Mahopac Suffers OT Setback; P’Ville Survives OT Scare

Five Examiner-Area Teams Ranked by State Pollsters

By Ray Gallagher, Examiner Sports Editor @Directrays

There’s a bunch of teams from the Examiner region taking up space in the NYS Sportswriters Association poll, and we got their mentions below, so have a look, won’t you.

CLASS A

The game of the week had a sorrowful ending for the host Indians of MAHOPAC, who suffered a 40-34 double overtime setback to visiting Pelham Friday when Pelican QB Callum Reen scored the winning touchdown on a fourth-and-one-inch QB sneak in the second overtime. Mahopac RB Joey Koch (10 carries, 67 yards) returned a kickoff 85 yards along the Pelham sideline for a touchdown that leveled the score at 27-all late in the fourth quarter, and the two teams traded TDs in the first overtime, including Koch’s third score of the game. The versatile senior hauled in a swing pass from junior QB DJ DeMatteo (10 of 19, 216 yards, 3 TD passes), and raced 83 yards to get the Indians off the floor after Pelham took a 13-0 first-quarter lead, but Coach Dominick DeMatteo, who was short on personnel due to injury issues, chose to go for the tie in the first OT rather than cut Koch loose for a two-point try.

“Joey Grassia did not miss an extra point in our first two games,” the coach said. “I felt like we had a push with offense and defense that could be the difference for us.”

Many armchair QB’s along the Indian sideline and those within the bleachers were calling for the two-point try, no joke.

Mahopac junior WR Danndy Kock added a 10-yard end-around rush for a score and freshman WR/RB Nate Mascoll gave a glimpse of his promising future when he snared a 36-yard TD strike from DeMatteo for a 20-13 lead just before the break.

“I thought both teams played hard and it was unfortunate we came up short, but we will continue to work and get better,” said Joey Koch, who wanted a crack at two and the win in OT.

State-ranked (No.1) SOMERS (3-0) hosted the B-team from nationally-ranked St. Francis B (Md.) and survived a 35-27 victory when speedy senior RB Ravi Dass Jr. gave Somers an insurmountable lead and Aidan Coolican added a pick-6 late in the third. Dass (10 rushes, 96 yards) scored twice, including a seven-yard snatch from QB Matt Fitzsimons, and Luke Savino (19 rushes, 119 yards) and James Balancia (19 carries, 119 yards) each found paydirt.

All-NYS OL/DL Jake Polito admitted the Tuskers were stoked after this one.

“I think I can speak for the staff as well as the team when I say we are fired up after that win for sure,” the Navy-bound senior said. “That team, on paper, is better than us, as far as recruiting goes, and I couldn’t be prouder of the boys. We came out swinging and weren’t finished until the final whistle. As great as it feels, it’s in the past. It’s time to keep the momentum going into a great practice week and have some fun over at Mahopac’s homecoming.”

Harrison (3-1) might be for real this fall and Friday’s 24-6 win over visiting YORKTOWN only adds to that notion.

“Our kids played hard last night, but we had some struggles at times,” Husker Coach Pantelis Ypsilantis said. “There were some critical, atrocious, embarrassing calls in the game that were very untimely and really hurt us, and the make-up calls were a little too late. But Harrison did a great job. They are well coached, have a lot of size and speed and they have a chance against anyone in A.”

BREWSTER (1-2) got in the win column after a 28-14 win over host LAKELAND (1-2) , despite a solid showing from Hornet QB Grady Leonard (19-30, 182 yards, 2 TDs) and WR Anthony Jennings (6 catches, 90 yards, 2 receiving TDs). Stephen Carroll (14 tackles) has been a beast on defense for the Hornets.

Brewster jumped out early with a 68-yard TD pass from QB Massimo Parrello to WR Julius Walters, and the Bears’ defense provided short fields, which the offense capitalized on with a two-yard TD run by Parrello for a 14-0 lead.

Later in the second quarter, Brewster strung together another solid drive and Joey Anfuso capped it around end for a 20-yard score and a 21-0. edge

Lakeland responded with a TD pass before half, but it was all Brewster from that point on.

“Our defensive ends, AJ Pieragostini and Derek Karlsson, both had good games for us with a couple of sacks,” Mulvihille said, “and with Logan Simon controlling the inside with Colin Lamoreaux at linebacker we were in good shape.”

Parrello capped off the day with a 10 yard TD run. 

“It was a good win for us after some tough games,” Mulvihille said. “Lakeland always plays tough, so we knew we’d have to bring our best effort.” 

Visiting Clarkstown South took FOX LANE down in a 42-13 setback. The Foxes (1-2) face state-ranked Rye this week.

CLASS AA

CARMEL wasted no time in disposing of visiting RCK in Friday’s 42-0 beatdown when senior RB’s NickRosafrte (2 rushes, 59 yards) and Thomas Keating (6 rushes, 62 yards) ignited the @CarmelCrazies, each scoring a pair of TDs. Ram soph RB Tristan Werlau carried seven times for 58 yards. Rosaforte added an INT on defense while Jeremy Smith (9 tackles, sack) and Dwayen Hibbert (6 tackles) were sick on the defensive side of the ball.

