More Red Than Black
Tri-Valley’s Depth Leads To Convincing Boys And Girls Division IV Track Wins Over Rival Sullivan West As Several Individuals From Both Schools Evince Impressive Personal Bests
Boys: Tri-Valley 100.5, Sullivan West 40.5
Girls Tri-Valley 104, Sullivan West 46
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from the Tri-Valley vs. Sullivan West Division IV track meet (clockwise): Sullivan West's Rosa Martinez prevails in the 400. Sullivan West's Amanda Rosenberger evinces a personal best to beat T-V's Katlynn Greffrath's personal best in the 100. Rosenberger came back and clipped Greffrath in the 200 as well. Sullivan West's Hannah Feinman goes skyward to win the triple jump. Katlynn Greffrath won the high jump with a mark of 5-0. T-V's Brendan Tierney wins the 100. He also captured the discus and the shot put. Tri-Valley's Autumn Bender takes the baton from Sabrena Smith in the 1600 relay. Bender won the 1500 and the 800 and ran a leg in the winning 3200 relay as part of her busy day. T-V's Omar Lopez runs the anchor leg in the winning 3200 relay. He also won the 800. T-V's Andrew Malone outpaces SW's Mitch Paciga in the 110 high hurdles. Malone also won the 200. Sullivan West's Kristina Sumfleth sails over the 400 intermediate hurdles en route to a win in the event.
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—By dint of sheer numbers, Tri-Valley currently dwarfs its once most contentious rival Sullivan West on both the boys and girls side of the ledger. Consider this: Tri-Valley boys outnumber Sullivan West 48-23, while the Lady Bears have 35 to SW’s 23. This disparity was not always the case.
Tri-Valley’s burgeoning numbers have served them well in track meets where points pour in from first, second and third place finishes in dual meets like the one hosted by the Bears against the Bulldogs, six places like in the recent Tri-Valley Invitational won overall by the Lady Bears as they bested the other 26 schools large and small, and eight places in Sectionals which they have won for the past five years in a row.
In short, having competent contenders across the board like Tri-Valley does leads to big wins against schools which lack sufficient depth. Unfortunately for proud Sullivan West, thin ranks are part of the new world order. That said, what they lack in numbers they make up for in heart and grit.
But when it comes to the war between the red and the black, the legion of Tri-Valley red shirts born of a program that has continued its meteoric rise the past few years, Sullivan West finds itself no longer able to keep up with the school it last bested in a Division –clinching clash back in the spring of 2008.
That history-making win, which shattered Tri-Valley’s 23-year streak of 129 straight dual meet wins, set the stage for Sullivan West’s girls to do what they had done in the prior winter; namely to beat the Lady Bears for the division title. The winter of 2007-08 brought Sullivan West its first-ever girls indoor Section Nine Championship as well.
That historic April 16, 2008 afternoon in Grahamsville when diminutive Rianne Erlwein came from behind to edge Caroline Bertholf in the anchor leg of the meet’s final event, the 1600 relay, that passage led to the one-point victory and the story in The River Reporter entitled, “Won By One.”
For Westie veterans Dani Myers, Rachel Deppa, Kristina Sumfleth who were part of that victory which was soon supplanted by Tri-Valley’s subsequent Section Nine title win which in turn, preceded wins in all three running seasons ever since over Sullivan West, it now comes down to trying to marshal great individual efforts given the current imbalance of the teams overall.
For Sullivan West senior sprinter Amanda Rosenberger who was part of that 2008 Section Nine indoor title win, opting to run track this spring in lieu of playing softball represented a major sea change. It wasn’t an easy decision to forego her spring life on the ball diamond in favor of the track, but Rosenberger was committed to giving it her all in her final sports season.
Needless to say, she was all smiles by this day’s end having turned in personal best times to edge out Tri-Valley’s speedy Katlynn Greffrath in both the 100 and the 200. Greffrath also clocked her fastest times in the events to date.
Both races were incredibly close and clearly highlight moments on the track during the bright, sunny afternoon. Rosenberger got a great start in the 100 and turned in a blistering 12.8 to Greffrath’s 13.2. But as close as the 100 was, the 200 was even dicier.
Greffrath had the lead coming out of the turn heading into the home stretch but Rosenberger edged by her in 27.5 beating the athletic sophomore by a mere tenth of a second. Greffrath cleared 5-0 to capture the high jump and assailed the bar at 5-2 but failed to clear the state standard mark in he three attempts. She also took second in the long jump (14-10 ½) finishing behind her basketball cohort Mareena DiMilia (15-5).
DiMilia who earned a share of the Tri-Valley Invitational’s Outstanding Field Athlete honors, won the 100 high hurdles in 16.4. She was second in the shot put (33-7 ½) behind Dominique Darby (33-8 ¼), who also was an Outstanding Field Athlete at the T-V Invitational.
