Ellenville High heading into playoffs on a roll

Ellenville High’s continued to gain steam heading into the playoffs with a 58-22 win over Onteora.

BOICEVILLE, N.Y. » Ellenville High’s football team continued to gain steam heading into the playoffs Saturday as the Blue Devils won their fifth game in a row, rolling to a 58-22 victory over Onteora.

The Devils rushed for five touchdowns and five two-point conversions, had one passing TD and also had two long punt returns for scores. Six of the touchdowns were for 50 of more yards. Ellenville, which finished 3-0 in Section 9, Class C Division 1, is 5-2 overall and will be the second seed in the upcoming tournament. It gets a bye next week and will play either Chester or Roscoe in the semifinals Oct. 28.

Sean Pettway scored three touchdowns to lead Ellenville on runs of 30 and 10 yards and also a 55-yard punt return.

Christian Cherry ran 58 yards for a TD, while Seth Vandemark scored on a 50-yard ramble and Anthony Wilson on a 65-yard carry. Zach Bonitz threw a 60-yard TD pass to Deantè Bruce. Vandemark ran for a pair of two-point conversions, while Cameron Hayes, Pettway and Bruce each rushed for one.

Ray Younger, who also scored on a 65-yard punt return, intercepted his seventh pass of the season.

Ellenville had a 38-6 lead in the first quarter and were up 52-6 by halftime.

Onteora, which scored twice in the second half, is now 1-6. Rondout 48, Red Hook 25

At Red Hook, Rondout Valley clinched the third and final playoff berth in Class B Division I with the win over the Raiders.

Rondout (1-2 division, 3-4) got the sixth seed and will play at No. 3 New Paltz on Friday in the quarterfinals.

Ben Hikade threw for 127 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 121 yards and two TDS and also returned an interception 42 yards for

an opening score to lead the Ganders.

AJ Parete ran for 52 yards for Rondout. Spencer Sands caught both of the TDs, finishing with four receptions for 100 yards.

Tristen Schiafo carried 20 times for 105 yards and one touchdown, Alex Nesel ran for 39 yards and two TDs and James Rector threw a 6-yard TD pass to

Tanner Guidi to pace (0-3, 1-6) Red Hook.

Hikade’s pick-6 and first TD pass to Sands jumped Rondout into a 14-0 lead. The Raiders kept responding with scores, but Rondout always answered.

It was 34-25 late in the third when Hikade found Sands again and Kyle van Laer ran for a two-point

conversion to open a 42-25 margin. The Ganders kept Red Hook in check in the fourth quarter and Hikade’s 89-yard TD sprint clinched the game.