Gavin O'Brien leads winning drive as Northport football advances to Suffolk Division II final
Quarterback Gavin O'Brien of Northport drives to the end zone in the fourth quarter during a Suffolk Division II football semifinal against North Babylon on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 in Northport. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Gavin O’Brien lined up in shotgun formation and surveyed the North Babylon defense. This was go-time for Northport’s senior quarterback.
The kid who came back to play his senior year of football after three years away from the game, was on the cusp of leading the Tigers into the Suffolk Division II championship game.
He had guided the Tigers' offense on another long time-consuming drive to the North Babylon 3-yard line with 2:44 left. O’Brien methodically worked the clock keeping North Babylon’s potent offense off the field and running the time out of their season.
On third and goal, O’Brien took the snap and went over left tackle and bulled his way into the end zone to send Northport past North Babylon, 21-14, in a Suffolk Division II semifinal playoff in East Northport.
It was O’Brien’s second rushing touchdown of the game. The win sends Northport (9-1) into the Suffolk Division II title game against top-seeded Half Hollow Hills East (10-0) Thursday at Stony Brook University at 6 p.m.
“The season was on the line,” said O’Brien, who rushed 21 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns. “I followed a big block from Andres [Rivera] into the end zone. Nothing was stopping me from scoring.”
The comeback win was highlighted by the Northport defense which held North Babylon to four first downs on three possessions in the second half.
“We made some key defensive adjustments at the half,” Northport linebacker Tommy Zarcone said. “We moved our linebackers closer to the line to stop the run. And our energy in the second half was completely different than the first half.”
Northport opened the scoring with a six-play, 67-yard drive. O’Brien scored on a 4-yard run and Ty Hamada added the extra-point kick for the 7-0 lead with 9:20 left. Sophomore Al Pehanick had two carries for 53 yards. He finished with 109 yards on 14 carries.
North Babylon responded with a seven-play, 51-yard TD drive. Junior halfback Chandler Como scored on a 4-yard run and Christian Creaven-Tintella added the kick to tie it at 7.
The game took on the look of an offensive battle.
North Babylon used a triumvirate of backs in Como, TJ Shaw and Jack Miller to take the lead. The Bulldogs went on a 12-play, 97-yard TD march capped by Miller’s 27-yard run. The drive lasted 8:01.
“They were getting the best of us,” Northport coach Pat Campbell said. “They were physically pushing us around. They have a proud tradition . . . We were finding out why North Babylon is who they are.”
Miller’s TD gave North Babylon the 14-7 halftime lead.
North Babylon (6-4) threatened to take a two-score lead on its first possession of the third quarter. The Bulldogs went 69 yards in 12 plays but missed a 39-yard field goal.
Northport answered with an eight-play, 80-yard TD drive. O’Brien punctuated the drive with a 32-yard TD pass to Ryder Maag. Hamada’s kick made it 14-14 with 54 seconds left in the third quarter.
“The cornerback came up tight and Ryder is the fastest kid in the county,” O’Brien said. “He ran right by the coverage. I rolled right and put it out there for him to go get it.”
Campbell said O’Brien is the difference-maker in Northport.
“When he came back to play this year, he immediately made us a better team,” Campbell said. “He’s a true leader. From game one through the playoffs, he’s gotten better with experience. What he did coming back was not easy. It took an intelligent, gifted athlete.”
O’Brien credited the Tigers offensive line of Andres Rivera, Liam Cassidy, Jack Cromeyn, Tyler Naughton and Ray Giehl as the key to success.
“They give it their all every play,” O’Brien said. “Our season was on the line against a great team. We have this bond and trust in in one another, and it brought us together for the second half. Everyone contributed. Halftime was emotional – everyone wanted to play again next week.”
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
