Former Colt Returns For Homecoming
/By Andrew Wroblewski
awroblewski@longislandergroup.com
Stephen Bowen, right, a 2002 Hills West graduate and current defensive end for the New York Jets, joins the captains of the Colts’ football team Saturday afternoon for the coin toss prior to Hills West’s homecoming game.
As the Colts of 2015 dominated Riverhead during High School West’s homecoming game Saturday afternoon, a Colt of yesteryear was visiting his old stomping grounds.
Stephen Bowen, a 2002 Hills West graduate and current defensive end for the New York Jets, joined the Colts on the sidelines for their homecoming game.
Enjoying a 42-7 Hills West victory, Bowen was thoroughly impressed with what he saw.
“These guys out here, they’re getting it done. They really are. I’m proud of them,” Bowen, 31, who grew up in Dix Hills, said Saturday.
Prior to the game, Bowen gave the Colts (4-1) some advice to stay focused: “It’s not about that [homecoming], it’s about you guys in here. It’s about being a strong unit and going out there and just executing,” he said.
With Bowen watching, the Colts did more than execute, they dominated.
Hills West jumped out to a 35-0 lead over the Blue Waves by halftime and never looked back. Bowen said he believes the Colts “absolutely” have what it takes to reach yet another Suffolk County championship game, which they did a season ago.
“Coach [Kyle] Madden has taken the program to another level,” Bowen, a Hofstra University graduate, said. “It’s just great… to see how successful they’ve been.”
As for Bowen’s other team, Gang Green took on the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday afternoon. While Bowen was inactive, New York defeated Washington 34-20 for the Jets’ second-straight win behind a staunch defense, which Bowen is a part of.
“We have a bunch of great guys on the defense and on the whole team period,” Bowen said. “Everybody comes to work.”
Bowen spent four seasons with Washington before being signed by the Jets as a defensive end in March. The 6-foot-5, 300 pounder also spent five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys after he was signed by the organization as a undrafted free agent in 2006.
