp found No. 2 Daniel Romero for two points in the back of the end zone for a successful two-point conversion and it was 21-14, with just over three minutes to go till halftime. With 1:21 remaining in the second, Costarelli launched a 45-yard dart that Kalinowski caught at the one-yard line, then dove into the end zone to once again make it a two-possession game.

The score was 28-14 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Costarelli once again used his cannon to find Kalinoski for a 30-yard touchdown toss with 1:15 remaining in the third.

The final score was East Islip 35, Bellport 21. East Islip will host North Babylon this week for the second round.