Football

Greased lightning

Bulldogs streak by punchless Spartans to cap off homecoming hurrahs

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The glitter of the camera flashes found far more interesting subject matter in the smiling faces of Sullivan West’s fall senior athletes and their parents in a pre-game homecoming shoot than it did in the blowout victory of the Bulldogs over winless Spackenkill.

Homecoming king Eric DeLaurencio and his lovely queen Camille Peters started the march of the paparazzi as seniors had a moment of fame with flowers, relatives and smiles on a chilly October 12 evening.

This was to be the last home football game of the season and a run-up to next week’s much-anticipated divisional championship at Tri-Valley on October 19.

Unfortunately, Spackenkill was ill prepared to offer much resistance and little in the way of preparation for the impending clash of the titans.

Spackenkill received the ball to start the game and was treated to a wake-up call by the Bulldogs’ swarming defense. Three and out and a punchless punt set up the Bulldog’s first drive, which was momentarily delayed by a block in the back call. A four-yard run by Will Schlott made it 6-0 at 4:10. That set up the return of “No Miss Norden,” temporarily abducted a week ago and replaced by a look-alike pretender named “Way Wide Wonder.” Artie Norden hit the first of seven consecutive PATs on the night, iced off with a zippy 34-yard field goal late in the game.

Sullivan West coaches have considered hiring the survivors of the Sopranos to prevent Norden’s abduction by Tri-Valley schemers who are reputed to have “Way Wide Wonder” suited up for next week’s fray.

The 7-0 lead would quickly burgeon with two more first-quarter scores, a 30-yard pass from quarterback Jim Moloney to Brad Reimer at 5:35 and a five-yard pass to Dan Figueroa at 8:26 for the 21-0 lead at the end of the frame.

The Spartans are a far cry from their ancient namesakes, whose tiny force fought the Persians at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 and held them off for three days in one of history’s most notable last stands. These latter-day Spartans had a fine football team in bygone years but that also is ancient history.

The second quarter featured another trio of touchdowns courtesy of a 51-yard pass from Moloney to Jason Leewe in the first 10 seconds of the quarter, a 59-yard run from Moloney at 3:41 and a 25-yard run by Moloney at 8:46. NMN made all three PATs and the Dawgs hit the half leading 42-0.

Reimer took over for Moloney at the start of the third quarter. His 42-yard touchdown run only 59 seconds in was his last hurrah for the night. “Awesome Artie” first added a PAT to make it 49-0 and subsequently booted a beauty of a field goal to make it 52-0.

Anxious to get its starters out of the game and harm’s way, coaches began subbing in second and third stringers. Future stars, including freshman quarterback Ryan Alsdorf, sophomore running back Austin Erlwein and veteran Nick Mootz, got their turn to shine.

Looking at Alsdorf calling the signals reminded this writer of a wet-behind-the-ears red-headed kid named Moloney, who took snaps and threw passes in practice in the Joe Meyer era. Moloney thinks Alsdorf’s cannon of an arm will lead to greatness down the line.

Against Sullivan West’s taxi squad, Spackenkill got two scores. The first was a five-yard tipped pass that ended up in the hands of Patrick Martin from sophomore quarterback Nicholas Contelmo at 1:23 of the fourth quarter. The PAT by Mark Letus was good. The second was a 75-yard pass play from Contelmo to Martin at 10:59. The PAT failed.

Sullivan West improved to 5-2, while Spackenkill remained winless at 0-7.

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