The Bayport-Blue Point varsity football team won their first home game of the ’23 season against formidable opponent Mt. Sinai, with a final score of 27-7.

Great expectations surround the football team, who dominated last year with an entire regular and playoff season of undefeated games, culminating in the program’s first-ever Long Island championship.

“We’re not the same team as last year,” said head coach Michael Zafonte, who has been part of the Phantoms football program for over 20 years. “We have a lot of new players, younger players, and we are rebuilding.”

But despite the anticipated growing pains, the Phantoms performed well as a cohesive unit, continuing to play what Zafonte coined last year as “unselfish football,” where “every player knows their job for the team to do well.”

A baseball injury this spring and an injury at their first scrimmage cost the Phantoms both their first- and second-string quarterbacks for their game against Mt. Sinai. It is expected both quarterbacks will miss at least one, or possibly two more game weeks.

BBP school district athletic director Tim Mullins, said, “I think the adjustment that was needed at the quarterback position on Friday night was a testament to the team and coaching staff. They collectively believe in the ‘next man up’ mentality and worked hard as a cohesive group to persevere through the adversity.”

Stepping into the quarterback role were running backs Danny Aiello and Cooper Fuller, who Zafonte called “tremendous” in this newfound position.

Aiello said, “I would give all the credit for my strengths to the coaches and my lineman. Without the lineman blocking perfectly, most of the big runs wouldn’t have happened.”

Characterizing playing quarterback as “definitely a bit of a shocker” for the senior, Aiello said, “Going into the season, if you told me I was going to be playing quarterback, I probably would’ve laughed, but thanks to our coaches it doesn’t matter who’s in what position. They were able to help me get prepared and ready for Week 1.”

Fuller echoed the sentiments of Aiello in playing an alternative position for the Mt. Sinai game and said, “After our first- and second-string quarterbacks got injured, I became a possible option. In the short amount of time I had to prepare for this spot, my coaches and Mac Keyser [first-string quarterback] took huge roles in easing me into all the reads and plays.”

Of the big moment stepping into the role, Fuller said, “Finally, on Friday, I was privileged enough to play in that spot, and we ended [up] pulling off a great win. To me, I was just another piece of the puzzle, as at BBP we believe it takes 11 dudes on each side of the ball to win football games.”

Defensively, Zafonte said linebacker Brady Smith “stepped up” to “make big plays.”

Smith said, “Our strength is the run game” and said the offensive line and backfield was the “best in this division.”

“The long hours we put in and all the coaches making sure we’re prepared makes it a lot easier for everyone,” added Smith about the success.

At halftime, the score was 13-7 and Zafonte said the one-score to tie was “indicative of tough match-up,” adding that the stifling heat and humidity also played a role in the difficult game.

“For as long as I’ve been coaching, Mt. Sinai has been a gritty, passionate team,” said Zafonte.

While some “honest mistakes” were made in the blocking of the first half, Zafonte said the team was able to assess and adapt for the second half and was able to put up 20 points for the victory.

“To only give up one touchdown is huge,” said Zafonte. “This team is a work in progress, but they have heart.”