Thursday, October 1, 2026
It didn’t take Babylon’s Aidan Winter long to redeem himself Friday night in a battle of unbeatens in Suffolk Division IV football.
He fumbled on the 17th play of the Panthers’ 9-minute plus, game-opening drive at the Bayport-Blue Point 1-yard line. But the next time the senior running back touched the ball, he didn’t let it go until he reached the end zone.
Winter’s 83-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter highlighted Babylon’s 27-6 victory over the Phantoms, handing the three-time defending county champions just their second defeat in their last 41 games. He added three more touchdowns in the second half and racked up 345 yards on the ground against a defense that held four of its first five opponents to fewer than 10 points.
“We just trust each other,” Winter said. “We came out with a great opening drive but I didn’t finish. But we stuck together as a team. The guys up front did the job all night on offense and defense.”
Babylon improved to 6-0 and assumed the driver’s seat to the No. 1 playoff seed. Only four teams in Division IV are playoff-bound this fall after two programs folded, leaving just 10. Bayport is 5-1.
“That kid [Winter] is one of the best players in the county,” Bayport head coach Mike Zafonte said of Winter. “We hadn’t lost at home in a very long time and that monkey is off our backs and behind us now. We have to get better and turn our focus towards Mount Sinai.”
Working behind an offensive line consisting of center Joe Rubendall, Christian Seidenberg, Shamus Cuneen, Kai Donnelly and Myles Varley, Winter’s touchdown runs in the second half covered 7, 11 and 34 yards. He also had 11 tackles on defense and blocked Bayport’s lone extra-point try.
“It was a great opportunity for us tonight and the kids rose to the occasion,” Babylon head coach Rick Punzone said. “Aidan was lights-out. We’re going to ride him as far as he can take us, but we know it’s going to take everyone to go as far as we hope to go.”
The Phantoms had scored at least 45 points in each of their first five games. Babylon’s defensive effort was led by Winter, JJ Reid (two sacks), Varley (9 tackles), Jaiden Milner and Zak Vasquez (8 tackles apiece.)
Babylon was impressive winning its first five out of the gate by an average score of 38-11. The Panthers opened the campaign Sept. 12 with a 53-27 win over the Kingsmen as Winter had 222 yards and four touchdowns on only six carries and a 55-yard touchdown reception from senior quarterback Kai Jankow, who also rushed for 124 yards and a score.
Next up for Babylon is another test — a trip to Shoreham-Wading River Friday at 6 p.m.
“We can’t get ahead of ourselves,” Punzone said. “Last year we thought we’d get a rematch with Bayport in the county finals but we didn’t get there. We still have a long way to go.”