Slice it any way you want, Rosaforte, among the best in the state, was the difference.

“Rosey is the best all-around player in Class AA,” Carmel boss Todd Cayea said of his All-NYS DB/RB, Rosaforte. “He’s just a different cat.”

Mamaroneck showed out in a 42-14 win over host WHITE PLAINS, which failed to have an answer for Tiger hotshot Jack Ramsay (8 totes, 195 yards, 3 TDs). He also caused havoc on defense. The Tigers fell to 0-3 and hope to get off the scheid this week against Ossining (2-2).

CLASS B

All that pre-season hope at HEN HUD has been put on hold after the Sailors (1-2) lost for the second time in three weeks, including Friday 39-14 drubbing at the hands of visiting Pearl River. That doesn’t mean it’s time to push the panic button just yet, but Coach John “Big Cat” Catano’s Sailors had issues across the board, including three turnovers brought to the house, and breakdowns in the secondary that led two two of Brendan Donahue’s four scores.

State-ranked (No.17) BYRAM HILLS had a tougher than expected game against visiting BRIARCLIFF/HAMILTON, but Bobcat QB Jon Accurso carved out an impressive stat line (17 of 29 for 194 yards and two touchdowns). RB Luke Weiler rushed for 74 yards and hit a pair of field goals to keep the Bobcats (4-0) among the ranks of the undefeated, along with 10 other teams in Section 1.

State-ranked (No.5) PLEASANTVILLE, the NYS runner-up, cruised a fine line to victory in a 21-14 overtime triumph of visiting Bronxville when All-NYS WR/RB Daniel Picartwent wildcat from four yards out and kept the defending Section 1 champion Panthers (3-0) undefeated with an OT tuddy. The Panthers’ D stood tall on fourth down to secure the victory. Bronxville scored with 1:50 remaining in the game and then converted a two-point play to tie it 14-14. Pleasantville had a 35-yard field goal attempt at the end of regulation that missed and sent the game to overtime.

Panther QB Aidan Picart plowed in from a yard out for a Panther score midway through the third quarter for a 14-6 lead. Daniel Picart scored the game’s initial TD for a 7-0 lead with 5:55 left in the first.

While it was a big win for the Panthers, it wasn’t as satisfying as one would expect.

“To be honest it wasn’t very happy and joyful in our locker room after the win,” Daniel Picart admitted. “We know we should’ve played much much better and can’t keep expecting to play flat and come out flat and win against these talented teams.”

CLASS C/D

State-ranked (No.17) Class C VALHALLA (3-0) could be on a post-season collision course with No.11 Dobbs Ferry, the reigning Section 1 champ, after a 20-0 win over Albertus Magnus. The Vikings have outscored three sub-par opponents (2-7) by a combined 111-14.

After going winless last season, PUTNAM VALLEY secured its second win of the season in a 21-0 whitewashing of host Croton-Harmon Saturday when QB Thomas Cunningham (from 6 yards), RB Ricky Meister (45 yards) and Albert McDonald (20 yards) all found paydirt for the Tigers (2-1).

Meister is having a spectacular season and went for 135 yards on 18 totes, and added two catches for 19 yards and five tackles on D. Cunningham hit on 6-of-9 passes for 96 yards, all to talented sophomore WR Caden Glenn (3 catches for 96 yards).

Through weeks: Meister is at 420 yards rushing; Cunningham 201 yards passing; Glenn 158 yards receiving.

“The team is meshing well right now,” PV Coach Ryan Elsasser said. “We have a lot to clean up this week, but we are pleased as a staff at what the kids are doing at the moment. Cunningham is making the adjustments that we are asking him to do each week, and with Ricky Meister’s natural ability with the ball in his hands and Caden Glenn’s blocking and hands in the slot we were able to come up with some big third down plays. Alexander Gecaj is an anchor on the defensive line with Hudson Sperrazza and Kyle Mello cleaning up the run game at middle linebacker. I am very proud of how these guys are playing together and enjoying the game together as a team.”

Hudson Sperrazza and Kyle Mello both had interceptions for the Tigers, who saw Alex Gecaj lead the defense with seven tackles. K Brian Da Silva was 3/3 on extra points.

Class C WESTLAKE had no mercy for Class D HALDANE in  41-7 manhandling when Wildcats Christian Occhipinti and Christian Knapp each ran for a touchdown and Knapp took a kickoff 80 yards for another score for the Wildcats (2-1). Thomas Tucker snagged a 27-yard TD pass from Ryan Van Tassel for the Blue Devils (2-1), who saw RB Evan Giachinta rush for 91 yards on 16 totes.

INDEPENDENT LEAGUE

Looks like WALTER PANAS has one of the top talents in the league in QB Travis Carlucci, who rushed for three TDs and fired another score to Jed Chisholm in the Panthers’ 35-0 win over PEEKSKILL RB Paul Ronga added a rushing TD for the Panthers (3-1), who are unbeaten in the league.