Sullivan West easily handles Pine Plains in league opener

Bulldog miscues prevent win by a much larger margin

By RICHARD A. ROSS

PINE PLAINS, NY - For all intents and purposes, you can sweep aside Sullivan West’s first three games: two losses against overpowering Section IV schools and last week’s blowout over Class D LMR.

In the final analysis, what matters most are the league games against Class C rivals Tri-Valley, Pine Plains and Millbrook. Two of these four teams will play for the Class C title at Dietz Stadium in November, and if the Bulldogs want to extend their two-year run as Section 9 titleholders (2004 Class B, 2005 Class C), they have to concentrate their efforts on the teams that are in their way.

First up was a visit to Pine Plains, a team the Bulldogs ran over last year in a rain-soaked initiation under the lights in Lake Huntington. That 31-0 rout was on the minds of some Pine Plains’ parents prior to this year’s September 22 rematch up on Stissing Mountain.

The Bulldogs received to start the game and immediately showed superiority on the line of scrimmage. They pushed the Bombers back with a fine 17-yard carry by John Figueroa, but three plays later he fumbled and the Bombers recovered on the Sullivan West 28.

It was the first of six fumbles, which, coupled with holding and motion penalties, nullified a series of Bulldog drives that would have made the 25-14 win far more lopsided.

The Bulldogs recorded their first sack of quarterback Jimmy Boyles in the series that ended with a failed field goal attempt by Pine Plains’ Lucas Sisco.

The Dawgs got going behind the fine running of Will Schlott, who was on his way toward a game-high 113 yards on 16 carries. A 12-yard pass from Moloney to Brad Reimer, a 10-yard run by Jason Leewe and a Pine Plains encroachment penalty had the Dawgs at the 34 before Moloney fumbled the ball to thwart the Dawgs’ second viable drive.

Pine Plains was forced to punt on its next series, as the enraged Dawgs got feisty on defense as the first quarter expired in a scoreless tie.

After a series of five successful running plays, the Dawgs overcame a holding penalty and Moloney hit Donald Cooper on a 44-yard touchdown pass. The athletic receiver hauled it in by beating defensive back John Murphy.

With Moloney’s PAT, the Dawgs led 7-0 at 10:17 of the second quarter.

The Dawgs forced Pine Plains to go three and out and took over on the Bombers’ 33. A facemask penalty advanced the ball to the 18. Schlott covered that distance on his next carry and the Dawgs led 13-0 at 9:25. The PAT was blocked.

The Dawgs forced another three-and-out and opened its air war with six consecutive passes out of the doublewide formation. One of those was a 36-yard zinger to Schlott. The drive stalled on fourth-and-one.

The Bombers got fired up and Boyles lit up the secondary with a 23-yard pass to Dan Hoysradt at the 47. The Dawgs bent, but wouldn’t break, and Pine Plains punted again.

Another potential scoring drive floundered with Moloney’s second fumble after being sacked.

The Bombers nearly scored on a completion from Boyles to Tim Reynolds, but officials ruled that Reynolds stepped on the line at the 22. One final play went bankrupt and the half ended with the Dawgs leading 13-0.

Pine Plains received to start the second half with great field position, but failed to sustain a drive.

The Dawgs hit pay dirt with a 57-yard pass from Moloney to Justin Alsdorf to the Pine Plains 18. Two plays later, Leewe roared through for a first and goal at the two. It took three tries, but the Dawgs got it in as Moloney went around end on a keeper. He missed the PAT, but Sullivan West led 19-0 with 4:02 remaining in the quarter

Early in the fourth quarter, Boyles had a 40-yard run to the Bulldogs’ 43. The Bombers combined runs by Matt Bloodgood and a pass to Kyle Southern to get the four. Bloodgood scored on a one-yard dive and Sisco hit the PAT to make it 19-7 with 11:56 remaining.

Incensed at losing the shutout, Sullivan West marshaled an impressive drive for its final score. It took eight plays to cover 76 yards. Leewe ran it in from the 11 to give the Dawgs a 25-7 lead with 7:51 to go.

Boyles continued to show his throwing expertise with a 12-yard strike to Reynolds. When Leewe became the latest of a series of Bulldogs to leave the field with a cramp, coach Ron Bauer inserted Moloney at cornerback. On the next play, Moloney picked off a pass from Boyles.

A Schlott fumble and Bombers’ recovery thwarted another drive for the end zone.

The Bombers went to the air and picked up 42 yards as Cooper reached for an interception. The ball careened off Kyle Southern into the outstretched hands of Hoysradt. The Bombers had a first down at the Dawgs’ 13. Bloodgood rushed it in with 2:38 to go and Sisco hit the PAT for the game’s final tally of 25-14.

Sullivan West improved to 2-2 (1-0 OCIAA), while Pine Plains fell to 2-2 (0-1 OCIAA).

The Bulldogs will host Chester under the lights in Lake Huntington in a non-league game on September 29, while Pine Plains travels to Ardsley.

STAT LINE (compiled by Ken Uy)

Rushing: SW, 35 carries for 226 yards; PP, 28 carries for 98 yards.

SW: Will Schlott, 16/113; Jason Leewe, 6/89; Jonathon Figueroa, 8/35; Jim Moloney, 5/-11; PP Jimmy Boyles, 12/56; Matt Bloodgood, 13/37.

Passing: SW (Moloney), 11-for-16 completions for 197 yards with 0 interceptions; PP (Boyles), 11-for-27 completions for 167 yards and one interception.

Receiving: SW Justin Alsdorf, two catches for 70 yards; Donald Cooper, 1/44; Brad Reimer, 3/29; Will Schlott, 1/28; Jason Leewe, 3/22; Jonathon Figueroa, 1/4;

PP Dan Hoysradt, 2/65; Tim Reynolds, 4/58; Kyle Southern: 4/36.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of game photos.