Football

Hungry Bulldogs devour Raiders

Defense comes up with four key turnovers to neutralize Red Hook

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY— Unbeknownst to the people who rank teams in this state, Sullivan West is on a mission to search and destroy opponents one week at a time and make this season something special.

Three weeks equals three wins, all paybacks, over quality opponents. After thrashing Delhi and Spackenkill, two teams that beat the Bulldogs badly last year, it was time to take on 2-0 Red Hook. New opponents on the gridiron, the two schools have a brief and memorable history that began and ended on March 6, 2004. That was the day when Red Hook’s basketball team led by six-foot-six Greg Nero ended Sullivan West’s magical run in the sectional finals at West Point with a 55-32 trouncing.

Joe Meyer was on the court that day. So were Scott Peters and Andre Trujillo, and while they had football on their minds on September 20, the idea of beating Red Hook had to be alluring.

Red Hook won the toss and elected to receive, and Sullivan West’s lax special team coverage quickly showed the effects of a long layoff. Casey McNulty broke through the middle and raced all the way to the Sullivan West 36-yard line, but Red Hook’s ground game encountered a Bulldogs defense that would simply have none of it. A broken fourth down fake punt turned into an incomplete pass and the Bulldogs took over on their own 38.

As Sullivan West established early control at the line of scrimmage, Jim Erlwein took the first two carries and barreled his way to the Red Hook 36-yard line. On a day that would feature Bulldogs running by committee, Corey Hornicek advanced it to the 30 on two carries. Aided by great blocking, a short pass to Steve Daley turned out big, and the Bulldogs were on the one-yard line. Daley took it in on the next carry, and with Meyer’s PAT, the Bulldogs led 7-0.

Red Hook decided to go to the air attack. Taking advantage of a big height advantage in wide receiver Eric Oates, a drive that began on their own 28-yard line went vertical when Oates beat Peters all the way to the Sullivan West four-yard line. A recovered fumble advanced the ball close to the goal line, and a one-yard pass to fullback Ross Mosher got the Raiders on the board. The kick tied it with 2:21 left in the first quarter.

Sullivan West was forced to punt on its next possession after two incomplete passes, but Meyer’s superb punt pinned Red Hook at their own five-yard line.

In last week’s game against Spackenkill, a safety executed by Andre Trujillo set the defensive tone. This time it was Brian Hubbert who nailed Red Hook quarterback Ryan King in the end zone. Sullivan West led 9-7.

In the second quarter, the Bulldogs returned to their strong ground game. Beginning on their own four-yard line, they went the distance to score with 1:44 left, using a sweep featuring Scott Peters, good runs by Erlwein, Daley and a four-yard touchdown by Orion Darder on a counter play. The 16-7 lead held up when Darder intercepted a pass during a late drive by the Raiders. The Bulldogs took the nine-point lead as the half expired.

Darder, who seemed to be everywhere, then made another big play. After Sullivan West went three and out on its first possession of the second half, Meyer’s punt bounced off of receiver Mike Rizzolo, and Darder fell on it, giving Sullivan West a first down on the Red Hook 35. With a third and five, Corey Hornicek broke two tackles to get the ball to the 21-yard line. A banged up Steve Daley got his team a first and goal at the nine. After nailing Meyer for a loss on a keeper, the Red Hook defenders exhorted each other with cries of “Stop ‘em here,” and “I want to hit somebody.”

It wasn’t Hornicek they hit. He scampered in from the 10-yard line and Sullivan West took a 23-7 lead. Red Hook QB King hooked up with Oates again late in the third quarter to make the game interesting at 23-13. While Sullivan West’s offense seemed to sputter, the Raiders had a drive going in the fourth quarter. With the ball at the Sullivan West 21, John Kitson sacked King, and Peters intercepted a pass on the next play to end the drive. John Glassel’s fumble recovery on Red Hook’s last drive ended the game.

Hit of the day: Steve Musso’s resounding lick on Red Hook punt receiver McNulty. “Good thing he ducked,” said Sullivan West assistant coach Keith Travers, “or it would have been worse.” Sullivan West (3-0) will take on Ellenville next.

Stat line: Sullivan West: Darder, seven carries for 49 yards; Peters: five-for-36; Daley: six-for-21 and a one-yard TD; Hornicek: seven-for-27 and a 10-yard TD; Erlwein: nine-for-54. Meyer completed two of seven passes for 27 yards. Total rushing 34-for-200. Total offense 227.

Red Hook: King passed seven-for-15 for 179 yards, two TD’s and two interceptions. Rushing 32-for-92 yards.