Ossinging Takes Somers to move on to the Class A Finals

Ossinging out muscled Somers tonight in a battle of the titans to move on to vs Fox Lane Sunday for the Class A championship. Ossining got the jump they needed by when Jesse Drinks ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown and smartly going for 2 while they had momentum. They added a field goal which was countered by Somers making it 11-3 at the half. The 2nd half was a back and forth battle with Somers finally driving late in the 4th quarter to score a touchdown on a Robbie Lombardo run. They went to the pass on the 2 point conversion, which would have tied the score. The pass intended for tight end Bradley Poingent was deflected and fell incomplete. Somers' on-side kick attempt was recovered by Ossining and they controlled the ball long enough to capture the victory and move on.

Somers will host Eastchester on Tuesday November 6th in the De Metteo Bowl which will be played at Somers. This will be a match up of the 2 league champions so its a game you don't want to miss.

Dobbs Ferry Defeats Blindbrook

For the Dobbs Ferry seniors who helped lead the Eagles to last year's Class C state championship, yesterday was a chance to start anew, a time to get serious. They did just that, rolling to a 54-0 win over No. 4B Blind Brook in the Class C quarterfinals at Gould Park in Dobbs Ferry.

The Eagles (7-0), the No. 1A seed, will face No. 2B Rye Neck Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Gould Park.

"We know it's the playoffs now, so we just turned it up," said senior quarterback Trevor Saunders, who hit senior Frank Scateretico for a touchdown on the Eagles' opening drive. "For the seniors, this is a whole new season for us and we want to lead our team back to the Dome. We want to make history again."

Dobbs Ferry stormed to a 27-0 lead at halftime, then added to the cushion when Rob Alexander opened the third quarter by returning a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

"That really helped us out a lot," senior Brandon Brailsford said. "It took the wind out of them."

Brailsford younger brother Devonte, a sophomore fullback, led the Eagles with three touchdowns. Scateretico added two.

"These are not easy teams we're playing," said the elder Brailsford, whose team has now outscored its opponents 294-35. "We just do what we have to do."

Dobbs Ferry will face perhaps its most difficult task all season in Rye Neck. The Panthers (6-1) have won every game since dropping their season opener.

"I know they're hot," Scateretico said. "We'll just have to have a really good week of practice and come out prepared."

From the Old Garnet

From The Old Garnet:

Prowling into Class B from Class C for the 2007 season the WESTLAKE WILCATS clawed their way past # 3 seed Putnam Valley and are the Garnets’ Section One Class B semi-final opponocat.

A fixture on Rye’s schedule in the 1990s when both squads were in Class C and before that when both schools were charter members of the Central Westchester League (CWL), the Blue and White slink into Nugent Stadium poised to pounce an upset.

In the last playoff spat between Rye and Westlake, a 1998 Class C bowl game, the Wildcats mauled Rye 35-13. In the eight contests since 1992 the Garnets have collared the Cats by a margin of 7-1, and Rye leads this struggle for litter box superiority 15-3-2 (.833%). These felines can hiss and scratch attempting to mark Nugent Stadium with a Wildcat “W”, but it is Rye who triumphs sending Westlake skulking back to its Mount Pleasant liar.

With rain, the great equalizer, forecast for this tilt, the Garnets struggle early but emerge as the Cool Cat in a 28-7 taming of these tabbies.

Bonus Point:

At which Section One school did Dino Garr coach football between his two stints as the Head Football Coach at Rye High School?

Answer: Westlake

Rye vs Westlake

Rye dominated! On a dark & stormy night!

Somers prepares for Ossining

Here we are at the Sectional Semis and the rematch everyone has been waiting for has arrived. Ossining after coming back late in the game to overtake Somers at the beginning of the season has been impressive, topping off their season with a decisive victory over reigning Section One Class A Champs Harrison.
Somers on the other hand believes they had the game against Ossining and gave it away at the end. Somers hasn't lost since and has been impressive in the stretch including their shutting down and out of the high powered Fox Lane offense that easily handled Ossining.
The margin of that victory earned the Tuskers the Section One Class A League A Championship and home field throughout the playoffs. There fore Ossining must Travel to Somers, an unwelcome site for any opponent on Tuesday night 10/30 for 6:30pm kickoff.
This one should be a classic.

Somers Knocks of Nyack

LINCOLNDALE - Ever since Week 2, when Ossining beat Somers on a 71-yard touchdown pass with 1:50 left, the Tuskers have wanted a chance at a rematch.

