Falcons’ Offense, Defense Click on All Cylinders in 41-12 Domination of Haldane
By Skip Pearlman
After their first game of the season was turned into a scrimmage, and after getting drubbed by Rye Neck 34-0 a week earlier, the Falcons of Woodlands High needed a game like this – a breakout game.
And Saturday at home, the Falcons got it, as an overmatched Haldane squad was pounded into submission by a fired up Woodlands, 41-12, in a League C meeting.
Woodlands got solid contributions from several sources – senior QB Myles Thigpen ended up with two touchdowns on the ground and another in the air, senior Rashad Baker led the team in rushing with 111 yards and a score on just six carries, and senior Jon Stewart pitched in with a 106-yard, one-touchdown performance, as the Falcons led from wire to wire.
Falcons Head Coach Mike Meade and his staff made a few adjustments during the week, and, of course, Haldane is no Rye Neck.
But whatever the case, this was the Falcons’ day.
“I think some of the changes we made during the week made a difference,” Meade said after the game.
The Falcons had trouble with snaps from the shotgun formation against Rye Neck. “We put in a new center, Rich Huguet, and he played a nice game,” the coach said. And we moved Venier Brown to guard, and he was outstanding… they really solidified our line.”
A number of mental mistakes vs. Rye Neck also hurt the team, along with costly turnovers, and some shaky defense. But Woodlands was able to clean up each of those areas against Haldane – which made a huge difference.
“We didn’t make mistakes like we did last week,” Meade said. “We were much more focused. We didn’t turn the ball over, and we played solid defense.”
Woodlands (1-1) didn’t wait long to get the rout underway, scoring two minutes into the contest, as Thigpen broke loose for a 47-yard TD scamper – the first of his two touchdown runs. Baker busted off a 32-yard scoring run shortly after, and the Falcons had a 12-0 lead after a quarter.
Thigpen found another open lane created by the Falcons’ line in the second, and scored on a 40-yard run, and Woodlands led 18-6 at halftime.
Haldane found itself in trouble again just one minute into the third, when a penalty pinned the Blue Devils against their own goal line. That’s when Falcons linebackers Nahjee O’Donohue and Amari Bilal sacked Haldane QB Tyler Giachinta in the end zone, forcing a fumble that was recovered by O’Donohue for a touchdown, and a 26-6 lead after Bilal’s two-point conversion run.
The Blue Devils (1-2) put their second score on the board thanks to a 17-yard TD run by Giachinta with 6:28 left in the third, keeping his team in the game for the moment, at 26-12.
But after an on-sides kick attempt failed, Woodlands got great field position, and on first down Baker found a lane and rumbled 46 yards to pay dirt. Rich Larocca’s PAT gave the home team a 33-12 cushion with 4:00 left in the period.
Thigpen opened the fourth with a 15-yard TD pass to DaShawn Beecham – four seconds into the quarter, and Haldane fumbled their next possession right back to Woodlands.
Balil, an impressive sophomore, finished with 13 tackles and a forced fumble, and Beecham recorded three QB sacks, and forced a fumble.
Meade said this was a good team win, with several players playing key roles.
“Dondi Crawford was chasing the quarterback all game,” Meade said. “He put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. Beecham stood out, and so did Amari… he was incredible. Thigpen, Stewart and Baker… they were all great. They gave us such a balanced attack.”
Woodlands hopes to continue its strong play Saturday at 1:30 p.m., when the Falcons host Dobbs Ferry (2-1).
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
