New Paltz delivers jolt to Warwick
Huguenots advance to Class A semifinals with win
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> The Section 9 football postseason started off with a bang Friday night as New Paltz High upset Warwick 21-6 and Saugerties lost in overtime 23-20 to Minisink Valley in Class A quarterfinals action.
It was a record-setting night for the the Sawyers’ Sean Costello, who set the Section 9 single-season mark for receiving yards.
New Paltz 21, Warwick 6
At Middletown, Kenny Verney rushed for two touchdowns and also had a fumble recovery to anchor a standout performance by the New Paltz defense as the No. 6 Huguenots knocked off No. 3 Warwick.
The (4-4) Huguenots made two big defensive stops in the fourth
quarter. They forced (5-3) Warwick to turn the ball over on downs on the New Paltz 20 with the Wildcats down 14-6 with 7:18 remaining.
Verney then broke through the line, eluded a defender with a spin move and rambled 62 yards for a dagger TD that put the Hugies up 21-6.
Less than a minute later, Aidan Hoffman recovered a fumbled catch at the New Paltz 30 to clinch the win.
Verney capped a 79yard, 10-play drive to put New Paltz ahead early in the second quarter. Warwick responded with Kyle Rooney’s fourth-down 2-yard TD run. The Hugies blocked the extra point to stay ahead.
Quarterback Ethan Smith raced 62 yards 20 seconds later to give New Paltz the 14-6 advantage.
New Paltz will play seven-time defending champion Cornwall in the semifinals on Friday, Oct. 27.
Minisink Valley 23, Saugerties 20
At Kingston, Payton Briecke’s 20-yard field goal for Minisink in overtime settled an exciting game that had (5-3) Saugerties rallying three times.
Ryan Johnson’s 3-yard keeper put (6-2) Minisink ahead in the second quarter, but Costello caught Matt Bucci’s 62-yard TD pass to tie.
Kevin O’Brien had the Warriors back on top with a 1-yard run with 1:29 left before halftime. The Sawyers nearly tied it on the final play of the half, but Anthony Owen was stopped at the MV 1 as time expired.
Costello tied it three minutes into the second half on a 57-yard TD from Bucci. That allowed the senior to break the 2009 record (1,211 yards) held by
John Babin. Costello finished the night with 142 yards on four catches and 1,258 for the season.
O’Brien’s second TD as the third quarter ended had Warwick up again at 20-14, but Bucci tied on a 35-yard run with 10:33 left. The extra point failed.
Bucci had 244 yards on 11-of-26 passing. Jake Piratzky had four catches for 68 yards.
Colden Staccio and Owen each had nine tackles, Graeme Knisell made 11, Craig Laurey had seven, and safety Jimmy Heinlein had five tackles plus an interception for the Sawyers.
Pine Plains 40, Sullivan West 22
At Pine Plains, the (61) Bombers tuned up for 8-man football postseason with a senior recognition night victory.
Senior Evan Proper had a big night. He rushed for 142 yards, including a 60yard touchdown, caught a 30-yard TD pass from Andrew Holsopple and also made five tackles.
Holsopple threw for 155 yards, including a 65-yard scoring strike to Caleb McCaul.
Luke Imperato scored twice for Pine Plains/ Rhinebeck, on a 50-yard run and a 70-yard kickoff return.
Michael Kelly led the defense with six tackles and an interception. Imperato had five tackles and Devon Hurst recovered a fumble.
“Tonight was a good, solid win. We executed on both sides of the ball and we finished the season healthy,” Pine Plains coach Rob Scott said.
Port Jervis 43, Highland 20
At Port Jervis, Luke Pecovic rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns and Vinny Martello threw two TD passes to lead Port Jervis. The win clinched the second playoff spot in Class B, Division 1 for the Raiders.