Football

Eldred takes to the air to ground Warriors

By RICHARD A. ROSS

ELDRED, NY — Webutuck, winless last season, came into the 2005 campaign hoping to improve. At 0-8, the only way to go is up. What better way to do that than knocking off Class D heavyweight contender Eldred? The plan: pack the middle on defense and stop Eldred’s running game.

The strategy kept Eldred at bay for a while, but the Warrior’s offense was flustered by Eldred’s pressure. That pressure took its toll as Webutuck quarterback Cody Cafiero threw a ball that was picked off by Eldred defensive back Patrick Kean. Kean’s return on the pic set up a six-yard keeper by QB Nick McCormick to give Eldred the early lead. Webutuck answered right back on a 60-yard end run sweep by running back Tiere Spruill. Those kinds of defensive lapses drive coach Frank Kean and his defensive assistant, John LiGreci, wild. They know in key games down the line, miscues like that could cost them a title.

But just like last week after Hancock scored its only TD on a kickoff return, the Yellowjackets’ hive got buzzing.

Proving that they could air it out as well as grind it out, Eldred took to the air in the second quarter as McCormick hooked up with Kean on two key passes of 40 and 35 yard, which set up two more Eldred touchdowns. The first of Kean’s receptions gave Eldred a first and goal at the Warrior’s four-yard line. Jonathan Counts took it in to give Eldred a 12-6 lead.

Kean’s second grab and nifty run got the ball to the Webutuck six. McCormick hooked up with tight end J.T. Vogt for the second score. Counts ran in the two-point conversion and Eldred led 20-6.

The third touchdown of the quarter came on a four-play, 65-yard drive with a 16-yard pass from McCormick to Vogt. Counts ran for another two-point conversion and Eldred led 28-6. Proving themselves to be an offensive juggernaut, Eldred got a fourth TD in the first half when junior Mike Prunka hauled in a 29-yard pass from McCormick. Prunka got the two-point conversion via a reverse. Eldred led 36-6 at halftime.

Last week nose guard Hilton Johnson caused havoc for Hancock. This week he sacked Cafiero in the third quarter, causing a fumble, which he recovered in the end zone, making it 42-6. Eldred’s jayvee players took over and a Warrior fumble out of the end zone resulted in a safety for Eldred’s final two points. A Marquis Williams 22-yard ramble gave Webutuck its second touchdown. The most telling stat of the night: McCormick completed six-of-nine passes for 135 yards.

Eldred (2-0) travels to Roscoe on September 16 to take on LMR (0-2) in a non-league match up. LMR will be reloaded with the return of QB Lance Brookins and linemen Lee Sanabria and Kelly Lackey. This game could have some juice in it.

Webutuck travels to play rival Class C Pine Plains (2-0).