Carmel Routs Newburgh, 47-13, in NYSPHSAA Class AA Semis
State-Ranked (No.5) Rams Seeking Putnam County’s 1st NYS State Title
By Ray Gallagher, Examiner Sports Editor @Directrays
MIDDLETOWN — Captivating Class AA Carmel is going to Syracuse this coming weekend to challenge for the NYSPHSAA championship, something which no team from Putnam County has ever won before and none have even competed for since Brewster placed second in 1997 (Class B) and 1999 (Class A).
After falling behind 7-0, Carmel reeled off 47 unanswered points en route to the state-ranked (No.5) Rams’ 47-13 romp of Section 9 champion Newburgh (No.9 in NYS) in the NYS Class AA state semifinals at Faller Field on the campus Middletown High School last Saturday night.
With the win, Coach Todd Cayea’s unbeaten Rams (12-0) advanced to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse for the first time in program history where the Rams will take on Section 6 champion Buffalo Bennett (10-1) for all the marbles at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.
Carmel has now outscored its opponents by a combined 472-69 after shredding Newburgh (10-2) for 301 rushing yards with senior QB Kevin Dall taking his game to the next level under center. Dall (7 for 10, 166 passing yards) fired touchdown passes to WR Nick DiLeo (3 catches, 55 yards) and TE T.J. Fusco in the second quarter and went for 60 rushing yards on four carries. He also connected twice with WR Patrick Kiernan for 75 huge yards.
“For starters, we came with great energy tonight and willed our way to this win,” said Rams senior RB Dylan Shields, who gouged Newburgh’s interior defense for 76 yards and two scores and just seven carries. “Our O-line was firing off the ball all night giving me great lanes, and Kevin (Dall) was running the passing game like a machine. It was a great team W, and now we get to play in the dome, which is every player’s dream to play in.”
Ram RB’s Josh Massi (14 for 69, 1 TD) and Nick Rosaforte (4 for 61, 1 TD) had big games behind their terrific offensive line, featuring Scott Ganvin, Owen Boland, Dominick Telesco, Anthony Briante, Jack Kane and TE T.J. Fusco, who saw a huge contingent of @CarmelCrazies_ fans get behind them in enemy territory.
“It’s unreal, we’ve always dreamed about playing for a state title and playing in the dome,” Carmel WR/DB Andrew Fiore said. “It’s also been Coach Cayea’s dream and I’m happy we can do that for him. But we’re not done yet. We have one more game to go.
“This is 100 percent the best team I’ve been a part of,” Fiore added. “We’re all a family, and it’s nice having the support of the community because we’re also doing this for them.”
Carmel sophomore LB Matt Risley, who had a late rushing TD, was in on a team-high seven tackles while Rosaforte added four tackles and a pick.
The program has become a staple of the community under Coach Cayea, who has given it his all for 27 seasons. Whether this is his last season or not, he’s done some of his best coaching in 2021.
“These kids have accepted the standards that come along with our program,” said Cayea, who last reached the Class AA semis in 1998. “Accountability, trust, caring, empathy and treating each other with respect. They are good student-athletes who genuinely love one another and the team-first attitude is always on display. So many different kids accept their roles and do them to the best of their God-given ability. Focus and effort are also a staple with ignoring the uncontrollable factors. It’s been a hell of a run.”
And that, right there, might be the understatement of the year.
Ray has 33 years experience covering and photographing local sports in Westchester and Putnam counties, including everything from Little League/Travel Baseball to varsity high school prep sports and collegiate coverage. He has been a sports editor at Examiner Media since its inception in 2007.
Visit Ray’s author bio page for more details. Also read Ray’s archived work here and his Direct Rays column here.
