Football

Millbrook Blazers get no spark against Sullivan West

Bulldog offense vanquishes while its defense extinguishes

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MILLBROOK, NY — Never take any team lightly, especially one looking for its first win of the season. With that in mind, Sullivan West boarded the bus for the lengthy bus ride to play Class D Milbrook, a team that in recent years has been a dominant in its class. This year, though, the Blazers (0-5) have struggled, but the Bulldogs focused on this game as if Millbrook was undefeated. For this October 1 game, there could be no looking ahead to next week’s clash with league rival Pine Plains.

With each passing week, Sullivan West gains momentum on both sides of the ball and Millbrook must have felt as if it ran into a freight train.

The Blazers won the toss and received, but Millbrook quarterback Darren Shepley, who up until this week was one of Section Nine’s leading passers, was in for a long day. Thanks to the Dawgs’ demolition defense, he was hurried, harried and buried. Millbrook went three and out on its first possession and Sullivan West wasted no time in putting up its first score. Quarterback Jim Moloney, who is currently ranked as Section Nine’s leading passer according to MaxPreps.com, completed a 28-yard strike to Jason Leewe. Brett Youmans’ PAT made it 7-0.

Millbrook could not muster any offense whatsoever and soon the Bulldogs had the pigskin back again. Marching down the field against the Blazers’ phantom defense, the drive culminated in a two-yard Youmans touchdown.

The third quarter featured a highlight defensive play as Brian Hubbert hit Shepley just as he let loose a pass. The ball went up all right, but the force of Hubbert’s blow caused it to come down in the hands of Will Schlott, who just happens to spend the winter and spring working on sprints in track. Off to the brackets he went and 88 yards later, Schlott had the Bulldogs up 34-0.

In the fourth quarter, John Figueroa got into the action with a 17-yard touchdown run to finish the day’s scoring. The final: Sullivan West 41, Millbrook 0.

Moloney completed six of 12 passes for 120 yards, bringing his season total to 604 yards to lead Section 9. He also carried the ball four times for 39 yards. Youmans’ catch of 20 yards for a touchdown brought his season reception total to 164 yards, ranking him second in the section behind Anthony Pantano of Spackenkill, who leads with 182 yards according to MaxPreps.com. Youmans was the game’s leading rusher with 75 yards on five carries.

Jim Erlwein rushed for 62 yards on 13 carries while fullback/linebacker Steve Daley sat out the game with a bone chip in his ankle. Daley expects to play on October 8 in the homecoming game against Pine Plains, which will be played in Lake Huntington.

Thanks to donations from Tetz & Sons, Sullivan Structures and Bernas Construction, numerous loads of crusher run were donated to complete the work around the new field. The Lake Huntington Fire Department sprayed down the material to get the surface ready. The game is a league game and is critical to the Class C standings. Pine Plains 4-1 (0-0 Class C) will face Sullivan West 3-2 (0-0) Class C. Tri-Valley will scout the game as the Bears have to play both schools in weeks eight and nine.