Sullivan West’s Hannah Feinman won the triple jump (32-2) and took third in the 100 hurdles (17.8).
In more girls action T-V’s Autumn Bender ran a winning leg in the 3200 relay with Alex Brooks, Sabrena Smith, Brooke Gillette and Danielle Graham (11:19.5). Bender came back to win the 1500 (5:24) and the 800 (2:41.1). Olivia Rehm (12:13.8) helped to advance the T-V sweep of the long distance runs with a win in the 3000. The Lady Bears won the 1600 relay (4:39.1) as Smith, Bender, Brooks and Gillette combined their speedy efforts.
Sullivan West got wins from Rosa Martinez (69.4) in the 400 and from Sumfleth (74.4) in the 400 intermediate hurdles as well as in the pole vault (7-0).
In the boys meet, Sullivan West had to forego the normally stalwart efforts of distance maven Reed Scott who was nursing a sore hamstring and opted to eschew the meet rather than aggravate the injury.
Tri-Valley swept the distance events beginning with the 3200 relay as Brandon Bobic, Justin Weintraub, Hauk Boyes and Omar Lopez turned in a winning time of 9:18.2. Lopez won the 800 (2:18.8), while Boyes claimed the 3200 (10:56.4). Weintraub captured the 1600 (5:02.1). Lopez, Andrew Malone, Zach Nilsen and Weintraub combined for the 3:54 win in the 1600 relay.
Andrew Malone was victorious in the 110 high hurdles (16.2) as he edged out Sullivan West’s Mitch Paciga by .3 of a second. Malone won the 200 in 24.7. Brendan Tierney was victorious in the 100 (12.2), the shot put (42-1/2) and the discus (119-5). Eugene Morton won the triple jump (36-10), while Aidan Woolsey won the 400 (55.9) and the pole vault (9-6).
Sullivan West got victories from Matt Cardona in the long jump (17-2) and from John Masten in the 400 intermediate hurdles (62.5).
Complete results are shown below on the score sheets courtesy of scorekeeper Kevin Giroux.
Meet results courtesy of Kevin Giroux, Tri-Valley scorekeeper
Tri-Valley will send a contingent of its best to the Penn Relays as the girls participate on April 26 and the boys do their part on April 27. Both schools will vie at the Monticello Games on April 28.
For an album of photos from the meet, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Three Dawg Day
Jeffersonville Whirlwind Tour Provides Early Glimpses Of Bulldogs Track, Softball and Baseball
Softball: Hancock 8, Sullivan West 2
Baseball: John S. Burke Catholic 16, Sullivan West 4
Girls Track and Field: Non-league: Sullivan West 104, Livingston Manor 29; Sullivan West 113, Chester 10; Livingston Manor 52, Chester 10
Boys Track and Field Non-league: Sullivan West 110, Livingston Manor 30; Sullivan West 100, Chester 39; Livingston Manor 66, Chester 56
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from Sullivan West track, softball and baseball (clockwise): Sullivan West's Mitch Paciga wins the 110 hurdles. Sullivan West shortstop Carly Grishaber tags out a Hancock's Kayla Berringer via a fine throw from third baseman Victoria Haas. Burke's Tom Sullivan went 3-for-4 in the Eagles' win over Sullivan West in the opener of their Division IV series. Sullivan West's Hannah Feinman wins the 100 hurdles. She also captured the long and triple jump.Livingston Manor's Neal Mock comes around the final turn of the 800. Sullivan West's E.J. Franskevicz swings away at a pitch from Burke's Ryan St. John. Chester's S. Ryan wins the 800 and Amanda Rosenberger sets off at a speedy pace in the uncontested 400 relay. Rosenberger won the the 100 and 200.
JEFFERSONVILLE, NY—It’s not often that a school has three home sports events going on simultaneously in the same town. Sensing a chance to zoom in with my camera to capture track, softball and baseball photos all in one whirlwind afternoon, I headed out to land all three for the price of one.
Literally speaking, with gas prices as high as they are, I find myself looking to be much more efficient with my sports sojourns knowing I’ve got five schools I have to cover completely and that means a slew of photos for baseball, softball, track and field, boys and girls golf and tennis. It’s a lot of ground to cover so I do look for opportunities wherein I’ll find a mix of what I’m searching for in the same place.
The easiest sport to accomplish this is track and field. Not only are there dual meets to visit, but there are also the invitationals, the league and county meet as well as the sectionals. Track meets do present a different challenge and that is that events are taking place simultaneously on the track, in the jumping pits and at the throwing circle. Sometimes you’ve got to choose to shadow one event knowing you’re missing another so by season’s end, it is necessary to see to it that you’ve gotten photos of all of the events and the athletes that participate in them.
