Goshen holds off New Paltz, wins title
Marlboro rolls to 48-0 victory over Wallkill
Goshen held off New Paltz High in the fourth quarter to clinch the Section 9, Class A Division 2 football title Friday, defeating the Huguenots 28-21.
Quarterback Matt Giordano guided the Gladiators, throwing for 253 yards and four touchdowns and rushing 99 yards on 19 attempts. He completed 19-of36 passes.
Goshen, now 6-1 overall, tied with New Paltz and Wallkill with 3-1 records in the division but captured the title based on point differential. The championship gives the team a bye in next week’s first round of the playoffs.
Giordano hit Isaiah Price with TD passes of 27 and 24 yards for a 14-0 lead in the first seven minutes.
Logan Pece scored on a 2-yard keeper to get New Paltz within 14-6 by halftime.
Giordano kept the Hugies at bay. He connected with Logan Mullane on a 56-yard strike early in the third quarter. Anthony Dimarco’s 1-yard TD run had New Paltz back to within 21-13 with 4:32 left in the third, but Giordano found Mullane for a 10-yard TD early in the fourth.
Anthony Stevens scored on a 50-yard punt return and the Hugies converted the two-point conversion to cut the margin to seven midway through the final quarter. New Paltz never got closer.
The Hugies are 3-4 going into next Friday’s playoffs.
Marlboro 48, Wallkill 0
After losses to Cornwall and Minisink Valley, defending Class B champion Marlboro finally scored a victory over a Class A opponent. The Dukes scored two quick touchdowns in the first quarter against a good Wallkill (4-3) club and never let up. They
led 35-0 in the third.
Marlboro kept the ball on the ground, rushing for 479 of the team’s 504 yards. C.J. Faircloth rushed for 105 yards and three touchdowns, Elijah Williams had 129 yards and two TDs,
Matthew Drake ran for one score, and Troy McEwen carried twice for 90 yards and a TD.
Gio Frisenda and Armani Banton each had an interception, Dylan Teneyck forced a fumble, Faircloth made six tackles and Trace Napoli had five to lead the Marlboro defense.
The Dukes, now 5-2 overall, have a tough matchup
Friday at Port Jervis in a game that decides the Class B Division 1 champion.
O’Neill 25, Highland 21
At Highland Falls, James I. O’Neill inserted itself in the Class B Division 2 playoff berth chase as it rallied for 13 points in the fourth quarter to upend Highland.
O’Neill and Highland both finish 1-2 in the division. The Huskies’ postseason fate lies with next week’s divisional game between first-place John S. Burke Catholic and Liberty. Liberty can eliminate Highland and claim second place with a win. A loss and Liberty, Highland and O’Neill are tied for second.