Success at 8-man level helps Cavanagh revive Ellenville

When Ellenville High made the hard decision to drop from 11- to 8-man football, it was anybody’s guess as to what would happen.

The Blue Devils went 1-8 in Class B in 2018 and the state of the program was addressed.

“When we had to table the conversation to 8-man, it was ‘Oh, boy, where are we going?’’ Ellenville High coach Dan Cavanagh remarked. “It, honestly, was the best thing that could have happened to us. There were a lot of people for it and most people against it, because it was something different we had never had tried before.”

The results speak for themselves: the Devils went 8-2 in 8-man in 2019, defeating Tri-Valley for their first sectional championship in 10 years and then posted the program’s first-ever regional victory, 24-14 over Lansing.

“Could I have imagined it? No way,” said the Freeman’s Coach of the Year, whose reward was the reaction of his players.

“To see the kids’ faces when we won... the Tri-Valley game. To see the look on their faces just made it all worth it,” he said. “Then to top it off against Lansing, it was amazing.”

The Ellenville community gave the team a rousing send-off as it left for the regional game at Dietz Stadium. A large escort was awaiting the Devils for the final 20 minutes of their trip back after the triumph.

“That’s what I’m going to remember about this season: the winning, obviously, but the reaction of the kids,” Cavanagh said, “to see that on the bus coming home. This is one of those lifelong memories.”

Ellenville had lost 10 players, but returned some talent from a 2017 squad that was 5-3 and won a Class C division crown. It moved up to Class B the next year, but with backfield star Sean Pettway injured, the team struggled.

“We worked the numbers,” Cavanagh said about the process to decide whether to switch to 8-man. “We looked at returners, modified, safety (returning players with actual experience). Do we go (grades) 9 through 12 (on one team) again like we’ve been doing?”

Among the options was staying at 11-man, which would have had Ellenville as a Class C team this year and playing an independent schedule like Red Hook did in ‘18, or combine schools, sending their players to either Rondout Valley or Pine Bush.

“I’m so glad we did not travel that road,” said Cavanagh about sending his players elsewhere in what would have been a crippling blow to reviving the Ellenville program.

“We want to keep football here at Ellenville. We don’t want to go and combine with any other schools. It took that part of the equation out. It came down to: do we want to go 8-man or 11-man? It literally kept coming back to the safety. I said I just don’t feel comfortable, wins or losses aside. We’re going to go 0-and-something or 1-and-something. How can I put a freshman or a sophomore up against a stronger veteran player? That was the final decision, it was the safety.”

The Devils didn’t fare well initially and Cavanagh lowered expectations after a preseason multi-team scrimmage.

“At the scrimmage, we were definitely not the best team there. At that point, Sullivan West was equal or a little bit better than us, Onteora’s defense kind of shut us down,” said Cavanagh, who then saw the team open the season with back-to-back losses: 38-12 to Spackenkill and 60-34 to Millbrook.

The turning point was the Sept. 20 Homecoming game. Ellenville scored 36 unanswered points, including 22 in the second half, to down Sullivan West 36-8.

“We made a few adjustments and we did shuffle the lineup around. That Sullivan West game turned it around, gave the kids confidence, the program confidence,” Cavanagh said. “We kind of took off from there.”

The Devils won their last eight games, including the regional triumph over Lansing.

Pettway, the Freeman Player of the Year, bounced back from last year’s shoulder injury to amass 28 touchdowns and nearly 2,700 total yards. Sophomore David McCombs developed into a standout quarterback and freshman Casimiro Pomales had a big debut season by rushing for 663 yards and 10 TDs.

“We knew how good he was at the modified level. Bringing him up, we were always hoping that he would fit in,” said Cavanagh, who saw him as the perfect complement to Pettway. “Just based on his physicality, it was safe to bring him up and, once I saw him in practice and preseason, he fit right in.

“It was a nice one-two punch when they were both healthy.”

Walter Evans, Eric Wright, Noah Ghisolfi, Alex Rzemieniecki, Josh Mcneill, Pettway and Pomales anchored the defense.

With enrollments released for 2020-21, the issue of where Ellenville will be next season will soon be addressed.

“The numbers are very similar to last year. They’re not getting any better, except that from what I’m hearing is the incoming class’s enrollment is bigger,” Cavanagh said.

Ellenville was literally on the edge. The enrollment for the current school year is 354. Class C football was for enrollments between 230-354. The school’s number for 2020-21 is 384, making it a small Class B. Ellenville has historically fluctuated between B and C.

“We’re going to go back to a B or stick with 8-man,” Cavanagh said, “based on the numbers that we have coming in and the safety of the kids.”

McCombs and Pomales will top the list of a dozen returning starters.

“I have experienced plenty of winning and plenty of losing,” said Cavanagh, now in his sixth year as head coach. He played at Ellenville, then was an assistant under Tony Borriello before taking over.

“For me, the biggest thing is when I walk off the field after the season, I ask myself, ‘How many of my kids got hurt? How many concussions did we get? How many got carted off? Are we teaching things the right way? And, for me, I always have a clean conscience in all my years. For me, that’s the most important thing.

“I have to look at the numbers and I have to look closely at the ninthgraders. How many kids played on that (varsity) team? How many can contribute safely as sophomores or how many are just going to be pretty much bystanders? The numbers might be misleading.

