TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Dagger in the heart: Sullivan West’s Dan Figueroa, 37, returns a kickoff 79 yards for a TD right after Tri-Valley worked hard to close the early gap to 12-6. Following the Bears’ score, the Westies put up 34 unanswered points.

Football

Hallow-win

Unbeaten Sullivan West advances to championship with overwhelming playoff win over Tri-Valley

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MIDDLETOWN, NY—Reigning Class C champion Tri-Valley hoped to play a Halloween trick by upsetting unbeaten Sullivan West in a Class C playoff on October 31.

But the Bulldogs reached into their grab bag of football skills, speed and nearly flawless execution and emerged with the treat of paying back the Bears, who beat them in 2007.

Transforming the tantalizing beauty of Faller Field into a ghastly scene for their staging of fright night, the Bulldogs unleashed big play after big play against the banged up Bears, who lost quarterback Dustin VanLieu to a re-injured ankle at the worst possible time. The Westies were even more overpowering than they were a week prior when they beat the Bears 34-0.

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Volleyball

Blue streak

By RICHARD A. ROSS

ELLENVILLE, NY—Revving up for a sectional game that neither team thought it would see this year, Sullivan West and Ellenville took to the court on October 29, each looking for the chance to advance to play Millbrook in the Class C semifinals.

With only two league wins apiece, the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Blue Devils weren’t exactly burning up the court, but that mattered little now. Ellenville was playing in its first volleyball sectional tournament.

Ellenville led early in the opening set and held on for its only win of the night at 25-19.

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Football

Final destination

By RICHARD A. ROSS

ELDRED, NY—Like two ships passing in the night, Eldred and Liberty played their unscheduled regular-season coda on November 1, preparing for diverging paths in the week to come.

The non-league Eldred 37-8 victory left one to wonder why one team finds itself vying to defend its title, while the other exits a season of disappointment and missed opportunities.

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Also in this issue:

• Statehood
• Courage under fire