Mann in the middle

Chester’s Darren Mann torches Dawgs in Hambletonians’ non-league win over Sullivan West

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY - Facing Mike Schmidlein, Section Nine’s leading rusher, with a team divested of six of his starters, coach Ron Bauer’s Sullivan West Bulldogs had their work cut out for them. Without question, stopping Schmidlein, who came into the game on September 29 with over 1,100 yards in four games, was priority number one.

Though the stats would indicate that the Bulldogs failed in their mission, the Dawgs put forth their best efforts in containing the big back for most of the first half. Prior to his 54-yard touchdown jaunt with the clock expiring just before halftime, Schmidlein was held to 66 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown.

At that critical juncture, the score was tied at 12-all and the game was an even battle.

Although Schmidlein added more yards on his way toward a likely 2,000-yard rushing season, it was receiver Darren Mann who did the most significant damage.

Class D Chester was clearly stoked for the game. Coming in at 4-0, this was a chance to see how they would fare against the defending Class C champs.

“Our real season starts tonight,” Coach Ron Stover told his team. “They’re an established program that has won championships. If you beat them you can put a feather in your cap,” Stover added. Before night’s end, Chester would accomplish its mission with its 40-26 victory.

The first-ever match up between Chester and Sullivan West started out like a heavyweight title fight: punch-counterpunch. The teams alternated scores, beginning with a 26-yard strike from Sullivan West’s quarterback Jim Moloney to wide receiver Donald Cooper at 7:46 of the first quarter on a drive that began on the Sullivan West 30.

Unveiling a smooth passing attack, Moloney hit Brad Reimer on a couple of passes, and found Justin Alsdorf to bring up a fourth and inches. Will Schlott burst through to the 26 and Moloney’s strike to Cooper ended the series with six points. Moloney’s PAT sailed wide left.

The Bulldogs’ defense looked tough as Alsdorf sacked Chester QB Joe Salthouse and forced a punt, but Sullivan West’s series foundered and they lined up to punt it back.

Chester’s Joe Munno blocked Moloney’s punt to give Chester a first down on the Sullivan West 24. Chester had a fourth and seven on the series, but kept the drive going with a key first down. It was a pattern that would play out time and time again as Chester kept its drives alive.

But not this time. On third down, Salthouse had the ball knocked loose by Sullivan West’s Alan Ackermann and teammate John Dertinger recovered it to stop Chester’s drive.

The first quarter ended with Sullivan West leading 6-0.

Sullivan West punted and a steady dose of Schmidlein resulted in a 12-yard touchdown run with 9:53 remaining in the second quarter. The two-point conversion pass failed and the teams were knotted at six-all.

The Bulldogs answered back. Jason Leewe returned the ball to the Sullivan West 40. An option pitch to Reimer and a pass to Alsdorf brought it to the Chester 13. Reimer beat defensive back Erik Bikjorn on a 13-yard touchdown route and the Dawgs led 12-6. The two-point conversion failed.

Mann’s first big catch of the night covered 34 yards on a seam route over the middle. The Bulldogs seemed to have Chester contained with a third-and-10 at the 26, but a screen pass to Schmidlein got them a first down at the 15. On a fourth and nine, Salthouse hit Mann with a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 12-12 with 2:53 remaining. Once again, the two-point conversion failed.

A squib kick gave the Dawgs good field position enhanced by a Chester personal foul, but the Dawgs took it over on downs with 55 seconds to go in the half. Intending to play a prevent-defense, the Bulldogs gave ground and allowed Chester to keep its drive going. With time expiring, Schmidlein burst through, casting off a cadre of would-be tacklers, to dash 54 yards for a touchdown. He then carried it in for the two-point conversion and Chester took a 20-12 lead into halftime.

It was, without question, the turning point of the game.

The Bulldogs held Chester on its next two series, but were unable to sustain either of their next two drives as Chester turned its defensive intensity up a notch. A 65-yard punt by Mann pinned Sullivan West back at its own 13 yard line. After going three-and-out, the Bulldogs punted it back and Schmidlein returned it to the Sullivan West 11. Salthouse hit Mann with an 11-yard strike and Chester now led 26-12. A keeper by Salthouse made it 28-12.

Cooper had the first of two huge kickoff returns as he took the ball 68 yards to the Chester 17. Moloney hit Reimer to get a first-and-goal at the three and Leewe carried it in for the score. The two-point conversion failed and the score read 28-18 with 1:06 remaining in the third quarter.

Concentrating on Schmidlein again, the Bulldogs hit the big back hard and often. Jonn Whittaker, Alsdorf, Bryan Schmidt and Schlott were in on many tackles.

As the third quarter ended, Chester mounted yet another aerial assault. A screen pass to Patrick Perry took the ball to the Dawgs’ 32. But once again on a fourth down play, Mann got loose over the middle for a 27-yard strike to the one-yard line. Schmidlein carried it in for his third TD of the night and Chester led 34-18. The two-point conversion failed. Eight minutes remained in the game.

The final blow came with an interception by Mann that he took 35 yards for Chester’s final score to make it 40-18 with 6:28 to go. The two-point conversion failed again.

As time ran down, Cooper ripped off a second huge return on a kickoff, this one covered 63 yards and set up a 30-yard touchdown pass from Moloney to Cooper with 37 seconds remaining. Alsdorf caught the two-point conversion pass and the game ended with Chester’s 40-26 victory.

“You played a tough game,” coach Ron Bauer told his disappointed team. “We made some mistakes and they cost us. We were missing six players tonight but you guys played a good football game. We’ve got plenty of football left including our key league games,” he said.

Stover was pleased with his team’s effort, given the fact that he was missing three key starters, including cornerback Eric DeGall who broke his ankle in gym class the morning of the game, tackle Justin Tetz who tore his ACL in the Millbrook game and Danny Conklin who was not allowed to suit up for this game.

Chester 5-0 will take on Webutuck in its first league game of the season next weekend, while Sullivan West (2-3) travels to John S. Burke for a non-league game.

Stat line courtesy of Mike Monroe and Ken Uy.

Stat line:

Rushing – Sullivan West: Will Schlott 12-for-42 yards, 1 TD; Brad Reimer 8-for-46 yards. Chester: Mike Schmidlein 34-for-163 yards, 3 TDs, one PAT, total points 20.

Passing – Sullivan West: Jim Moloney 10-for-24, 156 yards, 3 TDs. Chester, Joe Salthouse 6-for-17, 115 yards, 2 TDs, 1 PAT run.

Receiving – Sullivan West: Don Cooper, 3-for-65 yards, 2 TDs; Justin Asdolf, 4-for-49 yards, 1 TD. Chester: Darren Mann, 3-for-86 yards, two TDs, returned an interception for a 36-yard TD.