Contributed column from GYFL. Here are highlights from the games on October 30, 2022.
Bantams:
Crushers 12 Mavericks 6
The Crushers took advantage of early turnovers and held on in the second half to defeat a strong Mavericks team 12-6. Tucker Wunderlich set up the Crusher’s first score by returning an interception 18 yards to the Mav’s 22 yard line. Julian Caspi scored behind Oliver Clark’s pancake block on a counter that went for 15 yards. Later in the second quarter, Caspi stripped the Mav’s ball carrier, and Alexander Turano recovered the fumble deep in Maverick territory.
Wunderlich took a bootleg 13 yards on third and long to set up Danny Natale’s one yard plunge for the Crusher’s second score. Ben Sachs led the Crusher rushing attack with 76 tough yards. In all, nine Crushers carried the ball, including Chris Silver, whose 23 yard run significantly affected field position in the second quarter. The Crusher line, led by Natale, AJ Bevilaqua, Henry Ingraham, Connor Sachs, Greyson Lowthert and Justin Moeller, overcame penalties to keep the ball moving.
Caspi led the defense with ten tackles, four for loss, and a sack. Ben Sachs had five tackles. Natale made four tackles, while Clark, William McWhorter, Moeller, Silver and Turano contributed multiple tackles. During the Mav’s last drive, Lowthert, Moeller and Ben Sachs each registered critical sacks. Marshall Long intercepted a pass on the Mav’s final offensive play to ice the win and send the Crushers to next week’s Championship Game.
BANC Raiders 21 Generals 18
The Bantam Banc Raiders were able to avenge their only defeat of the season at the hands Putnam Generals with a hard fought 21-18 playoff victory to propel them into the GYFL Bantam Championship for a second consecutive season. The Raiders marched down the field on a lengthy drive on their opening offensive possession lead by Quarterback Austin Jozwiak. Tommy Nalepka ended the drive with a 5 yard counter for a touchdown. Colin Brilliant added a reception for the 2 point conversion to give the Raiders an 8-0 lead. The Raider offense continued their outstanding play with another drive right before half. The second touchdown was set up by a 40 yard sweep by Jake Nalepka down to the 1. Jake was able to punch it in on the very next play to give the Raiders the lead at half 15-6. The back and forth affair continued into the second half. The Raiders offense led by blocking of Brayden Hastings, Dylan Mootabar and Ryan Robison added a final touchdown from Jake Nalepka to give the Raiders a 21-12 lead.
Banc’s defense played hard and fought to keep the Generals out of the endzone all day. However the explosive General offense was difficult to maintain. James Beardsley made his first start on the Raider Defensive line and disrupted play for the General Offense. William Berbit made several defensive plays throughout the game for the Raiders. Tommy Nalepka continued his outstanding play on defense which included an interception. Colin Brilliant also caused a fumble that was recovered by Hunter Esterkin to seal the victory for the Banc Raiders 21-18. Next up the Bantam Banc Raiders will face the Cos Cob Crushers for the 2022 GYFL Bantam Championship.
Juniors:
Crushers 18 Generals Blue 13
With the opportunity for an appearance in back to back Championship games in their sights, the Junior Crushers hit the ground running. The Offensive Line of Joseph Breheny, Lorelai Tarantino, Ryan Mora, Phillip Simms and Evan Kane opened up gaping running for Cole Custar as he tore through the generals defense for 43 rushing yards on their first possession setting up a Hudson Caspi 4 yard Touchdown run. Custar was all over the field recovering a fumble in the 2nd Quarter that was stripped by Kane. On the ensuing possession the Crushers took to the air when Max Parker found William Sachs for a 26 yard TD pass.
Still in the 2nd Quarter, with the Generals offense moving the ball, Kane pulled off his signature strip and recovery play, his third of the year setting the Offense up in excellent field position. 24 yards later Custar would punch it in on a 3 yard run putting the score to 18-0 at the half.
The Generals came out firing in the second half but the Crushers D was up to the task. Parker, Simms and Ryan Mora were run at all day but made stop after stop to avoid big gains. The unsung hero on defense was defensive tackle Braden Wallace. Wallace was in the General’s backfield nearly every play creating chaos and throwing off the Generals timing, allowing players like Tarantino, Joey Prisanzano, Austin Woolven to get to the running backs. Cornerback Mike Dussinger had a late fumble recovery, and Jack Anton’s Safety play held the generals down from any big plays. The Generals would add two late scores but the Crushers controlled the clock all game to hold them off for a 18-13 win.
The Generals found themselves in a quick 18-0 hole in the first half, but the boys never gave up. The defense held the Crushers scoreless in the second half, while the offense got the Generals to within one score. While it wasn’t enough to win, the team showed great heart and character in fighting to get back in the game. It was a whole team effort, with everyone on the roster contributing on both sides of the ball. While it wasn’t the ending the team hoped for, Generals Blue’s season was a success.
Junior: Putnam Generals White 15 – North Mianus Bulldogs 6
In a well played playoff semi-final battle The Junior Generals White overtook the North Mianus Bulldogs 15-6.
