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Gwaltney has a huge game breaking the LI career rushing record-video on this page

Gwaltney breaks LI rushing record
BY GREGG SARRA
Staff Writer

October 16, 2004

This was one for the record books. This also was one for a 6-year-old boy who is recovering from surgery to repair a broken femur.

For four seasons, North Babylon halfback Jason Gwaltney has run over and around opponents with power and speed. Yesterday, his effort included a small incentive that has held his attention all week.

T.J. Hughuey, a halfback from the North Babylon Youth Football League whom Gwaltney befriended, suffered a severely broken leg during a practice last Friday. Inbetween practice and his own physical therapy, Gwaltney visited the youngster at Good Samaritan Hosptial in West Islip on a daily basis.

Which made yesterday so special for Gwaltney and the youngster. The 6-1, 235-pound powerback promised the little Bulldog he would surpass Long Island's all-time career rushing record and give him the game ball.

Gwaltney followed through as he rumbled for 371 yards on 31 carries and 7 touchdowns as North Babylon defeated Newfield, 62-7, yesterday before a crowd of about 1,100 in a Suffolk Division II football game at Nick DeCillis Field in Selden. Gwaltney now has 6,140 yards and 108 touchdowns. His best rushing performance, 467 yards, came against East Islip last season.

"I promised T.J. we'd win and we'd break the record," said Gwaltney, who rushed for 269 yards and five touchdowns in the first half. "And we're going to give him the ball as a team."

Gwaltney came into the game needing 73 yards to surpass Jerone Pettus of Freeport and Roosevelt as Long Island's all-time leading rusher. He broke Pettus' record of 5,841 yards, when he burst over the left side of the line, shed two tacklers, cut to the middle of the field and outran the Newfield secondary for a 49-yard touchdown run for a 20-7 lead with 36 seconds left in the first quarter.

In a classy move, the Newfield staff called a timeout to recognize Gwaltney's accomplishment. The officiating crew was instructed to give him the game ball as the game announcer acknowledged Gwaltney and the packed house stood and applauded.

"He's a top-notch kid and we felt it was the right thing to do," Newfield coach Ted Tsirigotis said. "He goes right through the defender if they don't wrap him up. He just runs people over -- he's amazing."

Gwaltney was only getting started. He sandwiched three touchdown runs of 59, 9 and 50 yards around a Scooter Berry 67-yard scoring run in the second quarter as the Bulldogs opened a 48-7 lead.

"He just bounces off the tackles," said Newfield middle linebacker Anthoney Adamic, who also had a 65-yard touchdown run. "He's got great balance and he's tough to bring down."

Gwaltney opened the third quarter with a 55-yard scoring run on the first play from scrimmage. He added a 17-yard touchdown and didn't play in the fourth quarter.

"My line was getting low and opening some huge holes," Gwaltney said. "Without the line support, no one can be successful."

Gwaltney said the offensive line, tackles Chris Branwein and Ed Hill, guards Tim Bolden and Chris Luber, center Steve Phillips and tight ends Tim Giardina and Walter don't get enough credit. He said they are the key to North Babylon's 4-1 start. Newfield fell to 2-3.

"Jason likes to spread the wealth," North Babylon coach Terry Manning said. "He's about the team and that's one of the things that makes him special."

Gwaltney reached the 6,000-yard milestone with his 50-yard scoring run with 20 seconds left in the half.

He said was off to see T.J. with all the good news after the game. "In the hospital, I asked T.J. what his name was, and he said, he was a Bulldog," Gwaltney said. "That just tore me up. And when I asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up, he said, 'A Bulldog!' "

The biggest of Bulldogs made them all proud yesterday.