After a decade of covering track meets I have this down to a science but naturally, since I was only spending a limited amount of time at this small track meet that featured Chester and Livingston Manor against their larger hosting non-league counterpart, it was going to be just a glancing overview of some of the events including long jump, 110 hurdles, 3200/3000, 100 and the pole vault.
The bright sun and blue sky gave the kind of gorgeous background I look for at track meets. No doubt when it comes to the iconic Tri-Valley Invitational slated for April 21, the weather will revert to its usual fare for that meet with rain and cool temperatures. If we’re lucky, that’s all we’ll see. In bygone years it’s been far worse.
Sullivan West had little competition at this meet except in a few events. Even with its diminished numbers, the girls team readily outpointed both schools. Sullivan West’s boys team fared well too. Listed below are the first place finishers. It will be interesting to see how the Westies hold up against stiffer competition. Tri-Valley will offer the most significant challenge in Division IV as the Bears far outnumber their rivals and in track, depth is vital to racking up points towards team victories.
100 meters: Amanda Rosenberger (SW) 13.4; 200: Rosenberger (SW) 28.0; 400: Rosa Martinez (SW) 73.0; 800: S. Ryan (Chester) 2:29; 1,500: Ryan (Chester) 5:47; 3,000: Corrine VanWagner (SW) 13:22; 100 hurdles: Hannah Feinman (SW) 19.8; 400 hurdles: Kristina Sumfleth (SW) 74.3; 400 relay: Sullivan West (Rosenberger; Sumfleth; Martinez; Feinman) 55.4; 1600 relay: Sullivan West (Rosenberger; Deppa; Martinez; Myers) 5:43.6; 3,200 relay: Sullivan West (Myers; Deppa; Rhodes; VanWagner) 13:35; high jump: Arthi Calo (LM) 4-8; long jump: Feinman (SW) 14-4.75; triple jump: Feinman (SW) 30-6; shot put: Kelly Ellis (LM) 27-10.5; discus: Autumn Thiel (SW) 69-11; pole vault: Sumfleth (SW) 7-6.
100 meters: Hunter Cassisi (C) 12.9; 200: 1. Matt Cardona (SW) 25.1; 400: Shaughn Goggin (SW) 57.6; 800: Reed Scott (SW) 2:33; 1,600: Scott (SW) 5:06; 3,200: Scott (SW) 11:34; 110 hurdles: Mitch Paciga (SW) 17.8; 400 hurdles: John Masten (SW) 65.6; 400 relay: Chester (Cassisi; Matt Perry; Lawrence Young; Billy Bukowski) 50.3; 1,600 relay: Sullivan West (Sam Smith; Goggin; Ben Kline; Masten) 4:16; 3,200 relay: Sullivan West (Scott; Goggin; Jonah Bauer; Eric Hableri) 9:36; high jump: Cardona (SW) 5-10; long jump: Nick Zeimis (LM) 16-7; triple jump Mastens (SW) 34-7.25; shot put: Jesse Jurgen (LM) 36-2.5; discus: Anthony Rydell (SW) 107-3; pole vault: Ben Kline (SW) 10-6.
From the track I ambled across the road to the softball diamond where Sullivan West was trailing 3-1 to Section IV’s Hancock in a non-league tilt. Fresh off their commanding win over Family School and the forfeit they benefited by in the second game as part of the Benny Chesnick tournament, the Westies hoped to build on their 2-2 record but alas it was not to be.
Staying only for an inning or two I could not provide any details of the loss except to say that the Lady Bulldogs weren’t able to parlay baserunners into runs in the time I was on hand. The following brief details come from the Times Herald-Record.
Hannah Schwatz had an RBI triple for Sullivan West in a non-league loss in Jeffersonville.
Sullivan West is 2-3. Lindsay McGraw struck out 15 and went 2-for-3 with a triple for Hancock (3-1).
Into my car I jumped thankful for the blast of air conditioning in the 85 degree swelter. The brief ride to capture some baseball at Lion’s Field got me there in time to see Sullivan West holding a 3-1 lead behind a pair of RBI from Greg Stevenson and one run batted in from Patrick Pierce.
Pierce was on the mound and the lefty was already up to 62 pitches as I watched Burke tie the game and go ahead 4-3 as it used timely hitting and heads up base running to make up the deficit and take the lead. By game’s end Sullivan West would score only one more run while the Eagles piled it on. Strong pitching by Ryan St. John was key in holding the Bulldogs at bay in their season opener. The series continues down at Burke on April 17 and resumes in Jeffersonville on April 19.
Once again, these details are from the Times-Herald Record.
Ryan St. John struck out seven and scattered seven hits over 52⁄3 innings of work and Tom Sullivan was 4-for-5 in the OCIAA Division IV victory for Burke Catholic (3-3, 1-0 OCIAA).Sawyer Erlwein and Greg Stephenson each had two hits for Sullivan West (0-1, 0-1 OCIAA).
