Brave New World
Tri-Valley Returns To The Ethereal Afterlife Of Postseason Contention Behind Its Commanding League Win Against Defending Champion Millbrook; Once Hapless Bears Now Figure To Be A Fierce Foe As They Evince Newfound Efficiency To Go Along With Existing Heart and Grit
Tri-Valley 31, Millbrook 20
Field of Dreams: Tri-Valley celebrates its 31-20 Homecoming Night playoff-clinching win over Millbrook (Clockwise): Players erupt in jubilation at the game's conclusion. Millbrook's Henry Cardinal gives the Bears and their fans an initial sense of concern with his 65-yard TD run just 46 seconds into the game. Tri-Valley senior cheerleaders (left to right) Jackie Wallace, Stephanie Hyzer, Amber Buley, Brittany Rennison, Jessica Lee and Amber Watch. Wide-eyed and filled with emotion, Conor Walsh and Greg Swarthout listen to Coach John Rusin extol the play of the team and encourage them about the road ahead. The Bears burst through the homecoming banner. Greg Swarthout scores one of his two TD's. T-V senior gridders pose for a photo. Names are all listed in the story.
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—It’s not unlikely that many denizens of the local football world were stunned upon waking up early in the morning on October 22 to learn that Tri-Valley had made the playoffs; that the team many had come to regard as the reincarnation of the “Bad News Bears, had beaten a tough Millbrook team up and down the field in a momentous 33-20 win consigning the defending Class C champs to be observers of the coming playoff rounds they ruled a year ago.
You can't say enough about the heart and toughness of Joe Mickelson. Out for weeks with a hairline fracture to his tibia, the senior returned when it mattered the most. His work over the past two league wins has been immense. This game: 21 carries for 155 yards.
Tri-Valley’s 2-1 league mark would now carry them back to a milieu many figured would be lacking their presence this season, namely a chance to vie for a Section Nine Class C Championship in the coming playoffs.
But those of us who have been close to this team and know these boys and their coaches, never doubted whether they could indeed pass through that magical portal.
We knew that the Bears’ losing record was not a true reflection of the team’s talent and drive, and that should they qualify for the big dance, that they would be a fearsome adversary for any of the teams they had to face,.
That said, Tri-Valley’s record prior to its two recent league wins against Fallsburg and now Millbrook was a dismal 1-5. As Coach John Rusin put it, he was tired of opposing coaches telling him how tough his team was, how they had pushed their teams up and down the field and how they were the best 1-5 team in Section Nine.
That and $2.50 will get you a ride on a NYC subway to the end of the line.in other words.. to nowhere. Now the reborn Bears are going for a ride with an entirely new destination, aboard an express train which they are conducting. Warning signals are flashing up ahead to teams in their way: T-V’s express has no brakes.
What a difference a day makes.
Tri-Valley players and coaches will be the first to admit that for much of this season they had been a train wreck. After all, when your positive game highlights are overshadowed by countless turnovers and blunders, you don’t show up on anybody’s radar as more than a benign blip.
But the Bears knew that were it not for those weekly slip ups, that they could easily have been 5-1 and regarded as fearsome Grizzlies by Section Nine teams instead of being considered….well…..dare we say it.. Teddy Bears to be played with and cast aside.
Rusin knew his team had talent, toughness and heart. What they needed was to play nearly flawless football to show what they were made of.
A picture's worth a thousand words: Greg Swarthout shows his excitement after a rushing TD. He carried the ball 15 times for 102 yards and completed 2/5/33 yards including a TD pass to Cody Exner.
And so it was that after losing to O”Neill, he told his team that they had destiny in their hands. That if they beat division foes Fallsburg and Millbrook, they’d be in the playoffs with a zero-zero record just like O’Neill, Sullivan West and Burke, a trio of teams that profited by T-V mistakes to marshal victories.
Moreover, he told them, they’d be a dangerous foe, potentially lethal. But first they would have to take care of the business at hand and defer their dreams about paying two of the aforementioned teams back in spades.
Fallsburg could have been regarded as an easy mark, but the Bears did not take the Comets lightly. Playing a team in search of its first-ever win on its Homecoming Night, on a field that was a muddy mire had more than enough potential for a disastrous slip up.
But the Bears who had upended themselves against Chester, Sullivan West, O’Neill, Eldred and Burke were done sliding in the standings, though there was plenty of slippage on the mud at Morningside Park.
