In a do-or-die Division II semi-final game, the Tigers prevailed at home against West Islip. Despite the final score indicating a nail biter, the game never felt totally in reach for the Lions. That was chiefly because of an offensive strategy that bent the Northport defense frequently, but rarely broke it. 

A start can not get much better in a playoff game than what the Tigers experienced on Saturday. After West Islip received the ball to start, the Tigers were able to force a turnover on downs on a tackle by Ryan McEnroe.

It took just one play for Owen Johansen to heave one downfield to JJ Ahlstrand, who caught the ball on the sideline near the five and was able to stay in bounds and cross into the endzone for the score. The Tigers did miss the extra point, though they still had a 6-0 lead. 

After another successful defensive drive, the Tigers gave the ball to running back Jackson Campbell and simply blocked. He got them down to the 43-yard line early in the drive, and a few plays later to the opposing 33. As the first quarter wound down, the Tigers kept handing the ball to Campbell. It ended in points, but not six. They had to settle for a field goal by Brendan Connolly to make it a 9-0, but more importantly, a two-score game. 

By this point, the West Islip strategy was evident: runs only. They gave the ball to quarterback Patrick Keenan or halfback Konrad Maclejny on just about every play of the entire game, until passes were absolutely necessary late in the game. Maclejny ended their third drive with a score, making it nine to seven Northport. 

Looking to score before the end of the half, the Tigers sent back their three kick returners, hoping for a big play. They got exactly that from Evan Gaumont, who brought the ball back out to the other side of the field. On this short-fielded drive, the Tigers did exactly what their opponents were afraid to do.

A screen pass to Ahlstrand got them a first down. Back-to-back receptions for Jack Helrigel got the team into the redzone. Campbell finished all the hard work off with a rushing score. The following PAT was good; the score, 16-7. 

With 77 seconds left in the half and the Tigers due to receive the ball after the break, a stop would be huge. Unfortunately, the Lions had their best drive of the game. Aided by a 15-yard penalty on Northport, the full effort came down to one play. With the ball on the two-yard line and three seconds remaining, West Islip went for it. Keenan rushed in to make it 16-14. 

Both teams stalled on their first drives of the second half, with a deep bomb just too far for Helrigel, forcing a Tigers fourth down. On the first play following an ensuing turnover on downs by West Islip, Campbell pulled off a daring 58 yard run to the endzone.

Now 23-14, this score helped cap off the message of this game: efficiency. The Tigers scored two of their three touchdowns on the first play. The Lions had long and methodical rushing drives that killed a ton of clock, and ruined their chance of a comeback by the time they went down by two scores for the second time. 

As the fourth quarter opened, Keenan had thrown the ball just three times. They had the ball, but that changed quickly. Senior Jack Pokowicz recovered a fumble to give the Tigers the ball.

The Lions would regain possession just once. That drive ended with fourth-and-long. Begging for anything, they completed a pass on a fake punt. Fortunately for the Tigers, they were still short of the first down ball. Northport was able to run, then kneel the clock out and take home a victory. 

With this win, the Tigers became Suffolk County Big IV Champions. They now advance to the Division II semifinals, where they will travel to play the top seeded Lindenhurst, who the Tigers fell to by six points on October 9.