For an album of photos from all three Sullivan West encounters, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Home Sweet Home
Sullivan West Celebrates Homecoming With A Non-League Shutout Win Over Rondout Valley; E.J. Franskevicz And Emma Seidl Crowned As King and Queen; Football Alums From SW, J-Y and Delaware Valley Are Regaled Under Rainy Skies
Sullivan West 18, Rondout Valley 0
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Homecoming Hurrah (Clockwise) Sullivan West's Sawyer Erlwein is just shy of the goal line. Tom Mootz would carry it in from the two for the first score of the game. Homecoming King and Queen E.J. Franskevicz and Emma Seidl. Tom Mootz on an electrifying run that sets up a TD by Jared Meola. The sign speaks for itself. E.J. Franskevicz on a t0-yard TD run.. Football alums are welcomed back and honored. This sign also needs no explanation. Rondout Valley's Keith Malak makes an airborne grab. An adorable Red Dog cheerleader graces half time with her smile.
LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY—Dorothy had to travel over the rainbow and beyond to learn what most of us already hold sacrosanct: There’s no place like home.
Home is where the heart is. Home is where we relish the love of our family and are ensconced in the warmth of our community. Home is where we’re from; it’s the familiar milieu where friendships are forged and where we put down our roots.
Captains courageous take the field at their home stadium for the last time this year: Sawyer Erlwein, Andrew Parson, Todd Roeder and E.J. Franskevicz.
For many of us, it’s where we went to school and began our journey to become who we are later in life. The cycle begins again when we settle down as adults in a home of our own.
All the while we never forget where we started out, and where in all likelihood, our remaining family still may reside.
As young men and women we are often anxious to leave home to go out into the world at large. But home never leaves us and once we’re away, we invariably experience the yearning to come home again.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are often times for family members , though they may be scattered far and wide, to come home and relish the abiding connection.
For indeed no matter how many miles away we are, we stay connected to the people and places we hold dear.
That’s why high school Homecoming Week is such an important milestone. It marks the return of alumni who hold fast to the memories created in their halcyon high school days. For former athletes, memories of yesteryear are closely tied to their sports careers and milestones, both individual and team related.
They say youth is wasted on the young but nothing could be further from the truth. For all of us, no matter how old we are, carry with us the memories of our formative years and there is a part of us that remains forever young in the reliving of those times. Nowadays with stunning digital photos and video that freeze moments forever in time, that task of recalling what went before is that much easier.
Rondout Valley junior Jordan Gwynn finds a big hole to run through. The Ganders moved the ball well at times but couldn't close the deal.
Even without such to remind me, I’ll never forget the glory of my Midwood High School football team in Brooklyn, a squad of kids I grew up with who lost just one game during my entire high school career.
Though I was a fan, not a player, I would have to say my love of the game of football was born back then and so here I am decades later, on the sidelines affirming and documenting the achievements of this generation’s players.
Despite the threat of yet more rain, a large crowd began to gather at this year’s Sullivan West Homecoming game featuring a non-league clash with Class B Rondout Valley.
With the Bulldogs’ dramatic 21-20 overtime win over Liberty just a week prior, the excitement of the looming Class C semifinal clash with Burke on October 28 is very much on the mind of the fans, players and the proud community.
That community which was once three distinct school districts has rallied its support for the Sullivan Wst Bulldogs, while not forgetting its own history recorded at Jeff-Youngsville, Delaware Valley and Narrowsburg. The former two were great football powers in their day and stars hailing as back as 1951 would be honored by Master of Ceremonie and Homecoming Organizer Bill Moloney at halftime.
More on this erelong…
All Hail The Royal Court ,The Newly –Crowned Monarchs, And The Bulldog Elder Statesmen
The pregame festivities began with the introduction of all of the nominees for Homecoming King and Queen who marched forward with their parents and posed for the photos you’ll find in the accompanying album. Once arrayed across the field, the long-awaiting announcement came at last hailing E.J. Franskevicz and Emma Seidl as this year’s Monarchs. They posed for pictures before Franskevicz headed off to rejoin his team for the coming clash against the Ganders.
Youthful Red Dog football players and cheerleaders were on hand to lend their verve to the night’s celebration. They lined up with a banner that read, “Don’t Gander In Our Dog House.” Moments later the Bulldogs burst through the banner and headed to the sideline clearly anxious to begin their ravenous meal of Gander stew.
Representing the Jeff-Youngsville Class of '82, John Schlott takes to the field as part of the halftime honoring of football alums. John's sons Will and Vaughn went on to play for Sullivan West.
Next up was the introduction of the Sullivan West senior gridders with their parents. This year’s seniors include Kitt Borowski, Charliie Ciccione, E.J. Franskevicz, Ben Kline, Chris Lang, Tom Mootz, Andrew Parsons and Todd Roeder.