Steady Joe Mickelson took the ball 16 times for 175 yards and scored two TD’s, his formerly broken tibia now a distant memory. Greg Swarthout, Brendan Tierney and Shatik Smith scored as well and Anthony Beale added five PAT points as the Bears rolled to a 41-14 road win over the Comets..
Now would come the acid test.
The Bears and the Fiery Millbrook Blazers were each 1-1 in Division II coming into this do-or-die clash. The winner would advance to the playoffs, while the loser would have its title contention hopes abruptly terminated.
Millbrook's Lucas Lehmkuhl races for an 11-yard TD in the third quarter. The Blazers pulled within a TD and two-point conversion before Anthony Beale iced the deal with a late field goal.
Seniors in particular, would be devastated by such a tragic finale to their high school careers.
The Bears won the toss and elected to defer, daring Millbrook to reckon with its fierce defense .
Egged on by the capacity home crowd the Bears burst through the cheerleaders ‘Homecoming banner to rally around their beloved coach.
The sounds of the pep band, the cheerleaders and the rabid fan base filled the night.
Tri-Valley fans adore their team no matter what the season. Years back nearly every denizen of the community traveled to Westbury, Long Island to watch the Bears play Friends Academy in a boys basketball regional final. Had they won they would have filled the stands at Glens Falls. Last year they packed Mount St. Mary College to watch their Section Nine girls champs vie against Haldane bound and determined to head to Troy if they had advanced.
But back to the present.
At last the long wait was over. The kick went up and the Millbrook blaze ignited forthwith. On the second play from scrimmage tight end Henry Cardinal dashed 65 yards up the left sideline at 11:14 to draw first blood. Devon Jackson kicked the PAT and the Blazers were on the board with a 7-0 lead.
Jackson kicked off and the Bears took over at their own 35. Joe Mickelson took a steady diet of carries interspersed with advances by Cody Exner. In just four and a half minutes the Bears marched 65 yards in eight plays as Greg Swarthout capped off the drive with a one-yard TD at 6:43. The PAT failed and the Blazers held a narrow 7-6 lead.
Cody Exner cruises into the endzone. He carried the ball 9 times for 62 yards, rushed for a TD and caught a pass for another.
Millbrook began its next quest at its 34with an 11 yard run by Lucas Lehmkul. It soon became evident however that the Bears were getting great backside penetration on Millbrook’s attempted sweeps with tackles from Jesus Lozada, Troy Rossi and Brendan Tierney. Millbrook got as far as the T-V 44 before the Bears held firm and took over on downs.
As the quarter waned it was Mickelson carrying the load again with a first down and Exner getting it to the Millbrook 45. Two plays later Swarthout took off on a keeper for a 35-yard TD run at 11:13 of the second quarter. Mickelson ran in the two-point conversion and the Bears led 14-7.
Henry Cardinal was tagged for a loss by Rossi as was Brad Pitz as the Bears were now extinguishing the Blazers blaze by forcing a punt. The short kick gave T-V the ball at the MB 40. A pitch to Exner netted nine but a penalty made it a first and 15. After two failed run attempts, Swarthout uncorked a 30-yard TD pass to Exner at 6:36 of the second quarter to make it 20-7. Beale punctuated it with a PAT and the Bears now led 21-7.
As Millbrook Coach Sean Keenan would later point out, Tri-Valley disrupted Millbrook’s run game by penetrating from behind and causing loss after loss. “Their kids fly to the ball. We knew this was going to be a war. We didn’t do our best job of blocking and they just ran underneath our blocks and dismantled us,” he said.
That defensive efficiency resulted in a three and out on the Millbrook series following the Bears’ most recent score. T-V took over on downs and made a stalwart stand on a fourth and seven play on an advance that had taken Millbrook all the way to the T-V 16. “Get a stop now,” yelled Rusin and his team took him at his word.
Halftime verve! T-V cheerleaders rev it up with a great show of skill, flexibility and spirit.
The Bears got it back on downs, got off a nice weaving run by Exner but the half ended and the seniors got ready for their introduction and flower rendering ceremony to their parents and loved ones.
