Sunday, October 30, 2011

Spartans, Dukes advance to championship

Marlboro scores every which way, pounds Red Hook 49-12

   MIDDLETOWN – The Marlboro High School football team got exactly what it wanted for the last six weeks.

   Another chance.

   Since dropping a 21-6 decision to Spackenkill in Week Three for their only loss, the Iron Dukes have reeled off six consecutive wins – averaging a whopping 40 points a game during the streak – including Saturday morning’s 49-12 victory over No. 3 Red Hook in the Section Nine, Class B semifinals at Faller Field in Middletown.

   Second-seeded Marlboro now gets a chance to avenge that only loss as it takes on No. 1 Spackenkill next Saturday at Dietz Stadium in Kingston for the sectional title.

   The Iron Dukes have scored 44, 29, 56, 28, 34 and 49 points since getting just one score in the loss to the Spartans.

   “I wish I could put my finger on it,” said Marlboro coach Rich Ward, who will be playing in his second sectional title game in as many seasons as coach. “Our kids are doing a great job. We’re just focused right now, we’re really locked in. We have a great attitude.”

   Marlboro scored every way possible with three rushing touchdowns and one through the air on offense, two kickoff returns for touchdowns (one for 73 yards by Ryan Cary, one for 80 yards by Willy Brown to start the second half), and one TD on defense (a 32-yard interception return by Matt Tamburri).

   This despite having less than 24 hours notice that the game, originally scheduled for 3 p.m., was moved to a morning kickoff at 10 to try to beat the snow.

   “We sold our kids on the fact that this is the most important thing we have in our life right now,” Ward said. “We started well and played well the whole game.”

Spack holds off New Paltz, 7-6

By Rich Thomaselli

HVSR

   KINGSTON – A freezing cold, blustery wind, turnovers galore, numerous unsportsmanlike penalties, and the loss of both quarterbacks.

   The Section Nine, Class B semifinal football game between No. 1 Spackenkill and No. 4 New Paltz definitely was not pretty and certainly was not one for the film archives. But here’s what we learned about this group of Spartans during this magical season – they’re a resilient bunch.

   Despite playing most of the second half without QB K.J. Williams, the Spartans held off the Huguenots, 7-6, at Dietz Stadium on Saturday.

   That sets up a 1 vs. 2 showdown between top-seeded Spackenkill and No. 2 Marlboro, a 49-12 winner over Red Hook in the other semifinal, for the sectional championship next Saturday night back at Dietz Stadium. Spackenkill beat the Dukes, 21-6, in the third week of the season, but Marlboro has since run off six consecutive wins.

   The game was a clinic in what not to do. Numerous false start penalties, four fumbles, two interceptions – and, since the game was moved to 10 a.m. to beat the snow, not a drop of the wet stuff – and several facemask and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties will certainly draw frowns from the respective coaching staffs when they watch game film. A New Paltz player was even ejected.

   “New Paltz plays with a lot of emotion and so do we,” Spackenkill’s Josh Riley said. “Sometimes things just act up.”

   As Spackenkill coach Clinton DeSouza said, “Survive and advance.”

   But the Spartans might be surviving and advancing without their start QB. Williams, who threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Fink in the first quarter for the Spartans’ only score, was injured in the third quarter when he scrambled away from a heavy rush and twisted his knee pivoting on the Dietz Stadium turf. He spent the remainder of the game on the bench, wrapped in blankets, and will have an MRI done to determine the extent of the injury.

   Ditto for New Paltz sophomore QB Nick DiMarco, who screamed in pain in the fourth quarter when he was hit and appeared to hurt his knee.

   The Huguenots, defending Section Nine, Class B champs, made a critical mistake in the first period on a botched punt snap that resulted in a 33-yard loss and Spackenkill taking over on the New Paltz 27 yard line. Williams hit Fink on the next play with a fade to the left corner of the end zone, and the extra point made it 7-0.

   “That was a momentum-changer,” DeSouza said. “We knew we were going for the end zone right away to take advantage of that.”

   In the third quarter, DiMarco threw a 28-yard strike to Chad Wells. Surprisingly, New Paltz coach Tom Tegeler went for two instead of the tie, and the conversion failed, leaving the score at 7-6. New Paltz later missed a 37-yard field goal try.

   Otherwise, the Huguenots couldn’t muster much offense against Spackenkill – similar to the first meeting that took place between the two teams, a Spartan win.

   “We had a great scout,” DeSouza said. “We had a great game plan on defense and we executed. Josh (Riley) at middle linebacker, he knew what was coming every time.”

   The Spartans were able to run out the clock on New Paltz thanks to offensive MVP Nick Celestino, who was reduced to tears after the game.

   And they weren’t tears of pain.

   “No, no, I’m happy,” the Spackenkill High School running back said. “I’m so happy we came through in the end of a close game. We’re a hell of a team, I didn’t want it to end.”

   It didn’t.

   And now it’s on to another rematch with red-hot Marlboro.

   “We’re their only loss. They’re going to be looking for revenge,” DeSouza said. “It’s going to be fun. Get the popcorn ready.”