That's why, when it was announced over the public address system at Somers last night that Ossining beat Harrison, the Tuskers players cheered from the sidelines. No. 1A Somers then took care of its end, beating No. 4B Nyack 20-10 in a Class A quarterfinal.

"Our whole team is just craving that game," Tullgren said. "We wanted to win so bad. We wanted Ossining to beat Harrison. We just want this game so bad."

The Tuskers (7-1) will host No. 3B Ossining (7-1) Tuesday night. But first they had to get past a young but athletic Nyack team that came in with three wins in its last four games - and the one loss was by one point to league champion Eastchester.

Sanley Pierre-Louis' 27-yard field goal brought the Indians (4-4) within 17-10 with 7:24 left, and a penalty on the ensuing kickoff gave Somers the ball on its 11. But the Tuskers, behind tough inside running from Rob Lombardo and sweeps by Tullgren and Dylan Haas, got five first downs and ran more than six minutes off the clock. Tullgren, who hadn't made a field goal all season before last night, then drilled his second of the game, a 37-yarder with 1:12 left, to seal the win.

"That was the key to the game. We were finally able to move the football," Somers coach Tony DeMatteo said.

Lombardo, who capped the Tuskers first two possessions with 2-yard touchdown runs, finished with 132 yards on 27 carries. He touched the ball six times on Somers' first possession, when the Tuskers drove 69 yards on 10 plays, including a 28-yard run on third-and-nine and the 2-yard touchdown on first-and-goal.

Nyack, using more balance, answered right back with a 78-yard drive on just eight plays. Freshman Venson Constant had a 17-yard run, junior Anthony Davis had a 13-yard run, and sophomore quarterback Raymond Nichols flipped the ball to junior Anthony Davis on the option just before being tackled, leading to a 20-yard score.

The extra point by Pierre-Louis gave the Indians a 7-6 lead, but the momentum didn't last past the next kickoff, which Haas returned 52 yards to the Nyack 35. Two straight completions from Tom McGuire to Haas got Somers out of a third-and-23 hole, and Lombardo scored on his second two-yard touchdown run of the half to make it 12-7. Haas added the 2-point conversion.

Tuskers fullback/linebacker Glen Bernardi fumbled the ball on his own 26 on Somers' next offensive play, but made up for it with an interception on Nyack's series, after a crushing hit by Andrew Madigan forced the ball to pop loose from the Indians receiver.

Nyack's next turnover was more costly. After Joe Marasco stripped Brandon Johnson and recovered at the Nyack 35 with 1:40 left in the half, a 30-yard completion from Erik Zmuidins to Haas led to a 23-yard field goal from Tullgren with 25 seconds left.

Freshman Venson Constant led the Indians with 94 yards on 13 carries.

"Everyone's good in the playoffs," DeMatteo said. "Nyack is only the fourth seed, but they lost 20-19 to (No. 1B) Eastchester. I knew we were going to have our hands full."

Tuskers Emblaze Victory On New Field!

September 7th, 2007 Lincolndale, NY

A tough Brewster team that would not go down rolled into Somers Friday night for Game 1 of the 2007 season and the opening of the new stadium. The Tuskers had a lot to live up to being ranked #1 in the North County News football preview for the 2007 season.

On the opening drive our men moved the ball with ease. We open with Lombardo running hard right behind Kane and Parlitsis for a cool 5. Haas sweeps left for 16, then McGuire throws a roll out pass to Haas for another 15. Deiana slices up the middle behind Smith, Corning and Parlitsis – plus 10. The drive culminates with a roll out pass right from McGuire to Haas - TOUCHDOWN. Somers 6 Brewster 0.

Brewster takes possession, first play a QB sneak slices through the Somers D for 8 yards. Brewster moves the ball for 3 first downs. Tackles made by McFadden, Ortler, Madigan, Brady, Haas, Smith, Kane and the rest of the Somers D. Fourth and nine Brewster back to pass here comes Lombardo, the QB is sacked for a loss of 5. Somers takes over on downs.

Somers starts with a pitch to Deiana, he runs right for 32 yards and a first down. We move the ball for another 1st down. Lombardo to the right again, big hole by Kane, and Parlitsis – boom – he can’t be stopped – a 22 yard touchdown run. Tullgren kicks the extra point it’s now Somers 13 Brewster 0.

Brewster would not give in. On the kick Brewster runs it back 87 yards for the touchdown. Somers 13 Brewster 6.

On the next series Somers goes 3 and out.

