Paul Longo Is Back, and He Might not Be the Headliner

It might be a new school, new students and even a brand-new field, but the results still seem to follow the coach with the most wins in Suffolk County.

Paul Longo didn’t just win his debut with his new team. He dominated.

In the Suffolk Division IV season opener, Longo’s Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats defeated Babylon, 52-45, in a game that featured plenty of offense and a performance that will be hard to forget.

While Longo will understandably be the headline, the bigger story may have been what his quarterback did.

Noah Gregorek was responsible for seven touchdowns as the Wildcats came out flying and built a commanding 32-7 halftime lead.

Shoreham-Wading River put up 26 points in the second quarter alone, turning what was a competitive opening period into a runaway first half.

Gregorek connected on touchdown passes to Bland, Wright, Cleary and Eaton while also finding the end zone himself on the ground. The quarterback’s ability to make plays through the air and with his legs gave Babylon’s defense problems throughout the night.

The Wildcats’ offensive explosion was exactly the kind of performance that gets people talking, especially considering the attention surrounding Longo’s return to Shoreham-Wading River.

Longo, the winningest coach in Suffolk County history, returned to the sideline after an incredibly successful run at William Floyd. Now he is taking over a Wildcats program with a new field, new surroundings and plenty of expectations.

If the season opener is any indication, the Wildcats aren’t going to need much time to adjust.

There will certainly be tougher challenges ahead, and a 52-45 game also shows that there are things for Shoreham-Wading River to clean up defensively.

But when you score 52 points and have your quarterback account for seven touchdowns, it’s hard to complain too much.

Longo may have changed schools, but one thing clearly hasn’t changed: his teams know how to win.