ELDRED and HIGHLAND FALLS, NY — With their 28-14 win over the Yellowjackets of Eldred on Friday night, November 8, the Sullivan West Bulldogs headed to the Section IX 8-Man Football Championships. There the “Dawgs” faced the Tigers of Pawling High School on the gridiron of James I. O’Neill High School in Highland Falls.

To get to the title match, Sullivan West posted an 8-1 overall record (2-1 league), defeating all opponents during the regular season, with the exception of a 48-26 loss to Eldred on October 5.

En route to the championship, Sullivan West defeated the Pine Plains/Rhinebeck Bombers 68-20 in a November 1 homestand. During their game against Eldred, the ‘Jackets (4-3/2-2) reached the postseason for the first time since 2009.

Sullivan West jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first frame. The Bulldogs added another eight points in the second quarter as Eldred responded with a TD to make it a 14-6 game. Both teams posted a TD and a two-point conversion in the third; and in the final frame, it was SW 6, ECS 0. Alec Hubert eluded several tacklers to score with less than six minutes on the game clock of the semifinal.

On November 15, third-seeded Sullivan West (9-1) declawed the Tigers of Pawling (8-2). The Bulldogs defeated their rivals 46-14 to earn their second straight Section IX 8-Man Football Championship.

During the regular season, first-seeded Pawling’s lone loss was to Tri-Valley on October 12; the Bears won 8-6.

Adam Ernst, the ‘Dawgs helmsman on the field, had a stellar outing, throwing for four TDs and rushing for an additional score.

Contributing to Sullivan West’s dominating performance: Alec Hubert’s explosive running, including a 93-yard scamper into the endzone, all of which earned him the game’s Offensive MVP; TDs by Paul Nunnari and Evan Ebert; and on the other side of the field, four sacks by defensive end Jesse Milk. 

On Friday, November 22, the Bulldogs return to O’Neill for a regional final against a Section IV opponent.