Tigers Sustain First Loss of Season at the Hands of Rival Huguenots

The running of New Rochelle’s Jonathan Forrest was too much for White Plains, as the Tigers sustained their first loss of the season, 36-26, at the hands of their arch rivals Huguenots, in New Rochelle, on Friday, Oct. 4.

Forrest scored four touchdowns in the game, with three of his touchdowns coming in the fourth quarter to win the game for the Huguenots. “You have to ride the horse that is running and he was the horse running,” commented New Rochelle Head Coach Lou DiRienzo. “Jonathan Forrest is a dude! I do not need to say anymore than that, he is a dude,” reiterated DiRienzo.

The game was a typical battle between the two Section 1 AA rivals with lead changes and emotions running high. The bleachers on both sides of the field were packed, with White Plains fans traveling to the game and Huguenots faithful vastly in attendance.

Tigers quarterback Cameron Crabbe gave the White Plains fans something to cheer about when he leaped over the goal line at 1:17 of the first quarter for the first touchdown of the game.

However, on the ensuing kickoff Huguenots halfback Keith Wheeler ran the ball back 60 yards to the Tigers 18-yard line to set up Forrest’s first touchdown of the game on a three-yard run.

Both teams scored again before the half, as Huguenots quarterback Nas Sinkfield-Shelton hit Wheeler with a 10-yard pass to score with 22 seconds left before halftime. But then immediately Crabbe hit Tigers wide receiver Matt Berube with a bomb to gain 52 yards. Crabbe then found his tight-end Lukas Repetti in the end zone for a 10-yard strike. White Plains and New Rochelle went into their respective locker rooms tied at halftime 14-14.

White Plains owned the third quarter with their defense shutting out New Rochelle and their offense scoring twice to make the score in their favor, 26-14.

Everything seemed to be going the Tigers way, when Crabbe threw a pass that was tipped by a Huguenots defender right into the hands of a sprinting Will Ahearn for a 60-yard White Plains touchdown.

Nonetheless, if the Tigers owned the third quarter, the fourth quarter certainly belonged to Huguenots junior running back Forrest. He put the Huguenots on his back and carried them to three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and a, 36-26 win for New Rochelle.

Forrest struck first in the fourth quarter by barreling his way for five yards and a touchdown to keep New Rochelle in the game, but still losing 26-21.

Then on the Tigers next offensive possession, Crabbe made a costly error. At 11:48 of the fourth quarter with White Plains threatening to score, Crabbe fumbled the ball on the Huguenots 12 yard line. The ball was recovered by New Rochelle and on the very next play Forrest scored his second touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard run to put the Huguenots ahead, 29-26.

Forrest scored again in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run to total four touchdowns in the game and three in the fourth quarter. “It feels great when a running back keeps getting the ball over and over, you gain momentum and you feel like nobody can bring you down,” stated Forrest.

“I have total respect for Skip Stevens and total respect for the White Plains football program,” declared Huguenots Head Coach DiRienzo, after the game. “This was a typical New Rochelle versus White Plains football game filled with emotion. I am just happy and fortunate we came out on the plus side,” said DiRienzo.

Not only did New Rochelle spoil the Tigers four-game winning streak and undefeated season, this is the 11th consecutive year that the Tigers have not beaten New Rochelle. Furthermore, all signs pointed to the prospect that this would finally be the year that White Plains would be victorious over New Rochelle.

“It is a big loss, it is New Rochelle. We have not beaten them in ten years and now it is eleven years. Hopefully we will see them again in the playoffs and get them one more time,” sighed Tigers tight-end Repetti.