Miller Place lands New Jersey opponent after losing 2 scheduled games to canceled seasons

After Amityville and Port Jefferson dropped varsity football, the Panthers found a new home opponent across state lines

An unusual scheduling situation has given the Miller Place football team something it normally wouldn’t get: a chance to face an opponent from outside New York.

On Saturday, Oct. 10, Miller Place will host Hasbrouck Heights of New Jersey in a nonconference 1 p.m. matchup, giving the Panthers a crack at a program they have never seen before.

When Amityville and Port Jefferson were failed to field varsity teams this fall, Miller Place saw two games cut from its schedule, including its homecoming game. That left the Panthers with a six-game season and only two home games.

Port Jefferson’s players have since joined Rocky Point’s varsity under an interim state ruling, but the Royals’ original schedule, including the Miller Place game that was scheduled to be played earlier this month, remain forfeited.

The cancellation of the two games hit Miller Place players hard, especially the seniors, most of whom have only a limited number of varsity games left in their football careers.

Looking for a solution

Hasbrouck Heights was also looking to fill a spot on its schedule, making the matchup a natural fit.

“It seemed like a fun opportunity for both of us,” Miller Place head coach Joe Mancini said of the Aviators.

Under New York state rules, teams face limits on how many games they can play outside their section and still remain eligible for the playoffs. But with two games already wiped off the schedule, the Panthers had room to do something that Mancini said has never been done in program history: play an out-of-state opponent.

A new experience

For the players, the matchup is an intriguing break from the usual schedule.

“When I found out we were playing a team from Jersey, I thought it was really exciting,” Miller Place captain Braydyn Ellis said. “It’s great to face a team from a different state because it brings new competition and gives us a new experience.”

Mostly, Ellis said, the team is glad to have another game locked in on the calendar.

“It’s great to have more opportunities to compete,” he said.

Mancini sees value beyond the extra game, particularly for players hoping to compete at the next level.

“I think it allows them to see what football is like outside of Long Island,” Mancini said. “Especially for our players looking to play at the next level, it’s a great opportunity to see the skill and ability of players outside of the state and what they are competing against.”

Mancini described Hasbrouck Heights as a small-school program that has had success over the years, and a team Miller Place respects.

For the Panthers, though, the approach remains the same as for any other opponent.

“We’re gonna all have to be on the same page and do what we do, fly around and make plays,” Ellis said.

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