West Babylon flag football's Samantha Serrano totals four TDs to lead stunning upset over Deer Park
Samantha Serrano of West Babylon is congratulated by teammates Alura Liles, left, and Maria Nahas during a Suffolk League II flag football game against host Deer Park on Friday, May 8, 2026. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
On paper, this Suffolk II flag football game wasn’t supposed to be close.
Deer Park entered with only one loss and had surrendered nine points per game. West Babylon had lost six of its last eight games, and its season was hanging by a thread with the playoffs a week away.
Good thing that games aren’t played on paper.
Samantha Serrano and West Babylon weren't intimidated. The senior playmaker helped flip the script against the powerhouse as West Babylon scored a stunning 37-6 upset over Deer Park on Friday night.
“I was ready,” said Serrano, who had three receiving touchdowns and one rushing score. “I wanted to beat this team. I was done with losing. I was telling my team the whole week that we got this. We’re a good team, we just haven’t showed it, but this game really shows how great our team is.”
The most points Deer Park (10-2) had allowed in a game this season was 20. But the girls from West Babylon (5-6) started fast and had a night to remember.
Amani Bradley-Coleman recorded an interception on the second play of the game. Talia Acevedo connected with Serrano for two touchdowns to give West Babylona 12-0 lead after the first quarter.
“This was a team effort,” Acevedo said. “It feels amazing not only to beat the team that’s 10-1, but to do it the way we did.”
Deer Park quarterback Taylor Gabel had a 47-yard rushing touchdown to trim the deficit to 18-6 with 5:08 left in the second quarter.
Six plays later, Serrano scored on a 41-yard run to make it 24-6 with 1:49 left in the second quarter.
“Their girls came to play,” Deer Park coach Anthony Ross said. “All credit to West Babylon. It wasn’t our day, it was their day, and now we just have to learn from the loss.”
Izzie Sjoholm’s 55-yard receiving touchdown extended West Babylon’s lead to 30-6 with 2:23 left in the third quarter.
“We all came out here like it was a playoff game,” said Sjoholm, who also had a 56-yard pick-6. “If we lost, our season would basically be over, so we all stepped up and it paid off. It was a team win.”
Serrano added her fourth total touchdown in the final quarter off a hook-and-ladder play.
A win against second-place Deer Park keeps West Babylon’s playoff hopes alive.
“It’s a testament to the character of the girls,” West Babylon coach Joe Ritacco said. “They came together. And with them being 10-1, this might be the biggest win we’ve ever had.”
