Most in attendance at Wednesday’s Sachem football game were probably wondering why Sachem North’s sidelines and stands roared with excitement after Bryan Morris kicked his second extra point of the game.
They were the ones dialed in on history and realized the senior kicker nailed career extra point No. 122 of his four-year varsity career. He passed East Islip’s Sean Moller, who kicked 121 from 2006-2008, for the Long Island extra points record.
“I was not expecting that,” said Morris of his teammates and the crowd’s reaction. “I didn’t know how many people knew. I only told a couple guys who were on the field goal team with me. It was cool. That’s why I love my team.”
Morris finished the 35-6 victory a perfect five-for-five on extra points and now has 125 with a full slate of games left during his senior campaign. The state record is 177 and Morris would need 53, which is very possible. He kicked 52 as a freshman and a career-high 55 as a sophomore.
It all started on Sept. 24, 2010 when he went 6-for-7 in extra point attempts against Brentwood as a freshman. With the help of highly potent offenses over the next four years he’s compiled some hefty stats that literally no one besides Moller has come close to in this region.
“I’ve played with four of the best offenses in Sachem history, there the reason I have the record,” said Morris. “I’ve been working hard and it’s been a four-year effort.”
Whether its trips to kicking camps around the country, or car rides to New Jersey on Sundays to train with former Stony Brook kicker Luke Gaddis at One-On-One Kicking, Morris has become increasingly consistent and effective.
On kickoffs he didn’t hint much at touchbacks as a freshman or sophomore, but he nailed eight as a junior and began the 2013 season with one on Wednesday. His leg and kicking game have matured year-over-year.
“He takes his job serious and we respect that from him because it helps us out in the end,” said Sachem junior running back Kevin Bragaglia.
Sachem has scored countless touchdowns, had record-setting offenses, and graduated some of the top players in school history over the last few seasons, but no one has generated such a rousing individual ovation in the middle of a game like Morris did after his extra point.
“It was something the team was thinking about,” said Sachem coach Dave Falco. “We were excited about it.”
What’s next?
Next up for Morris is the Long Island career points record for kickers. Moller holds that record also with 181. After Wednesday’s game, Morris has 136 total points, and needs 46 to take that mark.
“It all depends on how our offense plays, otherwise I’m not on the field,” he said. “You’ve seen our offense, so I think we can do it.”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro