“A”drenaline Rush
Cornwall Defeats Monticello To Return To Class A Finals Looking To Topple Defending Champ Wallkill; Monticello Survives Early Turnover Woes To Avoid First Quarter Blowout Yielding Just 16 Points In Dragons’ First Five Possessions
Section Nine Class A Semifinals
Cornwall 36, Monticello 14
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from the Class A semifinal wherein Cornwall downed gritty Monticello 36-14 (Clockwise). Offensive MVP, Cornwall senior Peter Catal gains great yardage on his first touch of the ball. Catal carried the ball 17 times for 150 yards and scored the first three TD's for the Dragons. Monticello's Anthony Gray makes an unbelievable catch as he intercepts a pass intended for Cornwall's Alex Cruz. Gray later scored on a 73-yard TD pass from Shane Jackson. Cornwall sophomore quarterback Mike White lays the ball down in the end zone after scoring the Dragons' final TD of the night. Monticello''s Shane Jackson takes off for a first-down scamper. Playing on an ankle still sore for an injury two weeks prior, Jackson gritted it out and gave it his all, as did his teammates in the Monties' best showing in four tries against immensely talented Cornwall.
MIDDLETOWN, NY—College players who move on to play professional football will say time and time again how the speed of the game in the NFL is so much quicker than they’ve ever experienced before..
Watching elite Cornwall, abetted by Monticello turnovers that contributed to the Dragons getting the ball in the red zone for its first five possessions, required an adjustment to a level of play this writer hasn’t seen this year. As fast as my lens is, I had to quickly get used to the pace of the action to keep up with it all.
Tough as nails: Monticello's Mike Rogers has lost his helmet but not his grit as he tries albeit unsuccessfully to keep Cornwall's Offensive MVP Peter Catal from scoring his second TD of the night, a product of a Monticello turnover.
It’s no knock on the fine teams I cover, it’s just that Cornwall plays on a whole other level.
That Monticello’s defense allowed just two TD’s during that early maelstrom is a credit to the toughness of the Panthers and an indication of just how far they’ve come this season.
As compared to their prior meeting with Cornwall when a bevy of first half turnovers turned into a 35-0 Cornwall margin, Monticello’s early struggle to hold onto the ball afforded the Dragons just 16 points, keeping this game within reach.
By all rights as the teams would enter the locker room at the half with Cornwall holding a 23-0 lead, it it might well have been 37-0 or worse.
Two solid defensive stands by the Monties had resulted in a pair of missed field goals by junior kicker Damon Neil.
Considering Cornwall’s dominance over Monticello in their three prior meetings since last fall that had resulted in the Dragons outscoring the Monties 148-13, this game would prove to be Monticello’s best showing of the four encounters and proof positive of the program’s ongoing improvement and viability.
For the three-seeded Monties to have any hope of upsetting the two-seeded Dragons, they were going to need every conceivable break, flawless efficiency in every facet of the game and a game for the ages from still-ailing quarterback Shane Jackson.
Still partially hobbled by an ankle injury suffered in the Port Jervis game, Jackson not only sat out last week’s win over Goshen, he hardly practiced during the past two weeks. “I think he was about 75%, observed Coach Matt Buddenhagen following the game.
Green lightning: Cornwall's first possession advance is accelerated by Kevin McNally's catch from quarterback Mike White as Monticello's Jacob McLaughlin defends.
Jackson was quite healthy though earlier this year when Cornwall beat Monticello 52-7. So to win this one, the Monties would probably have had to call on the hopefully beneficent football gods and as well as the sword of the legendary St. George to slay this cadre of lethal Dragons.
Cornwall won the toss and elected to receive as the night grew chillier, an ominous foreshadowing of an unseasonal blizzard that would blanket the area the following day.
Cornwall’s cheerleading captains came over to greet the Montie cheer squad in an amicable pre-game showing of class and sportsmanship. During the game, after each Cornwall touchdown, the Lady Dragons would get down and do seven pushups to commemorate each seven point acquisition.
Cornwall’s Aidan Carroll pounced on Angelo Niforatos’ kickoff at the Dragons’ 30 and the game was underway. On the first play from scrimmage Cornwall’s Offensive MVP Peter Catal carried it for a first down. Another first down by Rashard Wroten and a completed pass to Kevin McNally had the ball advancing at light speed to the 16.
At 10:54, Catal carried it from there to cap off the one minute, six seconds seventy yard drive. The PAT was good and the Dragons led 7-0.
Anthony Gray returned the kickoff to the 29 yard line. Jackson began the game as slot receiver with Mike Rogers at quarterback. Rogers had an epic game against Goshen last week. An offsides penalty showed the Montie jitters. Jackson took the handoff looking to pass it on the option play and was thrown for a loss by the charging Dragons.
Jackson took over the reins and the ball was fumbled on the next play, recovered by Cornwall’s Joe O’Rourke at the Monticello 11. Cornwall picked up seven on the first carry. Wroten was racked up twice, the second tackle coming by Otha Smith as the Monties held Cornwall out.
Neill’s field goal was no good and the Monties had dodged their first bullet. That said, there were more rounds to come.
Gone in the night: Monticello senior Talon Watson gallops 85 yards after intercepting a pass from Cornwall's Mike White for the Monties' first score of the game with 2:27 remaining in the third quarter.
The Monties took over on the 20. Jackson hit Reuss for completion but the play was nullified by an offsides penalty. On the next play, it was fumbled again at the Monticello 11. Catal needed just one play to make the Monties pay for their second turnover to make it 13-0 at 6:46.The PAT failed and the Dragons got set to kick it off again.
Gray returned it but things went from bad to worse as O’Rourke intercepted a Jackson pass that was tipped affording the Dragons had a first and ten at the Panthers’ 26. O’Rourke was thrown for a loss and sophomore QB Mike White’s two passes to Alex Cruz fell incomplete. Neill’s field goal attempt fell short at 5:13. Make that two Dragon rounds fired which turned out to be blanks.
The Monties had their first positive yardage as José Cruz gained four on the first play of the ensuing series. Cruz took it again. Jackson was sacked leading to a short punt by Reuss that gave the Dragons the ball at the Montie’s 39
Catal took it seven yards before White uncorked a 31-yard TD pass to McNally to the four-yard line. Wroten was tossed for a loss. Catal took it to the two but the Dragons were assessed five yards on a motion penalty. McNally dropped White’s third down pass and Neill came on to make the field goal to widen the lead to 16-0 with 58 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Give me seven: Cornwall cheerleaders accentuate a Dragons TD and PAT with seven push ups.
A nice return by Gray brought the ball out to the 27. Jackson completed a short pass to Conor Briggs as the first quarter ended with the Monties facing a third and six from their own 31.
Settling in, the Monties began to move the chains, first with a run by Cruz and then with a breakaway run by Jackson to the Cornwall 25 yard line. They then advanced it to the 16. Two plays later the Monties appeared to cough it up again but officials ruled it not to be the case. A Cornwall encroachment penalty led to a fourth and two at the eight-yard line.
An incomplete pass intended for Gray gave the Dragons the ball back and despite their heroic drive, the Monties had no points to show for their efforts.
With 9:15 remaining in the second quarter it was Cornwall in possession again. Catal ferreted it 34 yards out to the 42 as once again Cornwall looked like a green blur on the attack. White completed a second down pass to Casey Kerdesky as Cruz drilled him to stop his progress leading to a third and eight.
White went back to Kerdesky for a first down conversion at the Panthers’ 44. Cornwall fumbled but recovered it as they lost yardage. White hit Cruz as Gray brought him down leading to a third and nine. White moved the chains again with a completion to Chris Bauer as the ball was now at the Panthers’33.
Though this was not Anthony Gray's epic 73-yard TD catch, but rather a great grab that turned out to be just our of bounds, the leaping senior who I have affectionately nicknamed "Gray Skies," for airborne antics like this will be sorely missed next year. Cornwall Coach Marcus Hughes referred to Gray, Sean Reuss and Shane Jackson as "phenomenal" players. Gray will now take his aerial act to the hardwood and Cornwall hasn't seen the last of him yet.
White went for the home run as he looked to hit Cruz but Gray went airborne for the pick as he came down on his tailbone but still holding onto the ball. It was an amazing play by “Gray Skies” and not the first he would register in the last football game of his high school career.
Gray appeared to be hurt badly but soon got up and left on his own power. He’d be back on the very next play. That kid is tough.
That takeaway kept the Monties close. Consider the alternative reality: the Dragons had failed to score on three viable possessions up to this point.
The Monties took over on their own two at 5:55. Cruz barreled ahead out to the 18 but the series ended with a three and out from there. Reuss punted and Cornwall got it going again from their own 41 with 3:29 to go in the first half.
Reuss ripped Wroten down for a loss. White took it on a keeper to the Monties’ 27 with 1:58 to go. After an offsides penalty he hit Bauer for a completion. White dodged a sack by throwing it away. A completion to Wroten gave the Dragons a first at the 16 before he uncorked a TD pass from there to O’Rourke with 22.8 seconds remaining in the half for the 22-0 lead. Neill’s PAT was good and the Dragons took a 23-0 lead.
The Monties went to the hurry up offense but time ran out and the teams retired to the locker room with the Dragons nursing their 23-0 lead.
The Monties received to start the second half. A completed pass for 15 yards gave the Monties a first down and another to Briggs had the ball moving out to the 39 but the Dragons held firm and the Panthers had to punt.
Most Valuable Players: Cornwall's Peter Catal (top) had 17 carries for 150 yards and a trio of TD's. Joe O'Rourke was the Defensive MVP with five tackles, half a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Cornwall began at its own 36. Jackson just missed an interception on a tipped ball. Wroten nearly broke loose but was held to seven. Monticello was called for back-to-back unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that led to a 28-yard TD pass to Cruz at 7:09 as the lapse of self-control proved to be costly for Monticello. Cornwall now led 29-0. Neill’s PAT failed.
Steve Demestrio returned the kickoff to the 24 but the Monties went three and out on the series.
O’Rourke returned it and White went back to the air with passes to Kerdesky and Cruz as the ball advanced rapidly to the Monties’ 16. Just when it was looking like Cornwall would score again, White tossed his second pick of the game, this one grabbed by Talon Watson who returned it 85 yards for the Montie’s first score as the gorgeous Faller Field jumbotron read Cornwall 30, Monticello 8 with 2:27 remaining in the third quarter after Jackson had run in the two-point conversion.
The Monties tried an onsides kick but Cornwall’s Anthony Vega recovered it. Wroten twisted and turned his way forward for first at the Cornwall 47 but on the next series the agile senior was dragged down on a third down play leading to a Cornwall punt.
The Monties got it at the 18 as the quarter wound down with the Monties facing a third and six at their own 22.
The final stanza began with Jackson running for a first down. Cruz carried it out to the 49 and then took it three straight times leading to a fourth and four at the 43 with 9:56 to go. A pass to Reuss was overthrown and the Dragons were at it again. Catal got it going again with repeated carries. O’Rourke brought it to the ten. Catal carried it twice bringing it to the two. White ran it in from there at 5:26 and Neill’s PAT made it 36-8.
The squib kick was recovered by Mike Rogers. Jackson wasted no time in rearing back and throwing a 73-yard TD pass to Gray on the far side of the field at 5:11 to make it 36-14. Jackson was pulled down on the two-point conversion attempt.
Gray appeared to recover the onsides kick with a nifty catch but officials ruled it as interference with a fair catch and what appeared to be an epic recovery turned into a penalty.
Cornwall Coach Marcus Hughes inserted subs into the mix as sophomore Matt Smith soon took over at quarterback. Little else of note transpired before the final whistle as the Dragons advanced to play Wallkill, the team they lost to by two points in last year’s Class A tltle game. Wallkill beat Cornwall 7-6 on September 23 in the teams’ only encounter this season thus far.
Interesting it is indeed that Monticello nearly toppled Wallkill this season, losing to them late by the score of 28-21 back on September 30.
A great throw by Shane Jackson translates into a 73-yard TD pass to Anthony Gray. The immensely talented Jackson will hopefully be lighting it up again next season.
Cornwall’s Peter Catal was named the Offensive MVP. He carried the ball 17 times for 150 yards and scored Cornwall’s first three TD’s.
With his five tackles, a half a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery, Joe O’Rourke was named the Defensive MVP.
Coach Hughes acknowledged that his team had chances to put this game away early but he had plenty of praise for Monticello.
“It’s a credit to them. They also made mistakes early and they kept fighting. It’s good for the Section. Monticello is playing well and they’re only going to get better. It was a good game,” he noted.
Asked to comment about his team speed and high capacity offense, he noted, “They play well. It’s a brand new offense with a sophomore quarterback. He makes his mistakes but he does a heck of a job. The line blocked well tonight and the running backs and receivers did their job.”
Hughes had lots of praise for Jackson, Gray and Reuss. “Those guys are phenomenal,” he averred.
Asked about the coming rematch with Wallkill. “It’s going to be a good game. They’re tough and theydo a lot of good things. I’m excited for the challenge. I love playing close games. Unfortunately, the last three we lost to them by a total of six points. That’s football,” he concluded.
Cornwall beat Class AA playoff contenders Kingston and Washingtonville this season, but a win over Wallkill for the title would make those victories pale by comparison. Wallkill beat Port Jervis 30-0 to set up the title rematch with the Dragons slated for November 4 at Faller Field at 7:00pm.
Buddenhagen said this about his team. “You could see these guys have gotten a lot better and grown into young men. This started out like the first time we played them with four turnovers in a row. But this time it was only 16-0. Once our defense settled down they played their butts off. We were knocking on the goal line and it could have been 16-8 at halftime,” he reflected.
“We were lucky it wasn’t 35-0 after the first quarter. They had the ball four times inside the 30. I kept telling the kids they were lucky it was only 16-0.
This was another solid season. We lose a lot of seniors, about 15 of them. This was a senior-laden team. It’s only the second year of varsity and we’re playing with the big dogs. We’re right there. Look at Cornwall and Wallkill, these kids are playing since they were five years old. Our kids have only been playing two or three years. The experience factor is crucial. We’ve got to get our kids playing at a young age so they know the in’s and out’s of the game, the basics and stuff.
This group of seniors have been with us for four years. They’ve worked their tails It takes a special person to play football and these guys are going to be great men and they’ll move on to be productive citizens.”
Asked about Jackson’s return, Buddenhagen noted, “He was maybe 75 percent. He’s a gutty kid and a great competitor. He hasn’t practiced much in two weeks and it was a serious ankle injury. Give him credit he took some shots and kept playing.”
Buddenhagen felt his team was a bit overwhelmed on Cornwall’s first series. “We have a lot of checks. We put in a very aggressive defense and I told them we’re bringing the punch to the fight and suddenly on their first drive we’re on our heels.. But when you turn the ball over, that’s adversity,” he noted.
“What do young men do in the face of adversity? You could have folded tents there after four turnovers and our kids battled. They missed a field goal and we held them out how many times. That’s a damn good job,” he noted.
This was the swan song for seniors Earl Allen, Connor Alvarez, Jermel Branch, Connor Briggs, Ian Campbell, José Cruz, Steve Demestrio, Anthony Gray, Adam Kaiser, Garrett Lapolt, Brendan Madsen, Joe Mulvey, Sean Reuss, Brendon Thomas and Talon Watson.
Congratulations to these warriors for their great effort and their historic part in the resurrection of Monticello football.
Monticello stat line:
Passing: Jacskon 4/15/87 with one TD and one interception.
Rushing: Jackson 15/37; Cruz 15/61;
Receiving : Gray 2/66 with a TD. Briggs 1/6; Reuss 1/15.
Defense: Watson one interception for a TD; Gray one interception. Reuss nine tackles, four solo tackles; Jacob McLaughlin nine tackles, three solo; Otha Smith seven tackles, four solo. Mistah Alli had eight tackles.
Monticello ended its season at 5-4, while Cornwall improved to 8-1.
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
One For The Ages
Monticello Pulls Off A Dramatic Upset Against Class AA Behemoth Minisink Valley In A Classic That Will Long Be Remembered
Monticello 37, Minisink Valley 28
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from an historic Monticello win (clockwise) Shane Jackson eludes tacklers for a big gain. He rushed for 183 yards and threw for 233 incurring two TD's on the ground and three in the air. Anthony Gray pulls in a pass. Gray racked up 175 yards on nine catches and scored three TD's in the win. Minisink Valley's Jeff Newlin hauls in a 53-yard pass from Ryan Callaghan to score the Warriors' first TD. Gray catches the ball and heads out of bounds at the one. Monticello failed to score on this drive and proceeded to relinquish the lead by surrendering 21 unanswered points but Gray and company got off the mat to responds by reclaiming and retaining the lead. Montie cheerleaders pose during halftime. Sean Reuss catches a pass and barrels forward.
MONTICELLO, NY—For years to come in the telling and retelling of how undersized, undermanned and under-appreciated Monticello marshaled a 37-28 upset victory over Minisink Valley, the Panther players and coaches will hearken back to a day when heart, soul and true grit prevailed against seemingly unspeakable odds.
A moment to treasure: Monticello players and coaches on the sideline erupt in joy as the game comes to a victorious conclusion.
There are moments in our lives, especially those tinged with unbridled emotion, that remain forever emblazoned in our memory. And this September 10 classic was just such a time.
Stalking the sideline with camera at the ready, absorbing every second of this game’s tenor , this writer bore witness to the courage and determination of a total team effort; one that would not quit in the face of pain, injury, exhaustion and even a late Warriors’ resurgence that threatened to rob the Panthers of a victory in a game they had led up to that point.
Indeed, it is when adversity rises to its most daunting level that character is tested. And as the post-game comments supplied by Panther head coach Matt Buddenhagen, as well as the observations of several of the game’s most salient players will attest, this victory was far more than just a regular season, non-league win. Their words matter and subsequently in this piece they will be quoted.
Far more than just another Saturday afternoon football game, this clash and ensuing upset victory was a milestone, a potential season-changer and above all else, a testimony to what is possible when one is willing to lay it all on the line.
For the 33 players who suited up for this second outing of the young season, the sweet rewards of victory eradicated last week’s sense of despondency following the opening day defeat to Pine Bush and created a newfound determination to make this season one for the ages. Assuredly, next week’s league clash against powerful Cornwall will be greatly anticipated and viewed differently by both teams following Monticello’s showing against Minisink Valley, a team touted as the third-ranked team in Section Nine.
For the Warriors led by classy veteran coach Kevin Gallagher, this day’s outcome will provide its own lessons and motivation for the battles to come, first and foremost next week as the Warriors take on the Kingston Tigers, a team Cornwall battered in week one to the tune of 31-6.
Minisink Valley senior Jeff Newlin did some major damage against Port Jervis last weekend and wrought some more against the Monties, but not enough to put his team over the top. Here Newlin gets into the secondary and looks to make the Monties pay.
Football games have their side stories. This one was marked by the departure of Monticello Athletic Director Doug Murphy who will be taking over the A.D. reins at Minisink Valley this week. “Bittersweet,” was the word Murphy used to describe his emotions about leaving.. “Monticello is a wonderful school with wonderful people. I look forward to the opportunity now to head down to Minisink Valley.
I had a great career at Monticello for the past 18 years as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and athletic director. I’m most proud of how well the athletic program has improved. The boys track team has won the last two division championships and bringing football back which has done great things for the school and community.”
Joking about the coincidence that Monticello would be facing Minisink Valley on his last official day, the affable outgoing A.D. called it “Murphy’s Law.” This writer quipped that hopefully this year’s coming Monticello Games will have great weather which it did every year under his watch.
A new football scoreboard was dedicated to 1975 graduate Phillip Berman. His son Logan and nephew Alan were on hand to be honored in his name.
As the teams completed their warm ups, the disparity in size and numbers was apparent. The Warriors had arrived with a huge squad that outnumbered Monticello two-two one. Behind its 37-0 thrashing of Port Jervis in week one, the Warriors looked to roll over Monticello in the air and on the ground while looking to key in on Panthers’ standout quarterback Shane Jackson.
To their shock by day’s end, it would be Monticello’s seemingly unstoppable offense that would steal the show as the Panthers would rack up 533 total yards including 233 in the air from the scrambling Jackson who was 14/21 with three TD passes to senior wide out Anthony Gray.
Football games are won or lost at the line of scrimmage. Here the Montie d-line faces a daunting Minisink Valley o-line that out-sized them. The Panther defense played a remarkable game.
Gray’s heroics produced a remarkable nine catches for 175 yards. With an enormous vertical leap, a quick first step and a hunger for the ball, Gray continuously beat Minisink Valley’s secondary to provide an open target for Jackson.
Similarly, on the ground, the Panthers moved the chains on the hefty Minisink defense as Jackson, often hobbling on not one, but two injured calf muscles eluded tacklers or made gains even running into the teeth of the defense. Jackson carried the ball 26 times for 183 yards and rushed for a pair of touchdowns.
José Cruz put in a yeoman’s effort with 22 carries for 100 yards and one TD. Cruz overcame a fumble which led to Minisink Valley’s first score. Putting the miscue in the rearview mirror, the tough back summoned his will to take the ball time and time again as he was abetted by Monticello’s outstanding offensive line.
Buddenhagen gushed with praise for his o-line’s showing. “Offensive line is the most thankless position. You never get credit or your name in the paper. They’re always getting yelled at and it’s the hardest position too. You’ve got to think constantly. There are so many change ups and calls on the line. They were awesome today”, he said naming them one by one: Brendan Madsen, Brendan Thomas, Ian Campbell, Jermel Branch, Garrett LaPolt and tight end Sean Reuss.”
The Warriors won the toss and elected to receive but Monticello’s fiery defense answered the call by nixing the opening drive. The Panthers got the ball out to their 35 on the punt return and went to work as Jackson scrambled and then threw a first down pass to Gray. The chains kept moving with a first-down pass to Reuss to the Warriors’ 17. Two plays later Jackson burst free for a 13-yard TD run at 4:34. Angelo Niforatos kicked the PAT and the Panthers led 7-0.
Words fall far short in describing the athleticism of Shane Jackson, an omnipresent threat that makes defenses edgy to say the least.
Minisink gained ground off its option pitch from QB Ryan Callaghan to running back Frank Mayo and a toss to Andrew Hannerman but a delay of game penalty slowed the push. The Warriors went for it on fourth down but the Panthers got a key stop of running back Rommel Brantley by Monticello’s Steve Demestrio .
Jackson responded two plays later with a 36-yard strike to Gray at 11:42 of the second quarter to make it 13-0. The PAT failed but the Panthers were rolling.
Gray knocked down a pass from Callaghan on the next Warriors’ series and Minisink had to punt. On the first play from scrimmage Cruz had the ball stripped and Minisink got the ball at the Monties’ 46. Wideout Jeff Newlin hauled in a 53-yard pass at 9:22 and Colin Cazetta split the uprights to make it 13-7.
The Monties overcame a delay of game penalty and used a nice mix of passes to Gray and Reuss and runs by Cruz and Jackson to move the ball forward. The drive was capped by a three-yard TD run by Jackson for the 19-7 lead. The two-point conversion try resulted in an incomplete pass.
Minisink threatened on its next series as it marched relentlessly down the field but an interception by Mistah Alli proved momentous in assuring the Monties of a 19-7 lead at the half and the prospect of receiving the ball after the break.
That they did as they began on their 20 with a touchback. Cruz carried it six but concerns rose as Jackson was visibly hurt and limping and had to come out. Jonathan Harned went in to call the signals. Cruz shouldered the load and Jackson returned two plays later. An encroachment penalty by the Warriors sustained the Monties’ drive and at 5:52 Jackson found Gray with a 14-yard TD pass to make it 25-7. The PAT was blocked but all looked promising for Monticello.
But football is a four-quarter, down-to-the-wire affair. Minisink coaches implored their players to rise to the challenge and they did.
It took them only three plays on the next series to march 67 yards capped off by a 33-yard TD run by Newlin around the left end at 5:28 to make it 25-14 after the successful PAT.
And they weren’t done yet.
The new scoreboard dedicated to the memory of 1975 Monticello grad Phillip Berman reveals the happy ending. A tribute to Berman's memory and the foundation in his name preceded the game.
The Monties went three and out and the Warriors took over at their 19. Suddenly they were moving it at will, eating up huge chunks of field. At 1:59 Branley hauled in an 11-yard strike from Callaghan and moved closer at 25-20.
Monticello had the ball as the fourth quarter began and Jackson hit Gray on a long strike to the one as the deft receiver struggled to stay inbounds for the score. In what looked to be a major shift in momentum, the Warriors withstood the challenge as Jackson’s fourth down pass to Reuss fell incomplete and Minisink shocked Monticello with a first down 99 and a half-TD strike to Frankie Yovino to take a 26-25 lead with 9:49 remaining in the game.
They added a two-point conversion run to make it 28-25 and looked to shut the door on Monticello.
But Buddenhagen’s troops would not be denied. Banged up, tired, but undaunted they took to the field determined to reclaim the lead. Credit Cruz and Gray, along with Jackson and the forceful play of the offensive line. They just kept ramming the ball forward. With 5:58 remaining, the 70-yard drive reached paydirt as Jackson ran it in from the one to make it 31-28. The conversion play failed but now it was on the defense to hold serve.
To that end the Monties came up with a huge turnover as Alli knocked the ball loose and Jacob McLaughlin recovered it at the Minisink 47. Facing a third and five, Jackson unleashed a 47-yard strike to Gray for the 37-28 lead. Niforatos’ PAT was partially blocked but only 1:44 remained in the game.
Minisink made huge gains on a screen pass to Yovino and were moving by leaps and bounds all the way to the Monties’ ten-yard line. Monticello knew the game was far from over but it was about to drop into the bag as Jackson picked off a Callaghan pass with 48 seconds remaining.
Monticello couldn’t get a first down and the Warriors got it back one more time. Monticello’s defense had the last word and the Monties erupted into a jubilant celebration behind the improbable 37-28 win.
Minisink Coach Kevin Gallagher summed it up thusly: “You’ve got to give them a lot of credit. They played a great game, the kind of game they’d need to play to beat us. I won’t say we didn’t play well but when you’ve got big play capability like they have, you’re always one play away from getting back in it , which they did after we got the lead.”
Gallagher went on to praise Jackson. “He broke tackles numerous times and he was playing hurt. He’s a gutsy kid.”
Buddenhagen addressed his troops and praised them to the sky. “They roll in here with sixty players and a program that’s been around forever. This is a huge win for us, one of the best games I’ve ever been a part of,” he added. That’s a double AA team. That’s how you play football! We got in a flow on offense. That’s the way to bounce back,” he barked as he went on to extol the game’s big playmakers one by one, already duly mentioned and in including Adam Kaiser who had pounced on a key onside kick by the Warriors.
Turning to this writer, the fiery coach added. “Our first three games presented a bear of a schedule and people kept telling me: 0-3. This gives us great momentum for the games to come.” Monticello (1-1) travels to Cornwall next week for its first and most daunting league test.
How The Players Saw It..In Their Own Words
Anthony Gray “It really feels great. This is a big win for us, a big statement. We beat a Double AA team when everyone said we were going to lose in a really big blowout. I was impressed by how our offensive line could block that well and Cruz kept it going. He got over that fumble just like Coach teaches us to do.”
José Cruz: “It means a lot to us. When we lost to Pine Bush last week it seemed like the whole team was going downhill. I think this really boosted our confidence.”
Sean Reuss :”This win means a lot to our team. We came out strong in the first and second halves and kept it up. Our line did great today.”
Shane Jackson: “I’m really proud of our team and even though I was hurt I felt I had to pull through for the team. It’s great to have a win but it feels even better coming against the third-ranked team in Section Nine.”
Monticello Stat Line:
Passing: Jackson 14/21/233 with three TD’s.
Rushing: Jackson 26/183 with two TD’s; Cruz 22/100 with one TD.
Sean Reuss led his team with 12 tackles.
Receiving: Mike Rogers 1/6; Gray 9/175 with three TD’s; Reuss 2/30; Connor Briggs 1/7.
Minisink stats are forthcoming and will be added when they are sent.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