The friendly clear skies that had adorned all of this pre-game adoration morphed first into a light drizzle and then a steady downpour as the game got underway.
A Commanding Win Is the Night’s Main Course
Sullivan West received the ball from the Class B Ganders who came in at 2-4 with sectional hopes hinging on a league win over powerful Marlboro next week. Rondout Valley sophomore Seth Deruggerio kicked off and Borowski returned it to the 36.
King EJ gained 11 yards on a keeper. The Ganders defense stiffened and sacked Franskevicz. An incomplete pass led to a punt who began their first quest at their own 27 with sophomore Thomas Reardon calling the signals.
The Ganders moved the ball well with carries from junior Jordan Gwynn. Facing a third and three at the 47, Gwynn was pounced on by Parsons, Mootz and Lang. Deguggerio punted and Sawyer Erlwein evinced a tremendous return up the left sideline to the Ganders’ 25.
The Ganders stuffed the first two plays and the Dawgs were facing a third and 14 at the 24. Franskevicz completed a screen pass to Erlwein who gave the Westies a first and goal to the two. Mootz ran it in from there at 4:30 for the 6-0 lead. Borowski’s PAT went wide right.
Rondout Valley fumbled the kickoff return and the ball was recovered by Scott Erdman to give the Bulldogs a short field at the Ganders’ 27. Facing a fourth and two at the 20, Franskevicz garnered a first down to the 15.
Erlwein fought his way to the one. The Bulldogs fumbled on the snap and Mootz recovered it. The same thing happened on the next play before Franskevicz carried it in from the two with 10.4 seconds remaining in the first quarter as Sullivan West now led 12-0. The two point conversion failed on incomplete pass to Zach O’Connor.
Deruggerio returned it to the 31 and Mootz stopped Gwynn to start the second quarter. The Ganders marshaled a first down on a slant pass to sophomore Keith Malak. Senior Ian Morse got another first down. Gwynn was stopped just short of the first down at the 37 but the Deruggerio earned the Ganders another series as the Dawgs defense yielded more turf.
Scoring in the pouring rain, Sullivan West's Jared Meola completes a 12-yard jaunt for the Dawgs' final score of the night.
Rondout lost five yards on an offsides call. An incomplete pass and an illegal substitution hampered the Ganders who now went to punt the ball from their own 43. The snap was bungled and the Dawgs took over at their own 49-yard line.
Sullivan West went three and out and Franskevicz sent a booming 52-yarde punt pinning the Ganders at the three. The Dawgs’ defense was impenetrable. Tight end Seth Woodbury caught a slant pass but was nearly blown into the ethers on a hard tackle by Mootz. You could hear the sound of it crackling through the gloomy downpour.
The Ganders appeared to be on track for a score as Malak caught a pass and made serious headway out to the 43. A nice run by Morse advanced the cause to the 34. Another pass to Malak and a run up the middle by Morse gave the Ganders a first and goal at the eight with under a minute remaining.
Brad Hemmer broke up a pass intended for Morse in the end zone. The Ganders burned their last time out but failed to score as Jared Meola broke up a third down pass attempt. Facing a fourth and goal at the 13 the Ganders came up short on a pass to Malak.
The half ended with the Bulldogs leading 12-0.
Glory Days
Football alumni from classes ending in 1 and 2 dating back as far as 1951 were called to midfield for a halftime honorarium after the Red Dog cheerleaders performed in the rain. Orchestrated by Bill Moloney, the former players from Delaware Valley, Jeff-Youngsville and the Sullivan West Class of 2002 were called forth to gather for the tribute beside a banner that read, “Welcome Back Alumni.”
They were as follows: Sullivan West Class of 2002: Kevin Mullally; Jeff-Youngsville Class of ’92: Jeremy Ernst, Ed Mall, Joe Herbert, Eric Kubenik; D-V Class of ’92: Kurt Buddenhagen, Michael Larsen, Christian Renaudo; J-Y Class of ’82: Pete Erlwein, John Schlott, David Dufalt and Mike Puerschner; D-V Class of ’82: Scott Haberli; J-Y Class of ’81: Mike Geiger; D-V Class of ’72: Eugene Flynn, John Meyers; D-V Class of ’62: Garry Mitinas, Edward Sykes, Craig Stewart and Emil Lienuu; D-V Class of ’52: Bill Moran and David Buddenhagen and D-V Class of ’51: Mickey Roche.
A Fitting Home Finale At Bulldog Stadium
Getting the win was important to the Bulldogs, especially its proud seniors who fired up the defense to enforce the shut out. “This is our homecoming game,” barked Mootz at one point as the Ganders threatened to get on the board. Though the coming playoff game in two weeks loomed large on the horizon, the Dawgs knew they had to stay focused in the present challenge.
