1812 overture

LM/R pushes Tri-Valley to the brink

as teams prepare for biggest battles of the year

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — All that was missing was the cannon fire.

Still, there were fireworks aplenty as the valiant Livingston Manor/Roscoe Devil-Cats gave Tri-Valley all it could handle on October 18 in a wild non-league night game that could have used Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as its accompaniment.

That stirring music, composed as a grand tribute to Russia’s courageous defense against Napoleon’s invasion, was performed by The New York Philharmonic at Bethel Woods’ inaugural season, punctuated with cannons firing and fireworks ablaze.

While such pyrotechnics were not on display in the Bears’ den, what took place was football grandeur worthy of that great musical composition.

Not only was 18-12 the final score in the epic battle, barely won by the banged-up Bears, but the stirring Devil-Cats comeback from a 12-0 early deficit to one play away from a season upset was, indeed, an overture to each team’s biggest game that loomed six days hence.

With Eldred’s loss to Chester the night before, LM/R’s tilt against the Yellow Jackets on October 24 augurs as one of this fall’s epic battles. The winner will get to play for a Section Nine Class D title against Chester.

The feisty Devil-Cats, who used three quarterbacks, unveiled a spread offense and forced six turnovers by the defending Class C champion Bears, will invade Eldred hoping to do the unimaginable.

Up until this season, they’d never tallied a win. This season, they have two. And with the fervor displayed by his team against Tri-Valley, Coach Fred Ahart could add a win over rival Eldred to his storehouse of victories from Roscoe’s halcyon days, and Livingston Manor could add more glory to its own successes of yesteryear.

As for Tri-Valley, this game was meant to be an overture to its long-anticipated trip to undefeated Sullivan West. But injuries are beginning to take their toll on the Bears, who lost Ross Bonnell with an ankle injury and who had to sideline Dan Killian with a fractured wrist. Killian will play next week against Sullivan West. A twist of quarterback Dustin VanLieu’s ankle in this game is also a concern. Although the Bulldogs have already recaptured the division title, wrested from them by Tri-Valley a year ago, the prospect of a rematch between the two teams needs no introduction.

They’ll collide in Middletown the following week in a playoff semifinal. Keep Tchaikovsky’s music cued on the ipod.

LM/R won the toss and elected to receive. On a poor punt snap, Troy Correa ran 14 yards before the ‘Cats punted to end the series.

Following a return by Matt Bogorad to the Bears’ 35, VanLieu uncorked a 65-yard touchdown pass to Brendan Moore at 7:37 for the game’s opening salvo. The PAT failed but the Bears led 6-0.

LM/R began its rotation of quarterbacks as Mike Hendrickson took the snap. By night’s end, Correa, Hendrickson and Ross Abbott would take turns calling the signals, running and firing passes out of the spread.

The series ended with another LM/R punt.

The air war continued as VanLieu connected with Bogorad with a 17-yard strike. Shortly thereafter, Bogorad ran 11 yards around right end for the TD at 5:08. The PAT run failed but the Bears now held a 12-0 lead as the game began to look like a one-sided affair.

It turned out to be anything but.

Despite its lead, Tri-Valley wasn’t playing its best brand of football. Allowing a huge kickoff return by freshman Chad Rosario to its own 46 was symptomatic of such imperfection. LM/R moved the ball with carries by Hendrickson and Rosario. On an attempted dive play at the two-yard line, Hendrickson hurt his knee and had to be helped off the field. The tough senior would later return to duty.

Old soldiers never die.

Tri-Valley’s defense became impenetrable as it held LM/R on fourth and goal at the one. It would repeat that heroic stand later.

After taking over on downs at the one, Van Lieu took off on a keeper. He was tackled on a cut back, turned his ankle and fumbled the ball as the first quarter ended. Correa recovered. VanLieu’s injury would prevent him from returning to play in the second half although the wounded vet will surely don his battle gear for the war in the Dawg pound next Friday.

The Devil-Cats were unable to capitalize on the turnover and gave the ball back to T-V on downs.

VanLieu was intercepted by LM/R’s John Lundeen at the Bears’ 45. Two plays later, Correa broke loose for a 41-yard TD run at 8:08 and closed the gap to 12-6. The PAT failed.

The fumble fest continued as T-V’s Pete DeMilia lost it to LM/R’s Brandon Smith with 5:21 to go.

Correa began a series of epic runs escaping the clutches of Tri-Valley tacklers. Moore intercepted a pass in the end zone with: 42 remaining in the half.

The Bears were penalized for a chop block, but worse yet, Correa intercepted a pass at the 16 with :19 to go.

Once again, the Bears held LM/R at the goal line. At the half, Tri-Valley led 12-6. Seniors presented flowers to their loved ones.

Moore took over for the injured VanLieu in the second half and the Bears got fine runs by Jesse Boncek, Dan Byrne and a 31-yard jaunt by DeMilia to the one. Boncek’s one-yard TD at 8:07 made it 18-6. The pitch to Bogorad on the two-point conversion came up short.

Abbott returned the kickoff to the 44 but Sean McNamara’s sack of Hendrickson ended the threat on that series.

Yet again, Tri-Valley failed to take care of the football. A fumble by Moore was recovered by the alert visitors.

As the third quarter expired, a pass by Abbott to Hendrickson was complete at the five.

The tough Bears staved off doom as Boncek picked off an Abbott pass at the one and raced 99 yards for what appeared to be a TD at 9:51, but a block in the back called the play back.

The Bears’ sixth turnover occurred at 8:16. Abbott uncorked a 37-yard pass to Davis to make the 18-12 overture for next week’s mother(s) of all battles seemingly complete. The two-point conversion failed and the ensuing squib kick was recovered by Sean McNamara.

The Bears’ series faltered with 2:35 to go, before a run by Rosario got it menacingly to the Bears’ 39. The late upset was avoided, as Andrew Yager picked off an Abbott pass with 1:48 remaining.

The Bears had held on for the win, but it was LM/R that deserved the headlines.

Ahart praised his team. “I would have to say this was our best game all year long. We’re looking to improve as time goes on. We’ve turned the corner with a couple of wins and we’re gaining confidence. We played a fine team tonight and I know John had some injuries, but his team stepped up despite that.”

“We know next week’s game against Eldred puts us in position and we’re looking forward to that.”

Rusin offered effusive compliments regarding the Devil-Cats.

“They’re a young, hungry, well-coached team that plays with a lot of energy. They caused us to turn the ball over and they have a promising future. We’ve got to take better care of the football. We had a couple of injuries today but we have to overcome them. A team can’t hinge on just one player. I’m very proud of my guys. They didn’t quit. But credit goes to LM/R. They forced us to make those mistakes with their up-tempo, energetic game. Correa is a heck of a football player. “

Stat line: Correa carried the ball 20 times for 192 yards. Rosario had 18 carries for 87 yards. LM/R’s passing was 3/14/71, including a TD and three interceptions. Individually, Hendrickon was 0/3 with an interception, Correa was 1/6/1 and Abbott was 2/5/40, including a TD and two interceptions. LM/R had 355 yards of total offense.

Tri-Valley rushing: VanLieu, 2/59; Bogorad, 8/64 with an 11-yard TD; Boncek, 7/20 with a one-yard TD; Byrne, 11/58; Moore, 6/22; DeMilia, 2/38. Tri-Valley total rushing, 36/261. Passing: VanLieu, 4/7/92 with one TD and two interceptions. Receiving: Moore, 2/73, including a 65-yard TD and Bogorad, 2/19.

Tri-Valley’s total offense was 353 yards.

LM/R is now 2-5, while Tri-Valley is 4-3.

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