Welcome to our new contributed column from GYFL. Here are highlights from the games on October 2, 2022.
GYFL Bantams:
Crushers v Generals:
Julian Caspi carried the ball only twice, but his third quarter 55 yard touchdown changed the game. Ben Sachs scored the other Crusher touchdown, which was set up by Johnny Bosco’s 11 yard run and Brody Wallace’s 8 yard run.
QB Tucker Wunderlich scored both extra points on scrambles. AJ Bevilaqua, Bennett Bowes, Alexander Turano, Ford Puntereri, Henry Ingraham and William McWhorter set up the Crusher rushing attack by maintaining control of the line of scrimmage.
For the third week in a row, Caspi anchored the Crusher defense with 15 tackles. Connor Sachs had nine tackles, and Ben Sachs had eight, including three tackles for loss. Danny Natale had eight tackles, including two for loss, and forced a fumble. William Kampf, Marshall Long, Justin Moeller, Ford Puntereri and Wunderlich each contributed multiple stops. Crushers win 14-0
Even though they didn’t get the win, the Generals Bantam squad had many positive plays on both sides of the ball.
The Generals defense was led by Liam Corsano, Luka Kostovic, Brayden Imbrogno, Ivica Kusurin, Owen Hadley, Willett Carpenteri, Brooks Pardi, Elliott Marks, Joey Worden, Aaron Senter, and Holden Lynes. Overall the defense played extremely well giving up a few long plays to the Crushers that led to the scoring drives.
On the offensive side of the ball: Henry Hansen, Hudson DeWitt, Patrick O’Malley, Ed Carroll, Lawson Caffray, Kyle Fuzesi, Sam Duxbury, Luke Bible, John O’Gara, Leo Sethi, and Dam Ramakrishan did their best blocking and running the ball to keep the game close against a strong Crushers defense.
Mavericks v BANC Raiders
The Mavericks held a 6-0 lead at the half, but the Raider offense was able to strike on their opening offensive play of the second half with a quick pass to Jake Nalepka who followed a crucial block by Hunter Esterkinfor a 55 yard TD reception. The touchdown and extra point gave the Raiders a 7-6 lead. That play seemed to have ignited the Raider offense. Jake Nalepka scored his second touchdown just minutes later to put the Raiders up for good. The Bantam Banc Raiders defeated their crosstown rival Glenville Mavericks 14-6
The Banc Raider defense, not to be outdone, showed up big time in the second half returning the favor and holding the Maverick team scoreless. Wynn Knechtel caused a fumble that was recovered by Brayden Hastings that sealed the victory. Great defensive play by Colin Brilliant, Tommy Nalepka and Austin Jozwiak improved the Banc Raider teams record to a 2-0.
The Maverick’s defense forced a three and out in the first series and then drove down the field to score the game’s first points–on a 4th, and a long play, Finn Ritman’s pass to Dane Early went the distance to put Mavericks up 6-0. After two defensive breakdowns, the Banc Raiders broke contain twice and scampered down the sideline for two long runs. The Mavericks, now 1-2, will go into the bye week and look to bounce back against the Generals in Week 5.
GYFL Juniors
Bulldogs v Mavericks
After a great week of practice, the Bulldogs looked to bounce back after a week 2 loss. The team was led by QB Campbell Sipple who scored two touchdowns with RB Evan Bielenson adding another. Bielenson, Ethan Voehl, and Ryan Logan all had tremendous breakout runs with drive saving catches by Joey Dussich and Cooper Kitselman. Finn Hildebrand also added some dynamic runs to move the ball downfield! The offensive line play of Jack Stanley, Andre Vigilante, Will Iles, Sean Harte, Lorenzo Perito, Cameron Dianis, Nicholas Alfaro, Kyle Polizzi, and Adriano Amodeo paved the way for the offensive explosion! Strong downfield blocking by Peter Phillipps and Grayson Neak helped extend all of the drives.
The Bulldog’s defense came to play and registered its first shutout of the season. It was a team effort led by big stops for losses from Bielenson and Dussich with a key interception by Campbell Sipple. Big defensive contributions by Jesse Martines, Duke Perrucci, Callum Hennigan, Yukon Monterisi, Stanley, Neak, Voehl, and Kitselman with a huge pass deflection by Tommy Healy and a goal line stop by Joseph Marchetti helped seal the victory!
Generals White v Crushers
The Junior Generals White Team won a hard-nosed game against the Crushers. The game was tied going into the 4Q when Luke Golden carried the load on a 55 yard drive which he capped off with a 3yd TD run.
The offense was led by the tough running by Golden who had over 100 yards on the ground. Cristian Gabelli had a number of key first down catches in traffic. John Sibley led the team in the passing game completing a handful of passes, while Beckett Mollett and Isaac Snedeker helped pace the offensive attack.