Brewster takes over and keeps the ball on the ground. Tackles by Mongelli, Tullgren and Ortler. Brewster back to pass here comes the D, it’s a screen, Brewster picks up a cool 7 stopped by Ortler and Kane. Short pass in the seem, another 4 yards. Brewster goes back in the pocket, he’s looking long lets it go left the receiver is wide open, a 40 yard touchdown pass. The extra point is up – it’s blocked by Kane! Somers 13 Brewster 12.

Somers gets ball and moves it for 3 first downs. Runs by Haas, Deiana and Lombardo bring us to the doorstep of Brewster’s end zone. Somers fumbles and Brewster recovers.

Brewster takes over, goes 3 and out. The punt is returned by Haas for 10 yards.

Somers takes the ball deep in Brewster territory hoping to punch one in before the half. The ball is loose again, Brewster recovers. Another turnover for Somers, probably 1st game jitters for such a young group.

Brewster drops back to pass, here comes the rush, it’s a screen again. The ball is released, Kane reads the play, he stretches he arms up and whisks the ball out of thin air! He tucks it and runs down to the 15! Somers refuses to let this opportunity go, as the drive culminates in a roll out pass from McGuire to Haas. Tullgren hits the extra point and Somers goes into the locker room with a 20 to 12 lead.

The second half goes back and forth with more turnovers on fumbles by both teams. Last Somers drive of the 3rd quarter ends in a 40 yard punt by Zmuidins. Brewster takes the punt and here they go again, with one man to beat Zmuidins makes the hit and brings the runner down saving a touchdown.

Somers D holds Brewster to 3 and out with tackles by Bernardi, Lombardo and Deiana. On 4th down Brewster makes the move, the runner is caught by Deiana, the ball is loose, Somers recovers. Bernardi comes up with it and Somers has the ball!

Lombardo up the middle – plus 6, next play again for 18, first Down. Deiana on the counter for 3, once again for 7, first down. Lombardo up the middle behind Corning, Parlitsis and Smith for 13, first down. Haas goes left behind McFadden and Smith for another 10, first down. Deiana moves around the right end, another 8 inside the Brewster 5. Lombardo to the right behind Kane and Parlitsis – Touchdown! The point after is good. Somers 27 Brewster 12.

One more attempt by Brewster. They get us on a fake punt – pass for 15 yards and a first down. We hold them, take the ball and run out the clock.

The final, Somers 27 Brewster 12. A strong performance by Somers, we showed a lot of hard work, plenty of talent and desire. A lot of mistakes that will be corrected this week by coach D and his staff. Most importantly with all of the adversity we put on ourselves we took control and got the win. The new field will be around for many, many years and thanks to this team and their coaches all Somers players and fans will always have the memory of its opening being a sound victory.

The game was broadcasted on AM 1510 by Ken Stein, Putnam County ESPN radio.

We continue our quest next Saturday night at Ossining. Ossining also won their 1st game edging Lakeland 23 – 14, so it should prove to be a good contest.

The Tuskers want to thank everyone for a great turnout and a complete sellout of our concession stand!

See you Saturday night. Wear your Somers apparel. If you don’t have any pick some up at the game or go to the website http://www.somersfootball.com/forms/ .

Be there, Aloha.

Somers gives strong performance at John Jay Scrimmage

Saturday September 1st, 2007 – Cross River, N.Y.

Our Tuskers came on strong at the multi – team scrimmage at John Jay. Present were Somers, John Jay, Nyack, Rye, RC Ketchem, Arlington.

We started against Nyack, our first shot at them since last year’s heartbreaking playoff loss. From the looks of the scrimmage, Somers has no intention of finishing any contest with Nyack on the loss side. We moved on to RC Ketcham and finished against John Jay. John Jay has been a rival of this group of players since 5/6 grade. Even though we don’t play them at the Varsity Level our Tuskers still showed plenty of Tusker pride byhandling them well. The D Line clogged it up and the linebackers made tackles. Our secondary was strong stopping pass attempts and keeping any breakaways in check.

On Offense the line opened it up: McFadden, Smith, Corning, Parlitsis and Kane made plenty of room for Deiana, Lombardo, Haas and Company. McGurire had plenty of time in the pocket to hit his targets.

Our depth showed itself as well. Plenty of strong play from our backs and line at all levels. Matt Lancia was called up from JV for the injured Eric Zmuidins and gave a strong performance at quarterback as well.

In my opinion Somers gave the strongest performance of the day. - BUT – It all boils down to next Friday night at Home vs Brewster, Game 1 of the 2007 season.

Be there.

GO TUSKERS!