Kingston’s defeat dashes hopes for playoff berth

Kingston High’s quest for a playoff berth ended with a 48-0 loss to Pine Bush in Section 9, Class AA play.

PINE BUSH, N.Y. >> Kingston High’s quest for its first playoff berth in seven years went awry Friday night as Pine Bush handed the Tigers a 48-0 loss in Section 9, Class AA play.

With a fourth consecutive loss, Kingston fell to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in AA.

The Tigers’ fate rested in their hands, along with Middletown. Kingston would get the fourth and final playoff berth with a win. Barring that, the Tigers needed the Middies to lose to Valley Central. A late touchdown gave Middletown a 24-21 victory.

That created a three-way tie with Kingston, Washingtonville and Middletown at 2-4. The teams split with each other and the Wizards got in on tiebreaker points.

Had the Middies also lost, the Tigers would be in the playoffs because they defeated Washingtonville head to head.

Instead, Kingston will play a pair of to-be-announced crossover games to close out the season.

Quarterback Haakon Meland ran for two touchdowns and Anthony Potts, Chauncey Smith, Xavier Martinez and David Alcenot each rushed for one to lead (4-4) Pine Bush, which will be the No. 3 seed for next week’s semifinals.

The Bushmen’s pass rush kept the Tigers off balance. Chapman

Parker was held to 41 yards on 5-of-18 passing with one interception. Kingston crossed midfield only twice in the game and got inside the 30 just once.

Linebacker C.J. Faircloth and defensive back Cade Beesmer had solid outings for Kingston, which otherwise hurt itself with too many penalties.

Potts had a 12-yard TD run and defensive end Robert Jackson blocked a punt and scored to put Pine Bush up 13-0 midway through the first quarter. Meland scored on a second-effort 1-yard run and Smith had a 5-yard TD to make it 27-0 by halftime.

Potts scored from 31 yards out and Martinez on a 1-yard burst in the third quarter. Alcenot capped the scoring with a 4-yard TD early in the fourth.