HS Football Team Are Big Four Champs
The North Babylon High School Football Team, coached by Terry Manning, pulled off the improbable feat this year of becoming Big Four Champions and finishing the season with a 7-3 record. After losing 22 seniors last year and starting this season with only two players with any experience, no one--including their coach, Terry Manning--dreamed that they could pull off a winning season that would take them to the playoffs where they defeated Deer Park before finally losing to East Islip.
But these inexperienced Bulldogs. led by Ryan Slane at quarterback and strong safety, stepped up and made some magic happen on the field. At 5’7” and 150 pounds, Slane was phenomenal with 1150 yards rushing, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. The team was also sparked by T.Q. Grant whom Coach Manning described as “just an all around great kid and game changer.” Though he was out with injuries for most of the season, he still managed to run for close to 800 yards and 9 touchdowns. Three exceptional players, Anthony Grassa, Joe Stamm, and Sal Levanti, anchored the defense with their physicality. Bulked up with solid muscle from hours in the weight room, they played some good old fashioned “smash mouth” football and as Coach Manning says, “got the job done without one complaint.”
Several players won awards. Ryan Slane, T.Q. Grant, and Anthony Grassa made All County and Slane also was named All Long Island, Second Team. All Division players were Ryan Slane, T.Q. Grant, Anthony Grassa, Joe Stamm, Sal Levanti, Connor Slane, Jordan Myers, Spencer Davidson, Alex Lopez, and Matt Grassa.