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Football
Livingston Manor 32, Roscoe 0
Manor sits on top of Class D with runaway win over Roscoe
By RICHARD A. ROSS
LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — This game was over almost as soon as
it started. Last June’s graduation totally depleted Roscoe’s league champion
team, leaving Coach Fred Ahart behind to start all over again with a bunch of
young kids.
Manor lost a host of seniors as well, but the biggest cog in
its offense, George Thomas, Manor’s own version of Jim Brown right down to the
number 32 on his jersey, still lurked in the backfield.
One year ago, the atmosphere preceding the Livingston
Manor-Roscoe game was rife with anticipation. Both teams came into the game
with identical 7-1 records, and the outcome would determine the league winner.
Each team had a premiere running back.
For Livingston Manor, it was junior George Thomas, a
dominating runner who had been shedding tackles all year long as he piled up
yards of gridiron real estate. For the Roscoe Blue Devils, it was elusive
senior Brian Ballard, the best outside runner in Section IX. It was slated to
be a war. It was.
To the dismay of the Manor fans, a potential game-winning
touchdown pass from quarterback John Henry Schleiermacher to end Patrick Branning
was batted away at the last second by Ballard who seemingly came out of
nowhere.
At the frigid and snowy conclusion of the 19-14 Roscoe win,
the foggy breath of the exhausted teams floated away as Roscoe stood
celebrating to the strains of “We are the champions.”
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Livingston
Manor’s senior receiver Terence McCann (25) takes off
on a 50-yard touchdown run on a reverse against Roscoe on October
4. Manor won the game 32-0. (Click for larger image)
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“That should have been you,” barked Manor coach Scott
Branning whose team’s flat first half doomed their title quest.
The good news, of course, was that the following week, Manor
defeated Roscoe 26-7 for the Class D title at Dietz Stadium. One week Manor
lost a heartbreaker to eventual state champion Dobbs Ferry in a sleet-covered
field at Dietz. So much for history.
The wet field and ball on October 4 made for a sloppy game.
Roscoe received the ball first but could do nothing against Manor’s smothering
defense. Unfortunately, Thomas fumbled on his first carry of the day. Roscoe
fumbled back and on the same series, Manor ran a reverse to Terence McCann who
raced 50 yards for Manor’s first score. The two-point conversion attempt failed
and the Wildcats led 6-0.
With Roscoe held to a mere four first downs, the script ran
the same throughout the rain-soaked afternoon. Manor’s defense, speared by
Anthony Larry, Thomas, Rich Trotti and Patrick Branning, kept Roscoe at bay.
Larry and company had five tackles each. Using a straight-ahead running attack
and narry a pass, the Wildcats marched up and down the field.
McCann added another score on a 28 yard run and Thomas had a
pair of touchdowns on runs of five and 11 yards. Thomas, who ran for 225 yards
on 34 carries, is credited with 885 rushing yards this season and a career
total thus far of 4,728 yards. The Section IX rushing record set by Fred
Riullano of Delaware Valley of 6,630 yards during his career from 1995-1998 is
clearly out of reach.
With the win, Manor’s record improved to 2-2 (1-0 OCIAA).
This was the Wildcats’ first league game since their recent loss to Chester was
a non-league affair. Manor will play Section I’s Valhalla next weekend.
Crucial upcoming games against Eldred, Milbrook and Chester
will determine the outcome of the league title and the participants
in the Section IX title game at Dietz Stadium. Coaches from Milbrook
and Eldred were scouting the game. Though those teams are yet to
play Roscoe, it was clear they had their eyes of number 32 in the
maroon jersey. Roscoe remained winless at 0-5 (0-1 OCIAA).
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