“I look at it on a year-byyear basis. Can we safely go to 11-man? I want to go to 11-man. As much as the success was great at 8-man, the goal is to go back to 11-man. Realistically, if the numbers aren’t there, 8-man is now a great option.”

PLAYERS, COACHES OF THE YEAR 2019—Dan Cavanagh, Ellenville 2018—Brian Beck, Marlboro 2017—Dan Cavanagh, Ellenville 2016—Tom Tegeler, New Paltz 2015—Dom Zarrella, Saugerties 2014—Rich Ward, Marlboro 2013—George Iacobaccio, Rondout 2012—Rich Ward, Marlboro 2011—Rich Ward, Marlboro 2010—Brian Vegliando, Wallkill 2009—Carl Relyea, Highland 2008—Tony Borriello, Ellenville 2007—Tom Tegeler, New Paltz 2006—Tom Fay, Red Hook 2005—Tom Fay, Red Hook 2004—Dave Der Cola, Wallkill 2003—Dave Der Cola, Wallkill 2002—Tom Tegeler, New Paltz 2001—C.J. Hannon, Red Hook 2000—Bob Koonz, Marlboro 1999—C.J. Hannon, Red Hook 1998—Jim Malak, Rondout 1997—C.J. Hannon, Red Hook 1996—Steve Barone, Wallkill 1995—Jim Malak, Rondout 1994—Tom Fay, Red Hook 1993—Larry Nevil, Saugerties 1992—Walt Samselski, Marlboro 1991—Carl Relyea, Highland 1990—Larry Nevil, Saugerties 1989—Max Stolzenberg, Onteora 1988—Rick Clausi, Kingston 1987—Mickey Million, Rondout 1986—Rick Clausi, Kingston 1985—Larry Nevil, Saugerties 1984—Dennis Burkett, Marlboro 1983—Andy Seidel, Red Hook 1982—Carl Ferraro, Highland 1981—Jack Sovak, Ellenville 1980—John Ford, New Paltz 1979—Dennis Burkett, Marlboro 1978—Tony Badalato, Kingston 1977—John Ford, New Paltz 1976—Tony Badalto, Kingston 1975—Mickey Million, Rondout 1974—John Nielsen, Red Hook 1973—Jerry Trezza, Wallkill 1972—Dave Frank, Ellenville 1971—Tony Badalato, Kingston 1970—Lem Atkins, Highland 2019—Sean Pettway, Ellenville 2018—Kenny Verney, New Paltz 2017—Jimmy Verney, New Paltz 2016—Jimmy Verney, New Paltz 2015—Rino Tamburri, Marlboro 2014—Rino Tamburri, Marlboro 2013—Ryan Cary, Marlboro 2012—Josh Villafane, Wallkill 2011—Zach Chilcott, Kingston 2010—Jimmy DeCicco, Kingston 2009—A.J. Borriello, Ellenville 2008—Donald Exner, Ellenville 2007—Alex Dumas, New Paltz 2006—Ross Mosher, Red Hook 2005—Jason Krakowski, Kingston 2004—Trevor Pedrick, Wallkill 2003—Joe Kinard, Kingston 2002—Nick McGill, Rondout 2001—Shane Burud, Red Hook 2000—Brandon Sebald, Rondout 1999—Chris Rogers, Red Hook 1998—Chris Rogers, Red Hook 1997—Scott Ricketson, Kingston 1996—Steve Checksfield, Kingston 1995—Dermal Brown, Marlboro 1994—Dermal Brown, Marlboro 1993—Lamark Logan, Ellenville 1992—Dave Ahouse, Onteora 1991—Dave Ahouse, Onteora 1990—Joe Davis, Kingston 1989—Jeff Williams, Kingston 1988—Alan Young, Kingston 1987—Phil Driscoll, New Paltz 1986—Ken Beesmer, Kingston 1985—Chris Crews, Kingston 1984—Tim Lucey, Marlboro 1983—Eddie Parker, Kingston 1982—Walter Moseley, Ellenville 1981—Walter Moseley, Ellenville 1980—Walter Moseley, Ellenville 1979—Doug Dubois, Marlboro 1978—Jim Brown, Kingston 1977—Jay Faust, Kingston 1976—George Thomas, Wallkill 1975—Dave Schmeltz, Rondout 1974—Jim Merriken, Red Hook 1973—Ray Younger, Ellenville 1972—Steve Tannenbaum, Ellenville 1971—Perry Monroe, Highland 1970—Perry Monroe, Highland

HONORABLE MENTION SELECTIONS Ellenville: David McCombs, Casimiro Onteora: Patrick Fitzgerald. Pomales. Red Hook: Anthony Abbatiello, Gavin Highland: Josh Hanna, Jagger Lisa. Cole. Kingston: David Bowers, Myles Gordon, Rondout: Jet Capson, Caiden Frey. Shacorey Jones. Roosevelt: Ryan Taylor. Marlboro: Anthony DiMeglio, CJ Faircloth, Saugerties: Alfredo Martinez, Isaiah Gio Frisenda Snyder. New Paltz: Evan Jansen, Anthony Stevens, Wallkill: Tyrell Augustus, Aaron Bennett, Abe Wiednekeller. Justin Brooks, Anthony Quattrochi.