Playoff time for Marlboro, Red Hook
The Section 9 football postseason begins for Marlboro and Red Hook Highs this weekend.
KINGSTON >> The Section 9 football postseason begins for Marlboro and Red Hook Highs this weekend as both play in Class B quarterfinal games.
The quest for a sixth consecutive B title starts for Marlboro as it is home to Spackenkill 7 p.m. Friday, while Red Hook heads to Liberty for a 1:30 p.m. Saturday game. Spackenkill at Marlboro
Marlboro righted itself after the loss to New Paltz and beat Highland 59-3 in what amounted to the Billy Williamson show. The junior rushed for 239 yards and six touchdowns. The (5-2) Dukes rushed for 601 yards on the ground, including 121 from sophomore Eric Borchert, 91 from John Perugino, 89 by Paul Evans and 81 from Sam Mongelli.
It’s a rematch of Marlboro’s season opener when it outscored Spackenkill 19-0 in the second half to pull out a 4628 win. The Dukes ran for 405 yards in that game, which included 256 from Mongelli and three TDs by Williamson.
Camron Abalos had a big night for the (5-2) Spartans in that game, throwing for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Spackenkill lost for the first time since the opener last week as Liberty snapped its five-game win streak with a 34-21 win. Abalos ran for one TD and passed for another against the Indians.
To defend its title, the Dukes have to run a gauntlet. If they get by Spackenkill, they could face the two teams that have handed them losses this season. The winner plays James I. O’Neill in the semifinals and could get New Paltz in the finals. Red Hook at Liberty
The (4-3) Raiders, who missed a chance at a sectional berth on the last day of the 2015 season, regroups after a 60-22 loss to New Paltz. If it beats (61) Liberty, Red Hook would get another shot at the Huguenots in next week’s semis.
Red Hook has won once in the last four games and has struggled to get a consistent running game going against tougher defenses. The Raiders relied on the arm of Nick Morrissey against New Paltz. He threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score.
Liberty, led by Roy Penn-Cosentino (1,089 yards and 17 TDs rushing) bounced back from a loss to O’Neill two weeks ago to beat Spackenkill 34-21.