Fitzsimons/Dass Unstoppable Connection in Somers’ NYS Semi Win

Tusker Duo Strike for 3 TDs, Fitz Chucks 5, Somers Rolls to Dome in Search of 2nd NYS Title

By Ray Gallagher, Examiner Sports Editor @Directrays

MIDDLETOWN – The connection between Somers QB Matt Fitzsimons and RB Ravi Dass Jr. is reminiscent – and then some – of the dynamic 2016 hookup between Tusker QB Kevin Olifers and RB Matt Pires, which says all you need to know if you follow Somers football.

Fitzsimons found Dass Jr. for three of his five TD passes in the state-ranked (No.1) Tuskers’ 35-7 thrashing of Section 2 champion Niskayuna (10-3) in the Class A state semifinals at Faller Field on the campus of Middletown High School Friday night.

Somers (11-0), the 2021 NYS runner-ups to Section 4’s CBA, now has a chance to make amends for its only loss the last three seasons when the Tuskers head north to Syracuse and the JMA Wireless Dome (forever the Carrier Dome in our hearts) in search of the program’s second NYSPHSAA title (2016). Somers will play sixth-ranked Section 4 champion Union-Endicott for the state championship at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Somers was a two-point conversion attempt away from winning it all last year when the Tuskers were stopped with 1:19 remaining in its loss to CBA and will now appear in its third NYSPHSAA Class A final since 2016.

“I very publicly said our goal was to win a section championship, but, behind closed doors, this group spoke about our goal, which was to get back to the dome,” second-year coach Anthony DeMatteo said. “It just hasn’t sat right with the way it ended last year and we wanted to take another shot at it, and now we’re there.

“Obviously, the first half things didn’t go our way,” DeMatteo added. “We’ve been preaching how to deal with adversity and have a relentless style of being a competitor. We had a bunch of things that didn’t go our way but I knew our kids weren’t going to quit. They answered the bell and finished them when they were able to.”

The Tuskers are there thanks to the Fitzsimons-to-Dass connection, which struck for the first time on the opening possession and then two more times, to give the duo a school record 15 TD strikes on the season.

“We had hoped that would be the case this year,” DeMatteo said. “I think Matt is tremendous and having a guy with Ravi’s speed and doing the things we’re doing will only enhance that and I’m sure I’ll look back in the off-season and enjoy just how special this connection is.”

Fitzsimons has now tossed for a school record 2,017 passing yards while hitting 128 of 177 attempts  (72.3%). Fitz’s 27 TD passes in 2022 are another school record, and he’s added 10 TD runs for 37 total TDs, a school record for passing and rushing scores.

“I have some incredible talent around me,” said Fitzsimons, who hit on 13 of 21 for 219 yards against Nisky. “Ravi’s my man! He’s got tremendous speed and he’s always where I need him to be. He wasn’t even the intended receiver on some of those but he’s just always open, so. We faced some adversity in the first half but we didn’t let it affect us.”

Fitzsimons, who was denied a game-winning two-point conversion in the state finals last year, won’t let last year’s memories affect him at the dome this weekend.

“I still have nightmares about last year,” Fitzsimons admitted. “I try not to think about it any more. Honestly, I think it’s helped me grow as a player and made me so much better as a player and person. We’re gonna come out flying early and get it done next week.”

Somers RB Luke Savino’s kickoff to start the game was hung up in the wind at the Niskayuna 20 where the Silver Warriors let it lie before Mac Sullivan pounced to recover the loose ball. The short field set up Fitzsimons, who found a streaking Dass (6 catches, 89 yards) four plays later for the game’s first score and a 7-0 lead after the Savino PAT.

“We had a couple of bad penalties in the first half,” said Savino (17 carries for 83 yards), who later snared a 30-yard TD catch to put the Tuskers then took 14-7 lead, despite numerous uncharacteristic mistakes, including two ineligible-man-down-field penalties, which throttled any shot at a first-half runaway, though it was Fitzsimons, who connected on three more touchdown passes in the second half, two of which went to Dass.

“We corrected those mistakes,” Savino added, “and as we went into the second half we were locked in. We were shooting ourselves in the foot or we would have been up more by the half. We’re on to the dome! Finish the unfinished.”

The Somers defense, outside of one big play, nearly pitched a shutout and limited the Silver Warriors to just 52 yards over 17 plays in the opening 24 minutes, the bulk of which came off a 59-yard TD rush by sophomore Isaiah Linyear.

Navy-bound Somers senior Jake Polito was a massive presence after sitting out the week before.

“It was traumatic not being out here last week. I had a speech with some of the guys. It was just like, ‘Thank you, I said'” said Polito, who sat out the regional overtime win over Lourdes after suffering a dislocated shoulder. “I might need some therapy after the season, but they gave me a chance to come back and play at least one more game, and now two more games. It means the world to me. Props to Kevin Mullen, our trainor, he’s the best. We were doing work all week.”

State-ranked (No.11) Niskayuna Coach Brian Grastorf’s outfit had accomplished more than any other team had in school history since the Section II playoffs began in 1978, including its first appearance in the state tournament. His club had no answers for Somers.

“That is a good football team, and they made plays,” Grastorf said. We just couldn’t get anything going against them.”

Nobody could get much going in the first half. Somers had an uncharacteristically flawed first half, drawing penalties and shooting itself in the foot over and over.

“Despite the penalties we had we knew we have a bend but don’t break mentality,” Dass Jr. said. “We just need a great practice week before we head off to the state championship. Shout out to my QB, I couldn’t ask for a better quarterback. Fitz is always throwing me good balls. This is a great feeling going back to the dome again.”

Davis is in rare air, having won three sectional titles and another abbreviated title (2 football, 1 baseball, plus 1 abbreviated Covid spring football season). His Tusker legacy is one that will last a lifetime.

“I’m so grateful for that,” Dass Jr. added. “ We’ve had great preparation from our coaches.”

The Tuskers will head to Syracuse Friday with one collective goal in mind. The preparation began moments after the Nisky game.

“I don’t think I need to do anything different,” Coach D said. “It was dome or bust this year and we said that behind closed doors. We’re going to have a phenomenal practice week, we’re going to dial in and go up to Syracuse for a business trip. One goal and one goal only… to come home with a state championship.”