Panthers Overwhelm New Paltz to Advance in the State Tourney

By Andy Jacobs

Pleasantville football coach Tony Becerra thought he had run out of ideas on things to tell his players to get them fired up for Friday night’s state-regional clash with Section 9 champion New Paltz. Then his phone rang on the trip up north to Kingston’s Dietz Stadium. 

“I didn’t know what to say to the kids before the game, thinking about it on the bus ride up,” he admitted. “I got a call from my wife on the bus and she says, ‘Ask your kids do they want to be a great team or an elite team.’ I said, ‘OK, I’ll use that.’ And I did. So I’m gonna credit my wife with that.”

Wherever the inspiration came from, his Panthers responded by turning what had been a close game at halftime into a rout, outscoring the Huguenots 34-0 over the final two quarters to win 56-20. Declan McDermott scored a pair of touchdowns and threw for a third as Pleasantville, now 11-0, advanced to the regional final this Saturday, again at Dietz Stadium.

“I reminded them about their mental toughness at halftime,” said Becerra. “We made the necessary adjustments on both sides of the ball and I think when it got middle to late in the second half, we just wore ‘em down.”

For one half, anyway, there was plenty of drama. On a cold, windy evening, the Panthers began with a seven-play, 68-yard drive that was highlighted by Charlie McPhee’s juggling over-the-shoulder catch for a 32-yard gain and capped by Ryan Drillock’s three-yard touchdown run. The point-after kick by Jack Howe gave Pleasantville a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.

But just 12 seconds later, the Huguenots, who had dethroned five-time defending champ Marlboro, evened the score with a 61-yard touchdown run on first down by Hunter McVea. New Paltz then forced the Panthers into a three-and-out before striking again with another big play as quarterback Jimmy Verney found Joe DiMarco wide open over the top for a 51-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was wide, but the Huguenots had a 13-7 lead and Becerra worried.

“Extremely concerned,” he said. “It was just too easy.”

The Huguenots threatened again late in the first quarter, advancing the ball to the Panther 18-yard line, but on the last play of the period Verney was sacked for a loss and Pleasantville took possession. A 31-yard pass play to Drillock on first down set the stage for an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Two successive passes from Howe to McDermott, the first a 22-yard gain on third and 15 and the next a short toss to the flat that turned into a 13-yard touchdown, enabled the Panthers to take a 14-13 lead with 8:25 left in the half.

Pleasantville added to its slim lead after Ian Esliker recovered a Huguenot fumble that gave the Panthers the ball at the New Paltz 18-yard line. McPhee plowed his way to the 10 on first down, then scored from a yard out four plays later. When Howe tossed to Brian Reda for a two-point conversion, the P’ville lead stretched to 22-14 with 38 seconds left before halftime.

But the Huguenots’ DiMarco fielded the ensuing short kickoff, spun away from a tackle and galloped 65 yards to the end zone. The point-after kick narrowed the Pleasantville lead to just 22-20 at intermission.

“I’m thinking we’re going into halftime up by two scores,” said Becerra. “That’s a great situation, and then not only is it down to one score but the momentum shifted. And you saw that last week as well (against Westlake). That’s why I said the guys can draw upon their experience from past games and it doesn’t fazethem.”

Unfortunately for the Huguenots, they never got any closer after that. Both teams went three-and-out to start the third quarterbefore a key defensive play by the Panthers began the second-half tidal wave that buried New Paltz. McPhee tackled an unsuspecting Verney from behind on first down at the New Paltz15, forcing a fumble that was scooped up by Cullen Dell for a touchdown. The PAT from Howe gave P’ville a 29-20 edge five minutes into the half.

“Oh, it was crucial,” said McDermott about the defensive touchdown by Dell. “It sparked the entire bench to life and everyone was just going crazy. The crowd was into it. It was just an exciting environment.”

A Huguenot drive soon stalled at the Panthers’ 25-yard line. On first down, McDermott got to the right sideline and bolted 75 yards for another Pleasantville touchdown. With 2:38 left in the third quarter, the lead had suddenly ballooned to 16 points.

Just over a minute into the final period, McPhee, named the game’s offensive MVP, ran up the middle 45 yards for a touchdown that concluded a six-play, 73-yard drive and all but ended the fading Huguenots’ season. With six and a half minutes left, McDermott threw an option pass to a wide open Reda that turned into a 47-yard touchdown.

“That’s something we talked about,” said Becerra about the trick play. “Coach (George) LaMar brought it to my attention at halftime. He said, ‘Let’s keep it in our pocket because it could be there.’ And he was right.”

Asked later if it was more of a thrill to throw the touchdown pass than score two touchdowns, McDermott said, “I’d have to say the halfback option. We’ve run it a couple times in practice and getting it to my boy, Brian Reda, growing up with him, you can’t really ask for a better play than that. I’ve actually overthrown him about three times this year and he’s been on me for it. I made sure I hit him.”

There was a bit more indignity for New Paltz still to come. McVea lost the football after a big run past midfield and, moments later, Esliker raced 60 yards for the final Pleasantville touchdown. 

“We found out right away how fast they can be,” said Becerra about the vanquished Huguenots. “And if we weren’t able to wear ‘em down a little bit, it could’ve been ugly. The deeper we got into the second half, the kids started sensing that they were a little bit tired, on their heels. That’s when our line stepped up.”

So now, this Panther team that has advanced further than any other from the school, prepares for its state semifinal against unbeaten Glens Falls of Section 2, with a trip to Syracuse’s Carrier Dome riding on the outcome.

“It’s remarkable,” said McDermott. “It’s a great team to be a part of. Great coaches, great people, being part of the environment, the atmosphere. You can’t really ask for anything better.”