Top Dawgs

Sullivan West earns league title and faces rematch with Bears in upcoming Class C tilt

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY - When you begin your season by playing back-to-back Section IV powerhouses like Delhi and Walton, you’re bound to take your lumps.

Those two Sullivan West losses, coupled with defeats against Class B Burke and powerful Chester, had some believing that the 2006 Bulldogs were a shadow of their former selves, a team that won the 2005 Section Nine C title by defeating Tri-Valley a year after beating Marlboro for the B crown.

But playing a tough schedule steeled Sullivan West for crucial league games that mattered more when all was said and done. Last week’s stunning 21-7 victory over Tri-Valley turned heads and started to reclaim believers.

Sullivan West saved its best for last with a 26-13 victory over league rival Millbrook that anointed the Bulldogs (3-0 Class C) as the 2006 regular season champions.

They will defend their Class C sectional title against Tri-Valley on November 5 at Dietz Stadium. The Bulldogs beat the Bears 34-7 last year.

Sullivan West’s win over Millbrook was propelled by a quartet of rushing touchdowns, including two from quarterback Jim Moloney, one from Jon Figureroa and another from Will Schlott. The game-time weather was frigid and was made worse by intermittent snow and rain.

Millbrook won the toss and elected to receive. They started at their own 28 and moved the ball out to the 40 on a keeper by Darren Shepley. But on a third-and-nine, Sullivan West’s Jason Leewe intercepted a Shepley pass at the Millbrook 45.

On the second play, Figueroa took the ball on an end-around sweep 45 yards for a touchdown with 9:20 to go in the first quarter. Moloney’s PAT was good and the Dawgs had a 7-0 lead.

Millbrook made headway on its next series with runs by Nick Finger, Shepley and Tom Wolfahrt, but Sullivan West took over on downs after Dan Figueroa snuffed out a run on a fake punt.

The Bulldogs looked to be on the verge of a second score on a sweep by Leewe and a 15-yard reception by Justin Alsdorf to the Blazers’ 20.

But Millbrook made a strong defensive stand as Daryl Robinson nearly picked off a Moloney pass but dropped it. The Blazers took over on downs at their own 23. Sullivan West put steady pressure on Shepley, who had to rush his throws. A screen pass to Finger tipped into the hands of a Millbrook receiver and a Finger nine-yard run advanced the Blazers to the Dawgs’ 36 as the first quarter ended.

But the Dawgs’ defense stiffened and Sullivan West took over on downs.

A great Bulldog drive ended when a fumble by Leewe was recovered by Millbrook’s Derrick Davis at their own 27. Millbrook moved the ball as far as the Sullivan West 35 before turning it over on downs.

The Bulldogs had no luck on their next series. On the last series of the half, Schlott and Matt Swendsen hit Shepley hard.

The teams retreated to their dry locker rooms with Sullivan West leading 7-0 at the half.

Sullivan West moved the ball well to start the third quarter. Moloney got hefty yardage on keepers and Leewe picked up 13 more. An option pitch to Schlott gave the Dawgs a fourth-and-four at the Millbrook 29, but Millbrook’s defense prevailed and the Blazers took over on downs again, this time at their own 26. Two plays later, Finger broke a tackle and raced 65 yards for a touchdown with 6:57 to go in the third quarter. The PAT was good and the score was tied at 7-7.

Fired up by the game’s closeness, Sullivan West rallied. Moloney took the ball on an end-around keeper up the left sideline for a 46-yard touchdown to answer the Blazers’ challenge. The PAT failed on a bad snap, but the Dawgs led 13-7 with 5:37 to go in the third quarter.

Shepley was rocked by a hard hit by Alan Ackermann, but completed a pass to Daryl Robinson on his next throw. But with the ball at the Dawgs’ 43, a Shepley pass was intercepted by Donald Cooper, but the Dawgs failed to capitalize on it. Millbrook was in possession of the football as the fourth quarter began but turned it over on downs.

Sullivan West took over on its own 43 and after a couple of Moloney keepers and a pass to Alsdorf, Schlott carried it in from the three to make it 19-7 with 6:22 left in the game. The two-point conversion failed.

The Dawgs forced Millbrook into a three-and-out on its next series and got its final score on a 28-yard run by Moloney to make it 25-7. The Bulldog O-line opened up a huge hole and Moloney roared right through it. He then split the uprights on his PAT to make it 26-7 with 4:14 to go.

Finger burst through the Bulldog defense for a 44-yard run with 2:02 to go on a fourth-and-four to make it 26-13. Leewe stopped Shepley’s attempt for a two-point conversion run.

Sullivan West got a final first down on a nice run by Schlott and then ran out the clock.

The Bulldogs (5-4, 3-0 Class C) now look to capture their third consecutive Section Nine title.

Sullivan West rushed 35 times for 284 yards. Moloney had 11 carries for 122 yards and two touchdowns, Schlott had seven carries for 76 and one touchdown, John Figueroa had eight carries for 55 yards and one touchdown, Dan Figueroa had six carries for 17 yards and Jason Leewe had three carries for 14 yards.

Millbrook rushed 37 times for 213 yards. Nick Finger had 24 carries for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Tom Wolfahrt had seven carries for 26 yards and Darren Shepley had five carries for seven yards.

Moloney completed eight-of-15 passes for 93 yards. Leewe had four catches for 49 yards and Alsdorf had three catches for 50 yards.

Shepley completed six passes for 22 yards. He threw two interceptions. Daryl Robinson caught two passes for 35 yards for Millbrook, which ended its season at 3-6 (1-2 Class C).

Millbrook Coach Greg Scott said that the difference in the game resulted from his team’s inability to protect its quarterback. Although receiver Dan Shepley returned to action, he was really unable to contribute.

“Sullivan West is a fine team,” Scott said. “Next year, we’ll get back to work and give it another shot.”

The Sullivan West coaches were pleased with their team’s pass rush and defense. “Millbrook is a dangerous team,” head coach Ron Bauer said. Even with only two minutes left in the game he warned his team that Shepley was capable of throwing a couple of bombs to win it.

Sullivan West is only one win away from their main goal, back-to-back-to-back Section IX titles.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of game photos.