Knights No Match for Hungry Tigers in Home Opener Win
After amassing 436 total offensive yards to open the season with a 57-20 win against Poughkeepsie High School in Poughkeepsie last week. The Tigers returned home and accumulated 448 total yards, as they crushed Section 1 AA opponent Mt. Vernon High School, 42-14, in their 2018 Home Opener on Friday.
White Plains High School varsity football has started the season 2-0, which is one more win than they had all last season. There is an ambiance of optimism surrounding White Plains High School football, which is something that has not existed since former Head Coach Skip Stevens led the Tigers to the Sectional Title in 2013.
The Tigers 2018 Home Opener was dubbed a “Blackout Game” whereas Tigers fans attending the game dressed in black to symbolize their support. White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach and White Plains High School Principal Ellen Doherty ever present at Tigers games even donned black attire.
Maybe it was the “blackout” that inspired Tigers senior quarterback Marcus Andre, as he picked apart the Knights defense, while completing 11 of 13 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Andre also gained 118 yards on eight carries and scored two rushing touchdowns.
“I think our receivers are doing a good job catching the ball and blocking, as well our offensive line is giving us time to make those plays. When we have time we can do anything we want on the field,” commented Andre.
Andre hit senior Zyon Poteat with a 14-yard TD pass to start the scoring for the Tigers in the first quarter. Then after the Knights responded with an eight-yard TD run by senior Kenneth Jackson; Andre stepped up and hit senior Josiah Harris with a 42-yard touchdown pass.
The game was tied 14-14 at the end of the first quarter and remained knotted until 11.2 seconds were left in the first half. Andre found Harris again on a 56-yard pass play but the big Ossining transfer was stopped short of the end zone by the Knights at the 10-yard line.
Andre decided to take the lead before the half ended and snuck the ball over the goal line for a three-yard touchdown. Then the Tigers hustled to their locker room with a 21-14 lead.
After the White Plains High School Band displayed their talents at halftime by playing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Bruno Mars’s “24 Karat Magic” and Imagine Dragons “Believer.” Stepinac transfer Otis Allen emerged from the locker room believing and recovered a Knights fumble on the opening kick-off of the second half on their 20-yard-line.
The Tigers advanced it to the six-yard line, where they summoned junior running back Christian Young to score one of his two touchdowns in the game.
Young also recovered a fumble on the defense and ran it in for a touchdown to end the third quarter, 35-14, in favor of the Tigers. Andre captioned the Tigers scoring with a four-yard run in the fourth quarter for the 42-14 finish. Tigers place kicker Israel Perez-Martinez converted on all six extra points.
“We have really good athletes and we are putting them out in space and our playmakers are making plays. When your playmakers make plays your team looks really good,” said Tigers Head Coach Michael Lindberg.
New Executive Director of Section 1 Athletics Announced
On Friday, the Southern Westchester BOCES announced that the recommendation of Todd Santabarbara to fill the position of Director of Interscholastic Athletics will be presented to the Board of Education at its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 12.
Santabarbara is presently in his ninth year as Director of Athletics in the Pearl River School District. He will be recommended to succeed current Section 1 Director of Athletics Jennifer Simmons, with a start date of November 26. Simmons announced in June that she will retire in March 2019.
Santabarbara and Simmons will work together during a transition period, which will last until her retirement in March 2019. “Todd is a great leader; he has done a good job at Pearl River with all the athletic programs. He has good relationships with many Athletic Directors. I am very pleased with the selection,” said WPHS Athletic Director Matt Cameron.