The following football seniors were called forth and posed for pictures with their family, friends and loved ones:: Greg Swarthout, Conor Walsh, Anthony Beale, John Monforte, Andrew Malone, Tyler Lopez, Joe Mickelson, Shawn Markle, Troy Rossi, Rafael Ramirez, Jonathan Edwards, Jameshenry Osterhoudt and Fred Dumond, Senior cheerleaders included Jackie Wallace, Stephanie Hyzer, Amber Buley, Brittany Rennison, Jessica Lee and Amber Watch.
The cheerleaders performed at the half much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd.
The Bears received to start the second half and within three plays, they were on the board again, this time behind a 25-yard TD run by Swarthout at 11:17. Beale’s PAT made it 28-7 but you knew Millbrook wasn’t going quietly.
On the next series, the Blazers responded with a series of powerful runs by Lehmkul and Pitz and a pass reception by Jackson. Lehmkul capped off the drive with an 11-yard TD run at 8:19. Jackson kicked the PAT and the Blazers had closed the gap to 28-14.
They punctuated that by forcing a three and out on the Bears next series.
With 5:03 left in the third quarter the Blazers began at their own 21 but three plays later, a Lehmkul fumble was recovered by Walsh and with 1:59 remaining in the period.
T-V safety Shatik Smith makes sure Millbrook's Jonathan Crane stays down after his pass reception. The Bears defense yielded two TD's in the second half but held firm when it mattered for the win.
The Bears did not capitalize on the takeaway however as they began with a delay of game penalty. The quarter ended with them facing a third and eight at their own 40.
The fourth quarter began with what appeared to be a 60-yard TD pass to Exner but it was called back on a holding penalty. The series fizzled and the Bears punted.
In the next Blazers’ series, Millbrook compensated for a couple of run losses by garnering a 26-yard TD pass from Crane to Lehmkul at 9:04. The PAT sailed wide right but the Blazers were now a TD and two-point conversion within tying it up as they trailed 28-20 with plenty of time left.
Tri-Valley’s temporary reversion to its errant care of the football afforded Millbrook another try as a fumble on a pitch was recovered by Lehmkul at 6:22 at their own 38. Jonathan Edwards was hurt on the play and didn’t return for the remainder of the game. Soon he’d have company on the bench as John Anzano would join him with an injured ankle. Exner had sat out following his 60-yard callback.
Millbrook couldn’t make hay out of the takeaway. They began with a holding penalty and two snuffed running plays as the Bears were heeding Rossi’s impassioned call: “WE ARE GOING TO SECTIONALS,” he barked to his fellow defenders.
The Bears responded by stopping Millbrook on a fourth and ten play at their own 28.
The Bears got it back on downs with 3:42 remaining in the game. Mickelson marshaled one first down but the Bears found themselves facing a fourth and four at the nine. Rusin called a time out and decided on a field goal try.
Beale kicked it from the 25 straight through the uprights for the game-clinching 3 points as the Bears now led 31-20 with just 1:27 remaining in the game.
The clock and season ran out on the Blazers as the Bears celebrated the victory with hugs, smiles and a few tears of joy.
Keenan had loads of praise for Tri-Valley:
“We’ve watched them two or three times. They’re a big, physical team and they play hard. John and his staff did a great job. We never show our team film of the opponent but this past week we did it twice so they would know how good these guys were,” he noted.
Millbrook lost to Burke on a fumble recovery earlier in the season which put the Blazers in the same boat as the Bears.
Players listen to their coach John Rusin as he extols their play and tells them to enjoy their weekend safely and wisely. This week's preparation is all about O'Neill.
Rusin praised his troops before turning to talk to this writer, “You executed, limited turnovers and special teams were an asset. I’m so proud of you. You took responsibility. Everybody did what they wre supposed to do. It was a total team effort. Your record before doesn’t mean anything. Do you want the next one?” he barked. The answer from the team was deafening in its unison call of yes.
“It was so frustrating earlier in the season to see so much talent not actualizing its potential. We have senior leadership, a solid line, a good backfield, smart quarterbacks and our defense is tough. It’s a matter of putting things together, limiting mistakes and other teams’ big plays and special teams have to be a big part of it too,” he asserted.
“Millbrook is extremely well coached and they bring an offense you dread to play against. If any of your defensive 11 has a lapse they will exploit it. You just simply have to outscore them. We’ve scored 58 points in a game against them and lost.”
He went on to say, “Our guys did a good job of moving the ball and that allowed our defense to play and not have to worry about every play,.” Looking ahead to the playoffs, Rusin noted that teams will be more prepared the second time around given the fact that all of the other teams in the playoffs played T-V this year.
