Weekend showdowns for top 4 area teams
Area’s top teams — New Paltz, Marlboro, Saugerties, Red Hook — to square off in two games
New Paltz, Marlboro, Saugerties and Red Hook are set for a pair of football showdowns this weekend.
The local area’s top four high school football teams square off in two big games this weekend.
New Paltz is at Marlboro tonight in a battle for first place in Section 9, Class B Division I. On Saturday, undefeated Saugerties plays host to Red Hook in its annual homecoming Mum Bowl.
After coming so close to a first victory last week, Kingston will try once again tonight when it is home to Middletown at Dietz Stadium.
The Tigers take on the Middie Bears at 7 p.m., New Paltz vs. Marlboro, along with Warwick at Roosevelt, Rondout Valley at Highland, Ellenville at Spackenkill and Pine Plains at Dover are all 7 p.m. starts today.
Along with the Mum Bowl, another 1:30 Saturday game is Wallkill at Monticello. TODAY Middletown at Kingston
Kingston (0-2 Class A Divison I, 0-5) showed signs of life in its 19-13 overtime loss to Roosevelt. The Tigers’ defense shut out the Presidents for the final 30 minutes of regulation, allowing for the comeback bid. JaVar Tinsley rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns and Chuck Robinson, playing quarterback, ran for 129 to lead Kingston.
Middletown (0-3, 2-3) started the season with back-to-back wins, but has since lost to Newburgh, Pine Bush and Monroe-Woodbury to see its postseason chances disappear. The Bears are led by Jordan Bryan, who has rushed for 11 TDs. New Paltz at Marlboro
The Division I title and, with it, a first-round bye awaits the
winner of this pivotal showdown. Both teams are 2-0 in the division and 4-1 overall.
This will truly be a test of defenses and lines.
Quarterback Jimmy Verney ran for three touchdowns and passed for another in New Paltz’s 48-14 win over Highland. He’s already accounted for nearly 1,200 yards, running for 614 yards and 13 TDs and throwing for 483. Kenny Verney rushed for a touchdown and Joe DiMarco scored twice in last week’s victory.
Phil DeSantis ran for 201 yards, Billy Williamson rushed for 101 plus four TDs and Sam Mongelli threw for 216 yards and two scores in a 56-0 win over Rondout Valley. Warwick at Roosevelt
Roosevelt (1-2, 3-2) was banged up for the second half of the Kingston game and hopes to be healthy for this critical Class AA Division II meeting against (12, 1-4) Warwick. The winner is a strong position to nail down the third playoff spot in the division.
Warwick kept its sectional hopes alive last week, snapping a four-game losing streak with a 33-11 win over Valley Central. Rondout at Highland
Rondout (0-3, 2-3) looks to rebound from its loss to Marlboro in this Class B Division I game against (0-2, 2-3) Highland.
Ben Hikade threw for 96 yards to lead the Ganders versus Marlboro. Max Vidal, who has taken over at quarterback for Highland, threw a pair of late touchdown passes in the Huskies’ loss to New Paltz. Highland has lost two straight since opening the season 2-1. Ellenville at Spackenkill
Ellenville (0-3, 0-5), which lost 34-0 to Pine Plains, now has to deal with a Spackenkill team on a roll. The (30, 4-1) Spartans have won four in a row and scored 147 points in their last three games. Pine Plains at Dover
Pine Plains/Rhinebeck got its first win last week and aims to make it two in a row when the Bombers take on (1-3, 2-3) Dover/ Webutuck in a Class B Division II contest. Matt Beam had two touchdowns and Hunter Parks ran for 123 yards for Pine Plains in the Ellenville game. A 50-15 decision to Liberty was Dover’s third straight defeat. SATURDAY Red Hook at Saugerties
Red Hook (4-1) played Saugerties in the 2015 season finale in what was christened the inaugural River Bowl. So this non-league game could actually be alled the Mum/River Bowl.
The Raiders learned that they could adjust if their ground game was stopped in last week’s 26-20 OT Homecoming win over Goshen. The Gladiators held them to 97 yards rushing, but Nick Morrissey threw for 190, including the gamewinner to James Flood, to rally the team.
Saugerties (5-0) had a solid outing as it held off Wallkill 30-23. Sophomore quarterback Matt Bucci continued to impress, rushing for 128 yards and throwing one TD to lead the Sawyers.
A victory would give Saugerties its most wins since going 6-3 in 2009. Wallkill at Monticello
Dan Petrowicz had two TDs and quarterback A.J. Dembroski ran for 110 yards for (1-2 in Class A, 2-3) Wallkill in the loss to Saugerties. Monticello (04, 0-5) fell 43-6 to Cornwall last week.