The Ganders were stymied on their first possession of the second half. Sullivan West voltage soon went off the meter again as Mootz had a huge run to the Ganders’ 18. Borowksi got it to the 12 on a sweep. Jared Meola took it in from there at 9:00 minutes for the 18-0 lead.
Borowski’s PAT was blocked.
Just the kind of thing Bulldogs fan are hoping for against Burke in the playoffs: Erlwein head s around end as Andrew Parsons seals it with a block.
The next highlight moment came after another Rondout failed series when Sawyer Erlwein hauled in a 42-yard pass to Sawyer Erlwein at 1:30 of the third quarter was called back on a holding penalty. I missed the photo as I had my camera turned off to preserve a waning battery. All of those pregame and halftime photos had taken their toll but I cursed myself for missing that great grab.
Mootz recovered a fumble. A reverse to Erlwein was called back for a holding penalty. Franskevicz sent a booming punt to the Ganders 23 to end the quarter.
Again the Ganders moved the ball well on the ground and in the air as Gwynn and Malak were effective in advancing the pigskin against the Westies’ defense . The Ganders penetrated as far as the six but facing a fourth and six from the 11 as Mootz barked the aforementioned admonition. Gwynn marshaled a first down at the six but three plays later he failed to get the yardage as the Bulldogs held on and took over on downs.
The Bulldogs punted after a three and out and Morse returned it to the SW 40.
On the first play from scrimmage Blaine Reddish knocked the ball loose and Erlwein recovered it on the SW 40.
Sullivan West converted a fourth and four at the 47 as Franskevicz carried it on a keeper. The wet ball came loose and Rondout Valley had it on the SW 47 with 2:16 to go.
Erdman and Meola knocked Gwynn out of bounds at the 41. Erlwein just missed an interception. Rondout recovered a fumble. Kline knocked down a pass intended for a diving Malak.
Time soon expired and the Bulldogs improved to 5-2 with the 18-0 win.
Rondout Valley Coach George Iacobaccio summed things up thusly: “We’re improving every week from bringing the program back two years ago. We had a 96-yard drive in two and a half minutes and just didn’t finish it at the end. We were in the red zone a few times. Our special teams killed us tonight. They took a punt back 40 yards and they scored on two short fields to begin with. Right away that put us in a whole.
Add in the fumbled kickoff and they needed only seven plays from there to get in. We’re getting there but three plays every game are preventing us from getting the W.”
Rondout Valley can make the sectionals if they can beat Red Hook next week. That will the 2-5 Ganders a 3-3 league record and a berth in the Class B dance.
“We’re still a young team and we’re still learning how to play better football” he noted.
Sullivan West Coach Ron Bauer was glad that his team had made the Homecoming a happy one. Asked about next week’s non-league prelim of the following week playoff clash with Burke, Bauer said simply,’ We’re going to play football.” Clearly neither team will show much to the other in that one though once again, Burke was filming this encounter.
Sullivan West stat line:
Rushing: Franskevicz 6/28 with one TD of ten yards; Mootz 11/83 with one TD of two yards; Borowski 1/5; Meola 5/15 with one TD of 12 yards; Erlwein 2/19;
Passing/Receiving: Franskevicz 3/6/33 with Erlwein on all receptions.
Defense: Mootz 19 tackles; Erlwein 16 tackles and an interception; Erdman 12 tackles and one fumble recovery; Parsons ten tackles; Lang eight tackles and Meola nine tackles.
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
There Comes A Time
Sullivan West Roars Back From Early Deficit With 26 Unanswered Points To Down Nemesis Ellenville For First League Win; Victory Places Bulldogs Just One Win Away From Playoff Berth
Sullivan West 26, Ellenville 14
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Iconic moments from a key Sullivan West league win over Ellenville (clockwise) Tom Mootz breaks loose on a big run. Mootz had 90 yards on 17 carries and caught a 35-yard TD pass. E.J. Franskevicz scampers for a big gain. Franskevicz did most of his damage in the air as he threw for a trio of TD's and completed 9/20/162 yards. Jared Meola runs behind the blocking of Tom Mootz for a big gain. Meola rushed for 67 yards. Ellenville's Tyler O'Bryant scores his second TD of the night on a 12-yard run. Ellenville QB Robert Borriello calls the signals. O'Bryant crosses the goal line on a two-point conversion run. He scored all 14 points for the Blue Devils. Sullivan West's defense comes up big as Erlwein and Mootz bring down O'Bryant on a key stop.
LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY—In bygone years Ellenville has certainly had its way with Sullivan West. But as the old saying goes, “Every dog (Dawg) must have his day.” And this September 16 reunion with their old nemesis proved to be just that for the Westies.
After a tough loss last week to Chester and early tribulations against Ellenville, the Bulldogs gnashed their teeth and showed grit and gumption as they got off the deck and came back from a 14-point early deficit to thrash a team that has a history of making their lives miserable.