If the Bears beat O’Neill they’ll face the winner of the Burke-Sullivan West game in the title game. Last year they lost to Burke in the semifinals. The Bears won the Class C title in 2007 when they defeated Sullivan West 18-6.
The seniors linked arms and walked across their home field to cherish the memory of their last home game. As they walked, I strode alongside to listen to their thoughts and to soak up the final vibrations of a special night.
Here’s what was on their minds:
Greg Swarthout: “It feels so good to get a win at our last home game. I ‘ve got to give a lot of credit to the line. They were shuffling in and out with injuries and switching positions from guard to tackle. Millbrook is a really good team. Their system is tough. They give you fits. We worked extremely hard on extending our ends and clamping down on their jet sweeps,” he observed.
Anthony Beale
Anthony Beale: “The last two field goals I tried I missed but this time I was pretty relaxed. Now every time I try to think of it as an extra point and not worry about the distance. Football is so much fun. I’m just a kicker but these guys accept me and I love how they play with a lot of heart, as does my soccer team. I wouldn’t trade either sport for the other. I’m blessed to have the teammates I have on both squads,” he averred.
Conor Walsh: “It feels absolutely great. I’ve been with most of these seniors since Pumpkin Patch prekindergarten. We’ve grown up together. I used to wrestle with Greg in the hallway. Tonight feels ecstatic. I couldn’t want anything more than to go into the playoffs with my fellow seniors who I grew up with.”
Conor Walsh
Joe Mickelson:“Playing Millbrook was insane! They play great. Their coaching is great. They knew every play we were calling. I could hear them calling them out. I have to say this was the best defensive game Brendan Tierney has had in his career, penetrating that back side. As a senior I’m excited we’re going to the playoffs,
Joe Mickelson
Now we’re looking to run the table.”
Tri-Valley plays O’Neill at Middletown’s Faller Field on October 28 at 4;00pm.
Tri-Valley Stat line:
Mickelson 12/155; Exner 9/62 with one rushing TD and one 30-yard TD catch; Swarthout 15/102 with a TD; He completed 2/5 passes for 33 yards and a TD;
Leading tacklers included Jesus Lozada, Troy Rossi, Brendan Tierney, John Monforte and Joe Mickelson. Tackling statistics were not totally tabulated so numbers are not listed.
Happy Berth Day Lady Bears!
T-V senior keeper Erin Smith goes aloft for an electrifying save against Fallsburg.
Tri-Valley needed just one more win to make it to sectionals and they had hoped to garner that honor under the lights on October 21. But due to the calamitous collision between Fallsburg’s Arturo Perez and T-V’s Hunter Kennedy that had brought an end to the boys game and postponed the girls clash, the game was deferred to the next afternoon.
Fallsburg was about to unveil what Coach Mike Geller would term his team’s best play under his watch. Indeed, it was a highly competive match, even more so in the second half wherein Fallsburg had the lion’s share of the possession. Tri-Valley got two goals in the first half. The first one came at 17:17 as junior varsity call-up Ashley (A.J) Johnson picked up a pass from Mareena DiMIlia and lofted it over the head of Comet keeper Brooke Rappaport for the 1-0 lead.
At 28:00 T-V sophomore midfielder/striker Amanda Tyndell added another goal on an assist from Colleen Jones. With T-V’s staunch defense heading off Fallsburg’s runs that rarely reached keeper Erin Smith, the Lady Bears were able to marshal the needed victory. Smith made an electrifying save, one of her six on the day, as she went aloft to punch a ball skyward out of harm’s way in the upper right corner of the box.
Fallsburg’s Brooke Rappaport would have nine saves on the day and also showed her defiance of gravity on one of those nixes.
“The first half was much better than the second half,” noted T-V Coach Mary Feusner. “I think that everybody that was out there contributed in a good way for us. We were getting our shots off. Sometimes we needed to have a little bit more patience before shooting. In the first half we got to get to the battle of the net and that’s what did it for us,” she observed..
The Bears improved to 8-7 (4-7 OCIAA) and will play S.S. Seward at home on October 25. Sectional seeding will be revealed on October 27.
Mike Geller noted that his team was doing exactly the kinds of things he has taught them. They hustled, and vied to win every 50-50 ball. Geller had immense praise for Rappaport in the cage.
Fallsburg fell to 4-8 -1 (1-8-1 OCIAA).
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