Somers Handles Harrison, Advances to Class A Title Tilt: Tuskers Race to 21-Point Lead in 28-14 Win, Face Sleepy for Crown
With the business of 300 wins put behind him in a 34-7 quarterfinal rout of Hen Hud, Somers High football Coach Tony DeMatteo is more concerned now with two additional milestones; his 10thSection 1 championship and his second NYS title.
After DeMatteo’s Tuskers eliminated host Harrison, 28-14, in Saturday’s Section 1 Class A semifinals, the legendary coach drew one step closer, advancing to Wednesday’s Section 1 championship against No.2A Sleepy Hollow at Mahopac High (6:00 p.m.).
Somers sophomore Matt Morgante’s strip and fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter stopped a potential game-tying Huskies drive at the Somers 8-yard line and triggered the clinching score, giving the rookie his third turnover of the game.
Somers senior RB Stefano Bicknese set the initial tone, snapping off a 45-yard touchdown run on the Tuskers’ first play from scrimmage, finishing with 138 yards on 13 carries while carving out a potential Class A MVP path.
“It was a great team effort,” said Bicknese, who has 19 TDs on the year and plays a ferocious brand of defense at safety. “Everyone contributes to this team and we have a lot of role players: Examples, Matt Morgante, Manny Mendoza, Chris Scavelli and Joe Andriano. These are the guys that no one really knows about, but they are all a big help to this team. Each player on our team understands the term “do your job” and it shows, especially in our defense. I love when the team plays like this because other teams cannot key on one guy. This is a great win for us.”
With the wind at its back, Somers (9-0) stunned the Harrison (8-1) faithful, taking a 21-0 lead behind a multi-faceted razor-sharp attack. Somers QB John Decker, Mr. Smoothy, punctuated a 65-yard scoring drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to TE Joshua Riger, who was still smiling on Monday, seen sporting a Cheshire cat grin at 7-Eleven. After Harrison punted for the third time in the first quarter, Somers struck again, hitting on a 24-yard touchdown run by Morgante to conclude the quarter. Trust us; Morgante’s is a name to remember.
“I wasn’t shocked by it,” Decker said of the 21-0 lead. “Our offense is very talented and our line is massive. This win proves we have weapons everywhere. Josh Riger, known for kicking, had a huge TD, one which really helped us out.”
While the Somers sideline was dealing accordingly with a 21-point cushion, Harrison was reeling. However, the prideful Huskies, who have won seven sectional titles since 1998, have no quit in them. Harrison stormed back from a 34-point deficit against John Jay in Week 2 and scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to beat Somers 36-28 in the 2001 Class B final.
Harrison knows no quit and it stormed back again, cutting the deficit to seven points while putting itself in position for the potential go-ahead score; not once, but twice, in the fourth quarter. Morgante, though, denied each attempt.
After Somers forced the final turnover late in the fourth, it sealed the deal when senior RB Joe Lombardo got loose for a 58-yard run on 3rd-and-2 at the Somers 16, setting up the clinching score; a Decker 20-yard touchdown pass to junior RB Connor Vlasaty. Lombardo had a huge day on both sides of the ball, rushing for 116 yards on 11 totes.
Assistant Coach Michael Sokolofsky’s DEs Dylan Owen and Dan Campbell were terrific against Harrison’s triple option, reading keys and containing the edge. The Somers O-line — Robert Pontbriand (6-5, 280), Dylan Owen (6-5, 235), Daniel Campbell (6-5, 225) and twins Steven Jennings (6-5, 275) and Sean Jennings (6-5, 270) — won the battle in the trenches as Somers outgained Harrison 351-273 and won the turnover battle decisively.
The Tuskers, ranked No.11 in NYS, will now play for the programs first Section 1 title since 2000, which was DeMatteo’s first season at Somers and only championship there (8 at Roosevelt). State-ranked (No.13) Sleepy Hollow (8-1) was defeated by No.2 Harrison earlier this season and barely got past No.17 Brewster in the semis, erasing a 21-10 fourth-quarter deficit in a 24-21 victory.
Somers will enter the game a heavy favorite but it must guard against over confidence in a short work week if it is going to represent Section 1 in the NYS tournament where the winner will face Section 9 champion Cornwall, ranked No.7 in NYS, Sunday, November 11th at Mahopac High School in the Class A state quarterfinal at 1:00 p.m.
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.
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