Miller Place Panthers Ride Passing Game to Suffolk County Final

The Miller Place Panthers put together an impressive 2024 campaign in Suffolk Division IV, finishing with an 8-3 overall record and reaching the Suffolk County championship game.

Regular Season Highlights

• Strong Start & Key Wins:
  • Opened with a tough 0-35 loss to Bayport-Blue Point but quickly rebounded with a 31-21 victory at Mount Sinai and a 41-0 shutout at Port Jefferson.
  • Won a wild shootout at Babylon, falling just short in a 48-57 loss.
  • Dominated Southampton 57-0 and rolled over Shoreham-Wading River 41-7.
  • Earned a crucial 21-14 win at John Glenn and closed the regular season with a 42-6 win over Greenport/Southold/Mattituck.
• Finishing Strong:
  • Extended their win streak to six games with a 36-12 playoff victory over Shoreham-Wading River and a 43-14 semifinal win at Babylon.

Playoff Performance

• Quarterfinals:
  • Defeated Shoreham-Wading River 36-12 to advance in the postseason.
• Semifinals:
  • Traveled to Babylon and won convincingly, 43-14, avenging their earlier regular-season loss.
• Suffolk County Championship:
  • Faced Bayport-Blue Point for the title, falling 49-21 to the three-time defending champions.
  • The loss snapped a six-game winning streak and concluded their season at 8-384.

Key Players and Notes

• Shane Kiernan (QB, Jr.):
  • Named to Newsday’s All-Long Island Second Team.
  • Threw for 2,885 yards and 29 touchdowns, including a Long Island-record 550-yard performance against Babylon in the regular season5.
  • Passed for 231 yards in the county final loss to Bayport-Blue Point8.
• Offense:
  • Averaged over 35 points per game during their six-game winning streak.
  • Showed explosive potential, especially in high-scoring affairs against Babylon and in the playoffs.
• Defense:
  • Posted three shutouts (Port Jefferson, Southampton, Greenport/Southold/Mattituck).
  • Limited playoff opponents to 12 and 14 points before the championship game.

Season Summary

Miller Place’s 2024 season was defined by a prolific passing attack, resilience after early setbacks, and a deep playoff run. The Panthers finished 8-3, reached the Suffolk IV final, and produced one of Long Island’s top quarterbacks in Shane Kiernan. Their campaign reinforced Miller Place’s status as a major contender in Suffolk small-school football and set the stage for an exciting 2025.