Football

Marlboro 26, Sullivan West 6

Iron Dukes show their mettle

By RICHARD A. ROSS

	TRR photos by Richard A. Ross Sullivan West's Scott Peters heads up the sideline for an 85-yard kickoff return in the Bulldogs' 26-6 loss to Marlboro on November 1. (Click for larger image)

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — For both the Marlboro Iron Dukes and the Sullivan West Bulldogs, the final game of the season would have no bearing on their playoff status. Both teams were out as a result of last week’s action.

For Sullivan West, losing to Highland 30-22 cost them a berth to the playoffs. Marlboro’s fate was worse. They ended up in a three-way tie with New Paltz and James I. O’Neill. By league rules, it came down to points. Marlboro lost out by one point when the scores of the three teams were taken into account after O’Neill defeated New Paltz 24-20. Despite a 6-2 record, Marlboro was on the outside looking in.

That turned out to be bad news for Sullivan West, originally scheduled to play O’Neill the last week of the season. Since the Raiders were playing Highland in a semi-final at Dietz Stadium, Marlboro and Sullivan West were matched up. Due to SAT exams, the starting time was changed to 2:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs won the toss and mounted an impressive first drive that began on their own 16-yard line and got as far as the Marlboro 13-yard line. With a first down on the 15-yard line, the Bulldogs were hit with a pair of penalties that stalled their progress and caused them to turn the ball over on downs at the Marlboro 24-yard line.

It quickly became evident that the advance billing of Jeff Beck, one of the premiere running backs/receivers in the region, proved to be right on target. Beck and fullback Matt Molinelli combined for significant damage during the afternoon. Molinelli garnered the first of his two touchdowns on Marlboro’s initial drive with a 39-yard run. Marlboro led 6-0 with 11:19 to go in the second quarter after the extra point kick was blocked.

Steve Musso returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Marlboro 37, giving the Bulldogs great field position. Peters got them a first down on the 14, and once again the Iron Dukes defense held thanks to good defense and a Sullivan West clipping penalty. For the second straight series, the Bulldogs offense couldn’t get it done in the red zone.

Taking over on downs with 9:22 to go, the Iron Dukes showed a mix of offense using passes to Beck, runs by Molinelli and an option flip pass from tight end Chris Gadzinski to Beck that brought the ball to the Bulldogs’15-yard line on a third and 11 play.

Molinelli scored from the four-yard line, and a two-point conversion pass from quarterback Patrick Lobdell to tight end Sandy Campbell gave the Iron Dukes a 14-0 lead.

Frustration began to show as the Bulldogs were forced to punt on their next series.

Marlboro’s drive at the end of the first half fell short and the score stood at 14-0 at halftime.

	Pursued by kicker Kenny Hitzel (5) and free safety Jason Paige (7), Steve Musso (55) returns a kickoff to the Marlboro 37-yard line. (Click for larger image)

Marlboro converted on its first possession of the second half set up by big runs by Molinelli and a 37-yard touchdown by Jeff Beck. Beck caught the ball in the open field for his first of two touchdowns and outran the Sullivan West secondary to give Marlboro a 20-0 lead.

The quiet crowd rose to their feet on the kickoff as Sullivan West formed a wall along the left sideline and Scott Peters galloped 85 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt failed and the score stood at 20-6.

The Iron Dukes answered right back. Starting on their own 35-yard line, they opened up with at 65-yard touchdown by Beck at 4:21 of the third quarter. Once again the extra point was foiled, but Marlboro led 26-6.

Both teams showed great defense in the final quarter. The Iron Dukes certainly looked like a playoff team. Sullivan West did not play either New Paltz or O’Neill, but Marlboro looked much stronger than Highland.

In the semi-finals at Dietz Stadium, O’Neill knocked off Highland 31-6 while New Paltz disposed of Spackenkill 28-7. New Paltz will face O’Neill for the second time in two weeks for the Class C title.

In a surprising upset, Millbrook denied Livingston Manor a berth in the Class D title game by defeating the Wildcats 22-12. George Thomas ran for 225 yards in the losing effort. Milbrook will play Chester at Dietz Stadium for the title on November 15.

Bulldogs’ coach Ron Bauer noted, “We played hard. We only have three kids on this team who are over 16 years old, and we’re losing only one player (Brian Sandler is a senior).”