This writer sensed some displeasure from Dawgs’ coaches related to last week’s blog about the Chester game, a story that certainly did accentuate the Hambletonians’ success and Sullivan West’s troubles. Good sports writing is by definition both factual and neutral and I pride myself on heeding to both of those precepts. This week’s tale is based on a significant improvement by the Dawgs as will soon be noted.
A hard week of practice and a strong resolve proved efficacious as Sullivan West simply played its best football to date on both sides of the ball to emerge with a treasured win.
In the abbreviated world of a three-game league season, winning two of those games is a prerequisite to making the playoffs. In 2010, the Bulldogs were 1-2 in league play and found themselves on the outside looking in, though Ellenville was not a part of the story as the Blue Devils were thrust into Class B by virtue of a mere ten extra students in grades 9-11.
This year, to the relief of Ellenville Coach Tony Borriello, they’re back down in Class C. But an 0-2 start with losses to Walton and Burke had Ellenville more than anxious to right the ship.
That said, Borriello was quick to point to his young team’s inexperience and lack of depth in a chat before kickoff. With the only returnees in quarterback Robert Borriello, linemen Jeff Nunez and Preston Bazemore, Borriello noted that most of the other guys were prior backups.
We had guys that were with us for three years but now it’s a different story,” he added.
In its first two games, Ellenville got off to good starts but made mistakes which proved costly. That paradigm would resurface again in this outing. “We gave Burke the ball inside our five twice. Inexperience is what has killed us,” said Borriello, a comment he would repeat later following his team’s 26-14 loss on this night.
The Ellenville/SW history
Prior to last season, the two schools have a brief but intense history; one that Sullivan West was anxious to update.
From 2004-2006 the Bulldogs ran up a streak of three consecutive Section Nine titles including a 2004 Class B win over Marlboro and Class C wins over Tri-Valley in ’05 and ’06. The Dawgs lost to the Bears in ’07 playing in their fourth consecutive championship game.
Enter Ellenville:
In the season-opener of the 2008 season the Bulldogs unveiled their new spread offense with Brad Reimer at quarterback and easily handled the Blue Devils. The Dawgs went on to run the table against their opponents until they met up with Ellenville again in the Class C title game. Ellenville won that clash handily 34-20 and then beat Liberty in the title game in 2009 after the Indians had stunned Sullivan West in the semifinal set to.
In Ellenville’s absence in Class C last year, it was Millbrook that emerged victorious with an upset win over Burke in the title game.
Ellenville had beaten Sullivan West during the regular 2009 season and that was the last time the two teams met.
So after a one-year hiatus of not playing each other, the two squads got set to dial it up again, this time with more on the line as each team looked to propel itself halfway towards a playoff berth in Division I, a realm also occupied by Liberty and O’Neill.
Ellenville certainly lost a lot of talent to graduation, but also gained some in Section Nine track sprint champion Tyler O’Bryant. The speedster wasted no time in making his presence felt as he returned the opening kickoff to the Westie’s 15-yard line. Three plays later he carried it in from the two and then ran in the two-point conversion to give the Blue Devils an early 8-0 lead with 9:54 remaining.
How sweet it is: Sullivan West players erupt in a victorious celebration following the key league win. Next week they travel to O'Neill who edged out Liberty 14-13. The winner of that game will lock up a playoff berth.
Sullivan West took the early adversity in stride as Tom Mootz began what was soon to become a resounding performance with a nice breakaway run out to the SW 49 but the drive stalled. The Dawgs defense stiffened and Ellenville punted as Borriello sent a ball into the end zone for a touchback.
The Westies showed early success in the air on a screen pass to Kitt Borowski and effective running by Mootz and Sawyer Erlwein. A vast improvement in blocking was key to the ground success that by night’s end would yield 237 yards on 32 carries by the Bulldogs.
The drive stalled with an incomplete pass at the Ellenville 17 and the Blue Devils took over on downs.
O’Bryant quickly scooted out to the SW 49 and then to the 30. “Contain” barked the Bulldogs coaches. But O’Bryant continued to elude tacklers who failed to wrap him up. With 7:37 remaining in the first quarter, O’Bryant ran it in from the 12. The two point conversion run failed by the Blue Devils now led 14-0.
The Dawgs’ fortune began to change on the next drive as Borowski caught a tipped ball and on a third and 20 from his own 40 and hefted it to the Devils’ 35. Mootz ferreted it to the 21 for another first down. A pass from E.J. Franskevicz to his brother Cody gave the Dawgs a first on the nine-yard line The formula worked again on a five-yard brotherly love TD pass with 3:21 remaining in the second quarter. Sawyer Erlwein booted the PAT and the Dawgs were halfway back.
