Football

Livingston Manor 34, Eldred 13

Homecoming King Thomas rules Eldred as Wildcats roll on

By RICHARD A. ROSS

	TRR photos by Richard A. Ross BEFORE: Prior to the game against Eldred, Livingston Manor Wildcats running back, George Thomas, presented his mother, Anna, with a spray of flowers. Seniors and their parents were honored in a pre-game homecoming ceremony. Thomas was selected as homecoming king, and Danielle Murphy was chosen as homecoming queen. (Click for larger image)

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — “I never lost to Eldred,” Wildcats’ senior tailback George Thomas announced to his teammates prior to the kickoff on October 18. Thomas clearly had no intention of changing his dynamic history of dominating performances against the Yellowjackets, especially during the Manor homecoming weekend that had coronated him king.

On a gorgeous fall afternoon, the two teams met for a crucial Class D match up. To keep hopes of playing in a title game at Dietz Stadium alive, the win was a must for Eldred.

Manor felt the same urgency. A loss to Eldred with games remaining against Milbrook and Chester could put the defending champion Wildcats in jeopardy. Thomas didn’t appear the least bit concerned.

Eldred won the toss and elected to receive. A short squibble kick gave the Yellowjackets a first and ten on their own 45-yard line. They got five more yards courtesy of an overactive Manor defense that encroached on the line of scrimmage. First and five led to three and out as Manor stopped Eldred’s Vinny Reilly twice before Yellowjacket quarterback Nick McCormick fumbled the third down snap out of bounds.

Eldred punted and on third down, Thomas carried a return to the Eldred 30-yard line. Quarterback Mike Perry kept the drive alive with a keeper before Thomas rumbled 12 yards across the goal line at 4:27 of the first quarter to give the Wildcats a 6-0 lead. The two-point conversion failed on a deflected pass.

Eldred’s offense could not get rolling against the big Manor defensive line. Penalties proved costly and Eldred’s second series ended with an interception by Patrick Branning.

Manor capitalized on the turnover, feeding the ball to Thomas, who churned out chunks of yardage.

As the first quarter wound down, Manor moved to first and goal at the Eldred 10-yard line. Two plays later, Thomas burst off tackle for his second touchdown, giving the Wildcats a 12-0 lead at 11:55 of the second quarter.

	DURING: George Thomas (5,293 career yards) heads upfield on yet another breakaway run. He carried 31 times for 216 yards and scored four touchdowns, which moved him into third place among Section 9 all-time rushing leaders. He passed Marlboro’s Dermal Brown (5,286). Fred Riullano of Delaware Valley (6,627) remains the first Section 9 all-time rushing leader in front of Walter Moseley of Ellenville (5,594). (Click for larger image)

Once again, Eldred went three and out and gave Manor the ball on their own 47-yard line. Terence McCann burst through for a 12-yard run and Thomas took over again. Kyle Lackey got into the mix, bringing the ball to the Eldred 28. Shortly thereafter, King Thomas garnered his third first-half score on a 12-yard run and capped it off with an end around run for the two-point conversion. Manor led 26-0.

A personal foul called against Manor’s James Lackey caused him to be ejected from the game. Eldred drove within inches of the Manor goal line only to be pushed back by penalties. Anthony Larry sacked McCormick for a loss and a fourth down pass to Reilly was overthrown. That failure to score from so close proved costly.

The opening of the third quarter witnessed a Manor fumble on the kickoff that was recovered deep in Manor territory. Jonathan Counts took the ball in at 1:14 of the third quarter. Taylor Diguid’s PAT gave Eldred a total of seven points against Manor’s 26. Had Eldred scored on its previous series, the game might have had an entirely different complexion.

	AFTER: Thomas takes a breather on the sideline at the end of the game. (Click for larger image)

Kyle Lackey added a score at 6:27 of the fourth quarter. He also carried the ball in for the two-point conversion giving Manor a 34-7 lead. Eldred’s Reilly caught a 55-yard touchdown pass and scooted down the sideline for a late score, bringing the final tally to 34-13.

McCormick completed 10 of 19 passes for 155 yards. Manor’s Lee Sanabria had 10 tackles while Branning had nine. Manor (3-3, 2-0 Class D) plays at Chester on October 24 and at Milbrook on Nov 1. Eldred (1-5, 1-2 Class D) faces Pine Plains at home on November 25 and Roscoe on November 1.