Bellport tops Copiague 31-21 on Alumni Day

Michael Frankie caught a touchdown pass and ran for another, leading Bellport to a 31-21 win against Copiague on Saturday on Alumni Day at Joe Cipp Field.

Frankie had three receptions for 96 yards and picked off an interception as five former Bellport greats were inducted into the Bellport Football Hall of Fame in a halftime ceremony.

Bellport improved to 3-1 (3-1 in Division 2) in a game in which the Clippers looked sluggish at times, coming off last week’s 7-0 win over Northport.

“I think we came out a little flat today,” Clippers head coach Jamie Fabian said. “We lacked a little focus and it kind of showed out there today.”

Bellport put the first score on the board in the second quarter when quarterback Braydon Cipp connected with Frankie for a 32-yard TD.

Cipp had a good day, rushing for 55 yards and connecting with his receivers on 10 of 19 passes for 123 yards, including touchdown passes to Frankie and Daniel Romero. Kingston John ran for 99 yards, including a fourth quarter touchdown, which put the game out of reach. Romero also booted a 29-yard field goal.

On defense, Frankie and Nazir Turner each registered interceptions.

But Copiague, which came in at 0-3, kept the game close.

Copiague quarterback Cody Tiringer threw three touchdown passes, including two to Larry Ford, and the Eagles defense blocked a Bellport PAT attempt.

“They [Copiague] have got a lot of athletes,” Fabian said. “They played hard. They’re a well-coached team.”

The win brought Bellport to the halfway point of the eight-game regular season. Their next game is Friday afternoon at Huntington.

“I tell these guys all the time, it doesn’t matter who we play; it’s not easy to win football games,” Fabian said. “So we’re going to take the wins however and wherever we can get them.”

At halftime, the Clippers inducted five new members in the Hall of Fame. They are:

• Eddie Carson, a linebacker and punt and kick returner from the Class of 2011, and a member of the 2010 Long Island Championship team, who was the team’s co-leader in tackles.
• Mike LaGrega, an all-state offensive lineman from the Class of 1998 and a member of the Clippers’ undefeated 1997 Long Island Championship team.
• Jason Magee, an all-state and all-Long Island tight end and defensive lineman from the Class of 2004, who led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns and the defensive line in tackles as a senior.
• Brelan Stewart, an all-Long Island defensive back and quarterback from the Class of 2003, who was a member of the undefeated 2001 Long Island Championship team and led the team in tackles his junior and senior years.
• DeQuan Wilson, an all-state and all-Long Island wide receiver from the Class of 2016, who ranks eighth in career receiving yards (593) and ninth in career receptions (31).