Credit Sullivan West’s defense big time as they were about to play a bit more than three quarters without yielding another score. Ellenville showed another weapon in senior Adrian Echols who was beating Sullivan West’s secondary. A long pass play came back on a motion penalty as Borriello’s words about his team’s miscues and inexperience proved to be accurate.
Echols dropped a pass in the endzone and Sullivan West was able to take over on downs.
Franskevicz went to the air as the quarter wound down hitting Erlwein and Jared Meola Meanwhile Borowski was consigned to the sideline for the rest of the game after suffering an injury early in the fray. He had remained in and tried to gut it out but now he was lost to the cause for the duration of the fray.
Franskevicz launched a 33-yard pass to Erlwein who caught it in the end zone as the half expired. He got himself up off the grass, dusted himself off and went right back out to kick the game-tying PAT. With the score tied at 14-all the teams headed to the locker room. With the ball coming to them at the start of the third quarter, the Bulldogs felt the momentum of the game had shifted their way.
Mootz and Meola gobbled up huge chunks of turf with electrifying runs to start the third quarter and with 10:14 remaining in the period, Mootz hauled in a 35-yard pass from Franskevicz to give the Dawgs a 20-14 lead. The two-point conversion try failed.
Leading by a precarious six points, the Dawgs needed a stop but it looked like O’Bryant was out to show off his speed again but he failed to get a first down on a third and five attempt a the 33. Ben Kline called for a fair catch at his own 35 on the punt.
The Dawgs went three and out and the Blue Devils dialed it up againg. Marshaling the talent of O’Bryant and Echols, the Devils were on the march but once again the Bulldogs’ steely defense held , this time on a fourth down try by Justin Rose came up short.
The Westies took over on their 38 and Erlwein got great blocking to help foster a run to the EV 23. The third quarter ended with the Dawgs threatening but Echols picked off a Franskevicz pass in the end zone a the start of the fourth quarter.
The Blue Devils tried a gadget play as Borriello flipped it to O’Bryant who tossed it back to the QB who sent a completion to echols. But the play was called back as Borriello had passed the line of scrimmage. Penalties against Ellenville and a great stop by Andrew Parsons had the Devils going the wrong way and the Dawgs soon had the ball back again.
With 7:09 remaining and having not been able to sustain another offensive series, the Dawgs punted it back. “We’ve got to play defense,” barked SW Coach Ron Bauer and his team answered the call as Kline recovered a fumble by O’Bryant.
The Dawgs capitalized on the miscue with a 38-yard TD run by Meola on the first play from scrimmage with 5:21 remaining. The Dawgs now led 26-14 as the two-point conversion try failed.
The game was far from over as the Blue Devils marched quickly down the field to the SW 12 on passes to Echols and O’Bryant runs. Facing a fourth and two at the three, Ellenville was victimized by another fumble, this one recovered by Sullivan West’s Todd Roeder.
Sullivan West was able to marshal first downs and run out the clock for the impressive win.
Borriello summed things up this way: “Our previous discussed liabilities reared their ugly head, I probably shouldn’t have said anything quipped the affable coach. “Inexperience and mistakes, like I told you. We have some guys out here playing for the first time. We dropped some balls. Six seconds left on the clock we don’t drop back into the needed coverage. It’s been our story this year. We keep giving teams chances and let teams back in. It’s like you throw blood in the water and sharks will smell it,” he added.
Borriello acknowledged that his team doesn’t have its former ground and pound capability but he was pleased with the way the squad moved the ball. “We ran the bal better tonight than we did all year. We had to run a different offense tonight because of the loss of some running backs and we had to move our center for awhile. We’re playing around with personnel.
Next week Ellenville travels to Liberty for what is now a must-win game for the Blue Devils. Liberty faces league rival O’Neill today (September 17) for its first league encounter.
Sullivan West Offensive Coordinator Kurt Buddenhagen praised his troops. “That’s a big win. Just think what we can continue to play that kind of football,” he said.
Coach Ron Bauer said, “We blocked! They were bigger than us. We got great play calling tonight and that was a big catch by Erlwein right there just at the half. We played good sound football. It’s a big win but next week we’ve got another one (at O’Neill) and then against Liberty. Our line play was much improved over the last two weeks.
Sullivan West Stat line:
Rushing: Mootz 17/90; E.J. Franskevicz 7/64; Borowski 1/1; Erlwein 2/19; Meola 5/67; Total rushing 32/237..
Passing: Franskevicz 9/20/162 with three TD’s and one interception.
Receiving: Borowski 2/36; Erlwein 3/70 with one TD; Cody Franskevicz 2/17 with one TD; Meola 1/17 and Mootz 1/35 with one TD
Leading tacklers: Erwein 16 tackles; Mootz 17 tackles including two sacks; Roeder ten tackles including one sack and a fumble recovery.
Sullivan West improves to 2-1 (1-0 OCIAA); Ellenville falls to 0-3 (0-1 OCIAA).
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
