Quest for 8-0 at stake for Saugerties
SAUGERTIES >> The schedule says it’s the final game of the regular season but, for Saugerties High, the postseason begins Friday.
The undefeated Sawyers look to go to 8-0, but much more is on the line as they head to Cornwall for a big 7 p.m. showdown. At stake is first place and the top seed in the upcoming Section 9, Class A tournament. Cornwall is the five-time defending champion and a team Saugerties could face again for the title in two weeks.
Wallkill is home to Port Jervis in another Class A game Friday.
The area’s six other teams are playing end-of-season crossover contests this weekend. Kingston heads to Roosevelt, while Pine Plains is home to Highland in 7 p.m. Friday games. On Saturday, Rondout Valley travels to Dover and Ellenville is at Monticello for 1:30 games.
Friday Saugerties at Cornwall
This is as much a statement as it is a tuneup game. Both teams are already assured of a spot in next week’s semifinals. The (5-0 Class A, 7-0) Sawyers want to prove they are a force to be reckoned with in the tourney and the (5-0, 5-2) Dragons intend to show they have no intention of relinquishing hold of their title.
It will be a battle in the trenches. Saugerties is averaging 373 yards per game rushing behind the exploits of sophomore quarterback Matt Bucci and running backs Jimmy Ball and Rob Trincellito.
Cornwall features the backfield of T.J. Gayle and Dom Marzigliano, who’ve combined for 17 touchdowns, and quarterback Kieran Kreider, who has completed 64 percent of his passes.
Both teams have beaten Monticello, Goshen, Port Jervis, Wallkill and Poughkeepsie in Class A play. Saugerties outscored them 172-92, while Cornwall has been incredibly stingy, outscoring the teams 223-19. The Dragons have posted two shutouts and allowed just three touchdowns in the last five weeks.
Kingston at Roosevelt
This time last year Kingston was 0-7, then finished up winning its two crossover games. The first victory was against Roosevelt. The battered, but unbowed Tigers wouldn’t mind that happening again.
Kingston had its closest bid for a victory three weeks ago when it lost 19-13 to the Presidents in overtime. JaVar Tinsley, who has run for four TDs for Kingston, scored twice against FDR, including the
tying score with 2:22 left in regulation. The Tigers are coming off a 31-7 loss to Newburgh.
Roosevelt (3-4) pulled out a 22-21 win over Middletown as Justin Guerrero scored with 1:30 left and Jake Niesen made the 2-point conversion.
Port Jervis at Wallkill
Wallkill (1-4, 2-5) got thumped 47-0 by Cornwall last week. The Panthers look to snap a threegame losing streak. Port Jervis (1-4, 1-6) took a tough 21-18 loss to Monticello and hasn’t won since opening day against Goshen.
Highland at Pine Plains
Highland (2-5), which has lost five in a row, squares off against a (16) Pine Plains/Rhinebeck squad that has dropped three straight. The Bombers lost 29-12 to Rondout Valley, while the Huskies look to rebound from a 59-3 setback to Marlboro.
Saturday Rondout at Dover
The win over Pine Plains made it four out of five for the Ganders, who improved to 4-3.
Ben Hikade ran for three touchdowns, threw for one and also had an interception to lead Rondout over the Bombers. Dover/Webutuck (3-4) has lost four of five, including a 41-21 nonleaguer last week to Gorton.
Ellenville at Monticello
A (2-5) Monticello team that pulled out a pair of good wins over Wallkill (21-20) and Port Jervis (21-18) is the foe for (0-7) Ellenville. The Blue Devils have managed just 12 points in the past three games.