Somers Socks Cornwall, 35-0, NYS Championship 3-peat in Focus
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
State-Ranked No.1 Class A Tuskers Poised for Rematch vs. No.4 Section 4 Champ Whitesboro
By Ray Gallagher, Examiner Sports Editor @Directrays
Oops, they’ve done it again! Excuse our played-out Britney Spears-style entrance, but facts are facts. Somers High is brokering an all-out takeover; much like Ms. Spears did back in her day.
It’ll be Section 1 champion SOMERS against Section 3 champion Whitesboro in a rematch for all the Class A marbles this coming Friday (6 pm) at the JMA Dome in Syracuse, Coach Anthony DeMatteo’s undefeated, state-ranked (co-No.1) Tuskers (13-0) seeking a rare three-peat as state champs after Somers made short work of state-ranked (No.5) Section 9 champion Cornwall Friday night at Middletown High School.
Somers FB Mason Kelly (17 carries, 91 yards, 3 rushing TDs) rushed for a pair of first-half TDs and QB Miguel Iglesias rushed for another as the Tuskers, winners of 26-straight games (dating back to 9/11/24), built a 21-0 halftime lead en route to a 35-0 eastern regional title win over the Green Dragons (11-2).
“A lot of what we do depends on Mason and not just as a runner,” DeMatteo said. “He can block, fake, catch out of the backfield and is a force on defense. He’s as complete a football player as we have.”
Whitesboro, ranked No.4 in NYS, had a similarly easy time advancing to the state finals, doing so in a 49-21 romp of first-time Section 5 champion Brighton, ranked No.7 in the state.
Whitesboro QB Memphis Ferguson had 160 rushing yards and three TDs (plus 64 passing yards), RB Connor McDonald added three more TD trots, and both will certainly become the focal point of the Somers defense, which has been razor sharp since the state playoffs began, allowing just eight points in two wins. Somers made short work of Whitesboro in last year’s 35-6 state title beatdown.
“We put a full game together and Mason ran the ball really well,” Iglesias said. “It always helps when he’s running the ball well. It just gives teams another thing to worry about and he definitely showed out last night. Definitely have to prepare for this next game, we got one left so it’s going to be exciting.”
Against Cornwall, Somers junior WR/RB Dean Palazzolo (4 carries, 23 yards, 25 special team’s yards, 6 carries, 89 yards) moved the chains at will while Iglesias did likewise (8 for 12, 134 passing yards, 1 passing TD; 7 carries, 55 yds, 1 rushing TD). Somers WR Cameron Violante hauled in two catches for 45 yards and a score. Dean Barlanti (4 tackles, 1 assist) won Sportsmanship award for Somers while Timmy Monahan (5 tackles, 4 assists), Ryan Brush (4 tackles, 2 assists), Matt Mayfield (3 tackles, 2 assists) and Bret Kennedy (INT) led the Tusker D.
Three-peating as the NYSPHSAA champ is pretty rare, indeed, but Somers is hoping to become Section 1’s second program to do so, joining Edgemont (1998-2000). Seven-time NYS champion Chenango Forks (2013-15), Maine-Endwell (2011-14, 4 peat), Onondaga (2001-03), Caledonia-Mumford (1993-95), Hornell (2009-11) and Randolph (2012-14) have all done so.
Rye won three state titles in four years (2005-08), but no section 1 team has ever won three state titles in a row. Somers is looking to buck that trend.
“Yeah, it really means a lot for us to come out and win this game to make history,” Palazzolo admitted.
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.
Visit Ray’s author bio page for more details. Also read Ray’s archived work here and his Direct Rays column here.
