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Making a young pup proud
Gwaltney promises injured 6-year-old he'll break record, then comes through with 371 yards, 7 TDs

BY GREGG SARRA
STAFF WRITER; Compiled by Andy Slawson

October 17, 2004

This was one for the record book. 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, in addition to trying to win, he had a small incentive that has held his attention all week.

T.J. Hughuey, a halfback from the North Babylon Youth Football League whom Gwaltney has befriended, suffered a severely broken leg during a practice nine days ago. In between practice and his own physical therapy, Gwaltney visited the youngster at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip on a daily basis.

Which made yesterday so special for Gwaltney and Hughuey. The 6-1, 235-pound North Babylon star promised the self-proclaimed little Bulldog he would surpass Long Island's all-time career rushing record and give him the game ball. Then he did it.

Gwaltney rumbled for 371 yards on 31 carries and seven touchdowns as North Babylon defeated Newfield, 62-7, before a crowd of about 1,100 in a Suffolk Division II football game at Nick DeCillis Field in Selden.

"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 has 6,140 yards and 108 touchdowns in his career. "And we're going to give him the ball as a team."

Gwaltney entered 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 through the left side of the line, shed two tacklers, cut to the middle and outran the Newfield secondary for a 49-yard touchdown and 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 PA announcer acknowledged Gwaltney and the packed house gave him a standing ovation.

"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 spread touchdown runs of 59, 9 and 50 yards around Scooter Berry's 67-yard scoring run as the Bulldogs took a 48-7 lead in the second quarter.

"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 run and didn't play in the fourth quarter.

"My line was getting low and opening some huge holes," he 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 Eric Walter - doesn't get enough credit. He said the line is the key to North Babylon's 4-1 start. Newfield is 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.

Afterward, he said he was off to see T.J. with all the good news. "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.

Long Island career rushing leaders

Yards Name School (years)
6,140 Jason Gwaltney North Babylon (2001-04)
5,841 Jerone Pettus Freeport (1996) & Roosevelt (1997-99)
5,360 Amos Zereoue Mepham (1991-94)
5,282 Chad Bosch Connetquot (1990-92)

Gwaltney year by year
Season Games Carries Yards Avg. TDs 2 Pts. Total Pts
2001 9 98 696 7.1 15 1 92
2002 9 197 1,621 8.2 30 1 182
2003 10 295 2,601 8.8 45 1 272
2004 5 ' 1,222 8.4 18 1 110
Totals 33 736 6,140 8.3 108 4 656

Compiled by Andy Slawson