Roscoe-Downsville-Livingston Manor toppled in Class D quarterfinals

TED WADDELL
Posted 12/8/16

KINGSTON, NY — It was a real devil of a football game. On Saturday, November 12, the Blue Devils of Roscoe-Downsville-Livingston Manor (R-D-LM) (2-9) battled on the gridiron against the Haldane …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Roscoe-Downsville-Livingston Manor toppled in Class D quarterfinals

Posted

KINGSTON, NY — It was a real devil of a football game.

On Saturday, November 12, the Blue Devils of Roscoe-Downsville-Livingston Manor (R-D-LM) (2-9) battled on the gridiron against the Haldane Blue Devils (3-6) in a Class D regional playoff at Dietz Memorial Field.

Fittingly, the Veterans Day weekend contest was held on a field named for a WWII Medal of Honor recipient.

Robert H. Dietz, a native of Kingston, was killed in action on March 29, 1945 while serving as a staff sergeant in Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division during fierce combat in Germany.

“…S/Sgt. Dietz by his intrepidity and valiant effort on his self-imposed mission, single-handedly opened the road for the capture of Kirchain… an inspiring example of gallantry in the face of formidable odds…” reads in part his Medal of Honor citation.

Also fittingly, before the opening kickoff, the R-D-LM Blue Devils proudly entered the field carrying the American flag waving in a slight breeze.

At the 5:14 mark in the first frame, Haldane fired the opening round of the game with a 70-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brandon Twoguns.

The successful PAT cleared the uprights to put Haldane up 7-0.

On the first play of the second quarter, Nicholas Hill picked up six on a six-yard run to make it a 7-6 game. An errant snap by the center foiled the PAT attempt.

With 7:10 left on the game clock, Haldane’s Sam Giachinta capped it off with a 12-yard carry into the end zone.

John Hankel split the uprights to give Haldane a 14-6 victory on their way to the state semifinals. Haldane’s Sam Giachinta was named Most Valuable Offensive Player, as he rushed for 144 yards, a good percentage of his team’s total of 292 yards on the ground.

Nicholas Hill of R-D-LM was tabbed as Most Valuable Defensive Player. He was credited with 84 yards on 15 carries, and had nine tackles.

As an interesting side note, the R-D-LM final roster was made up of a total of 25 players: 12 from Roscoe, one from Downsville, plus an even dozen from Livingston Manor—all in an effort to keep the spirit of high school football alive at three small rural high schools.

“The second touchdown [by Haldane] was the key… they got the touchdowns when they needed to,” said Fred Ahart, veteran coach of the R-D-LM Blue Devils.

“We worked all year for this game… we never gave up,” he added.

Ahart is in his 38th year as head of the varsity football program at Roscoe, and before that milestone, served as assistant coach for a decade.

Ryan McConville is in his third year at the Haldane helm.

“Our kids continue to work hard, to believe in each other and do the little things… they improved as the game went along, and stuck with our game plan,” he said.

In the post game huddle, Roscoe’s John Rhodes fought back a few tears as he told his teammates, “The season’s over now, but we’re still family, [and] I love you guys so much.”

A sentiment that was echoed as the team held their helmets high against a lunar orb rising over historic Kingston.

For more photos, visit www.riverreport eronline.com and our Facebook page.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here