North Babylon begins title defense

Championship expectations. Those two words go hand in hand with North Babylon football. After losing to Garden CIty in the 2023 Long Island Class II championship game, the goal for the Bulldogs to make it back to the LIC stage. Achieving it, though, will not be easy.

“As I told the guys, we are playing in a monster division,” said North Babylon head coach John Rowland, who’s in his fourth season at the helm. “It’s going to be very difficult to go undefeated because anyone can beat anyone.”

Rowland has been with the North Babylon football program for over 30 years, serving on former longtime head coach Terry Manning’s staff. “Terry was a huge mentor to me,” said Rowland. “We still talk every day. He’s like a big brother to me.”

Rowland mentioned after spending so much time under Manning, it was impossible to learn some things along the way. “I love the way he treated his players,” Rowland said. “He taught me to push them hard but treat them as kids first, players second.”

North Babylon, the defending Suffolk Division II champ, enters 2024 with another roster filled with talent. It returns three All-County selections in Jawara Keahey, a running back/cornerback who rushed for a Long Island-leading 2,600 yards and 37 touchdowns last season, Alex Griffith, a tight end/defensive end that Rowland called a “monster” after gaining 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, and running back/linebackerJordan King, who is expected to have another big year.

Keahey rushed for 200 or more yards in all but three of the 12 games and had 324 yards on the ground and four touchdowns against Centereach.

With Tristan Garcia returning for another season as starting quarterback, the offense has the personnel to be just as productive as it was a season ago. Peter Banculli is a returning fullback/linebacker who plays a key role on both sides of the ball.

In terms of newcomers, Rowland mentioned two players from the JV level who are competing for starting varsity jobs right away — tight end/defensive end Tristan Wojt and offensive lineman/defensive lineman Sean Staley.

Fresh off of a 7-1 regular season in 2023, the team’s first league game comes this Saturday, Sept. 14, at home against Half Hollow Hills East, another team that finished 7-1 last season.

WIth two non-league scrimmages before opening day against Half Hollow Hills West and Sachem East, Rowland is making practice a huge point of emphasis as the Bulldogs get closer and closer to kickoff.

“It’s so crucial that we bring our best everyday,” Rowland said. “Even throughout the season, our tough schedule requires us to practice hard each week.”

With other big games like West Islip and West Babylon looming in October, the energy and effort levels must remain high all season long. “Nothing is changing this year,” Rowland added. “We still have high goals and expect success.”