Marlboro poised for regional semifinal
Iron Dukes, ranked third in state at 9-1, set to face undefeated Ardsley (9-0) in Class B quarterfinal Saturday at Dietz Stadium
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Two teams on a collision course: Marlboro and Ardsley.
The (9-1) Iron Dukes are winners of eight in a row and the Section 9 champion for the seventh time in eight years.
Ardsley, unbeaten at 9-0 and ranked third in the state, which won its first-ever Section 1 title last week in impressive fashion. The Panthers beat Putnam Valley 35-0.
The teams meet in a Class B quarterfinal 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, at Dietz Stadium.
Admission is $9 for adults and $5 for students. Section Passes and Gold Cards will not be honored. State Passes will be honored.
Marlboro, ranked fifth in the state, repeated as section champ with a commanding 28-12 victory over James I. O’Neill. The Dukes, cashing in on a fumble recovery and two interceptions to help build a 28-0 halftime advantage.
Ameer Williams, who missed most of the 2017 season with a knee injury, had another big game by rushing for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 245 yards and three TDs against S. Burke Catholic in the semifinals.
Those performances put Williams over 1,000 yards for the season. He has 1,051 yards and 13 TDs.
Marlboro’s defense, which had three straight shutouts before the finals, is allowing 7.4 points per game and hasn’t allowed more than 16 points in a single game. That came in the team’s only loss (16-6) to Cornwall.
Ardsley’s defense is allowing 8.4 per game. In the last five con-
tests, the Panthers have three shutouts and yielded just 15 points.
Vinny Manzi had three catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns to lead Ardsley over Putnam Valley. One of his TDs was a 74-yard strike from quarterback Frank Belarge. Manzi also led the defense with a pair of interceptions.
Like Marlboro, Ardsley also had its game in hand by halftime, scoring on five consecutive possessions. The Panthers averaged 11.6 yards per play (290 on 25 plays) and only went beyond second down only twice in the half.
The winner advances to the East semifinals 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at Middletown’s Faller Field.