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Sports

Porters Lose to Panthers 43-7 During Season Opener

Porters football team falls apart after stellar start against Babylon Panthers.

A hopeful first quarter couldn't carry the Greenport/ Southold/ Mattituck/ Shelter Island Porters to victory against the Babylon Panthers during the football season's well-attended opener Sept. 11 at Greenport School. The Porters lost the game to the Panthers 43-7.

The Panthers, a team that has played in the county finals for 13 consecutive years, kicked off the game with an impressive opening drive and a touchdown within the first few minutes. But Porters quarterback Michael Mangiemele soon took control of the game with a 10-yard touchdown-scoring pass to Tremayne Hansen, the only touchdown of the game for the Porters, lead by new head coach Jack Martilotta.

Mangiemele also made a great interception during the first quarter from the 30 yardline, and Porters tailback Ryan Malone followed suit with another interception. An incomplete long pass to Porters receiver Taylor Lyndsay marked the end of the first quarter, 7-6 Porters.

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The Panthers turned on the heat during the second quarter with two touchdown passes from Sam Zanet and two 10-yard scoring runs from Trevor Fudin, resulting in a 30-7 Panthers lead by the end of the half. But the Porters held them back with some aggressive defense during the third quarter. Mangiemele also performed well until the end of the quarter, when he was pulled from the field with a calf injury.

Without Mangiemele and later Malone, who was also subbed out due to injury, the Porters fell apart, and the Panthers took full advantage. They scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, bringing the final score to 43-7 and a Panther's victory.

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Despite the loss, Porters' defensive coordinator Michael Miller said that his players proved that they are serious about their football and will learn from their mistakes.

"I thought there were many positive things that we can take from this game, personally and as a team," he said. "They played hard until the very end and showed, at some points in the game, that they can play with the best in the league."

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