The line up front and backs blocked well all game led by Cole and Owen Stephens, William Thaler, Andres Gutierrez, Colt Goodner, Ford Paulson, Fran Colombo, J.R. Burton, Ford Jackson, and Thomas Lange.
The defense was dominant, not allowing a first down the entire game. The attack was led by Beckett Mollett who was in on around 10 tackles, recovered a fumble and had a couple of sacks. Owen and Cole Stephens were a force clogging the middle the entire game, while Bo Carpenteri, William Ward, Golden, Snedeker, and Sibley contained the outside run. There were a number of great team tackles all over the field many of which were sacks or losses in the backfield. Contributing to the effort were Gabelli, Paulson, Alex Duda, and Colt Goodner.
The Crushers defense was bend don’t break all day, stopping the Generals offense on several short yardage opportunities. Joseph Breheney stuffed the Generals offense on a 4th and goal from the 1, and that pressure led to key tackles all afternoon for his linemates Philip Simms, Braden Wallace and Evan Kane. With the Generals offense knocking again, Kane had a strip and fumble recovery on the Crushers 21. Linebackers Max Parker, Hudson Caspi, and Cole Custar made key gang tackles all game long. Mike Dussinger’s interception in the 2nd quarter was the highlight of the day for the strong defensive back play by William Sachs, Jack Anton and Cal Casamassima. Late in the game, a sack by Ryan Mora and a tackle that saved a long gain by Joey Prisanzano wasn’t enough as the Crushers fell 6-0.
BANC Raiders v Mavericks Yellow
The Junior BANC Raiders never gave up against the Glenville Mavericks Gold Team in a 20-8 loss. Running back Hendrix Hill impressed with several great runs, a TD, and several tackles for loss. QB Raph Rabins connected several times to advance the ball. New offensive linemen Chris Povela had an outstanding first game, as did veteran Teddy Curreri. Key blocking came from receivers Brady Barrett, Bernard Ramirez and Patrick Whitmore. Defensive linemen George Riemer, Sarah Connor and Jax Perella played aggressively.
GYFL Seniors:
With the Cos Cob Defense on their heels early in the game, the Senior Crushers rallied around each other to regain momentum all game long. Trailing 6-0, the Offense hit another gear in the second quarter as the Offensive line of Casey Baker, Liam Zellar, Mickey Petrone, Henry Schmedlin, and Jaden Lachance led to punishing runs by Jake Natale, and Walker McClure set up Oliver Caspi for his first Touchdown of the day.
Quarterback Philip Tarantino stuck to the game plan with non stop inside zone plays which allowed McClure to break free, setting up another 7 yd TD run by Caspi. Trailing 13-12 late in the 4th, McClure got loose once again, this time for a 72 yard TD run that would seal the deal and lock up a hard fought 18-13 Crushers win.
The Senior Putnam Generals fought for four quarters in a tough loss to the Crushers. Andy Stedem, Luke Weiksner, Nick Vomvolakis, Colby Loflin and Luke Perriello controlled the point of attack all game to open running lanes for the backs.
Madsen Ehrhart led the offense as the signal caller and punched in the first score of the game. Jake Leonard broke a long run to set up a second score by Ehrhart, behind the blocking of Brendan Curley on the edge and Owen Cunnion out of the backfield. Alex Neitzell pulled down a reception for a catch and run.
On the defensive side of the ball, Gavin Stewart made his presence felt with an interception. Teo Pita, Bobby Stanley and Will Hadley combined for a strong contest in the secondary.
BANC Raiders v Mavericks
A defensive battle all day was finally decided late in the 3rd quarter as Adam Sullivan scored on a 45-yard touchdown run. Mack Critchell and Sean Flynn provide key blocks on the edge. Sullivan scored again on another long run in the 4th with Brett Goodwin and Max Corbo leading the way. QB, Caden Tate, hit Luke Balducci in the corner of the endzone for the 2-point conversion. CJ Jonson paved the way on both drives with 5 receptions from QB Sam McGarvey. Marcus Massey and Lake Sisca provided secure snaps from center, stepping up for an injured teammate. The Maverick defense pitched its second shutout of the season. Brett Goodwin, Jagger Pontoriero and Luke Wells spent most of the day making tackles in the BANC backfield.
The BANC Raiders Seniors fell to the Glenville Mavericks team in a game that was much closer than the score indicates. Tied at half time, BANC quarterback Cassidy Morales led the BANC offense along with the receiving core of Dan Black, Henry Doba, and Wyatt Melnikoff. Black also made key tackles on defense and added a pick six of 75 yards that was called back on a flag but got BANC the ball back. Lineman Jacari Hughes set key blocks and was a menace in the backfield. Hughes caused a fumble which was recovered by Aiden Leonard. Linemen Anthony Cebanos, Charlie Bodie and Donavan Cooke kept the line of scrimmage right.