The Generals got off to a quick start as Luke Golden carried the load on the opening 75 yard drive to set up a 5 yard touchdown run by Cristian Gabelli. Gabelli then connected with Colt Goodner for the 2 point conversion pass and catch. The game stood at 8-6 into the 4Q when Golden was at it again, capping off a long drive with a 16 yards gallop into the endzone for the games final touchdown. John Sibley passed to William Thaler for the extra point.
The offense was led by Golden who had over 100 tough yards on the ground. Bo Carpenteri, Isaac Snedeker, Gabelli and Sibley paced a strong ground attack. By air Sibley completed a number of passes to Gabelli and Beckett Mollett.
The line up front dug in all game opening holes for the backs led by the blocking of Cole and Owen Stephens, Andres Gutierrez, Orson Stanton, Fran Colombo, Alex Duda, Hayden Marks, and William Thaler.
The defense played a gritty game overcoming a number of great Bulldog drives. The squad had a number of team tackles all over the field. Contributing to the defensive attack were Golden, Snedeker, Beckett Mollett, Cristian Gabelli, Sibley, Goodner, Carpenteri, Paulson, William Ward, Ryan Curley and The Stephens Brothers all either had tackles in the backfield, QB sacks, broke up passes or forced fumbles. Luke Golden and Cole Stephens recovered key fumbles and Ford Paulson had an interception to end the game.
The Generals congratulate the Bulldogs players and coaches on a great season and hard fought game.The team is looking forward to the Championship game on Sunday.
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. The Bulldogs were eager to get the game going. The Generals started on offense and despite aggressive tackles by Yukon Monterisi, Evan Beilenson and Grayson Neak, the Generals would drive down the field and score the first touchdown of the game. The Generals would then capitalize on the 2 point conversion putting them up 8-0.
With a 3 and out possession, The Bulldogs defense would once again be tested. Jack Stanley and Cooper Kitselman had big hits, then Joey Dussich would have a strip fumble that was recovered by Duke Perrucci. The momentum shifted in the Bulldogs favor. The offense came out with a line of Sean Harte, Adriano Amodeo, Kyle Polizzi, Andre Vigalante and Stanley. Jack Schneider and Grayson Neak were also added to the blocking crew. Dussich, Kitselman and Beilenson each chipped away yards and then Evan Beilenson broke free for a tremendous touchdown run! After failing to complete the conversion, the score was 8-6 Generals.
The remainder of the game would be a grind on both sides of the ball. The offensive line play of Hunter Flores, Alex Woerz, Luca Ilardi, Lorenzo Perito and Will Iles helped sustain drives along with receivers and backs Peter Phillipps, Finn Hildebrand, Felipe D’Arce, Nico Palermo, Ryan Logan and Tommy Healy. Duke Perrucci continued to have big tackles on defense along with Colin Marra. Jesse Martines, Cal Hennigan, Cam Dianis, James Mcallan, Ethan Voehl, Nick Alfaro and Jojo Marchetti would add to the team’s defensive effort. With time ticking down in the 4th, the Generals would score once again. The final score was 15-6 in favor of the Generals. In Bulldogs fashion, they fought to the very last whistle. The Bulldog faithful could not be prouder of our boys and coaches. The future is bright for this group.
Seniors:
Crushers 31 BANC Raiders 6
The Crushers scored on four of their first five possessions behind a dominant offensive line to defeat BANC 31-6. Walker McClure set up the Crusher’s first touchdown with a 46 yard pass to Henry Schmedlen. Oliver Caspi punched it in from six yards out, and Jake Natale added the extra point. McClure scored five plays later on an 88 yard run and again near the end of the second quarter on a ten yard run after completing a 22 yard pass to Michael Caroll on third and long. Caspi added his own long TD run early in the third quarter, going 75 yards. Matisse Sostre and William Walsh had productive carries down the stretch. The Crusher line of Casey Baker, Ryder Garcia, Jayden LaChance, Mickey Petrone and Liam Zeller provided excellent run blocking and pass protection throughout the game.
Garcia led the Crushers defense with six tackles, including one for loss. Zeller had two tackles, including a sack, deflected a pass and recovered a fumble. Matteo Casamassima contributed two tackles. McClure had a strip sack and broke up a pass. Gabriel Bisio, Caspi and Beckett Gallagher each broke up passes. Schmedlen closed out the scoring with a 20 yard interception return. With the win, all three Crushers teams punched their tickets to Championship weekend.
Putnam Generals 28 – Glenville Mavericks 13
The Senior Generals were able to pull away with a 28-13 win in a hard fought battle against the Mavericks to secure a trip to the championship game. Madsen Ehrhart punched the ball into the endzone three times with Owen Cunnion, Lorenzo Corsano and Kellen Aslansan combining for a nice day on the ground. Cunnion added an extra point. Alex Neitzell showed his versatility by filling in wherever he was needed and running the ball hard. Teo Pita started his first game as the QB and delivered a strike downfield to Bobby Stanley in the 4th quarter.
The defense was able to settle in as the game went along. Christmas came early for Andy Stedem when he snatched the ball out of the air and returned it for his first ever touchdown. Luke Perriello attacked the backfield play after play and Matthew Mihalik played his best game to date by stuffing the run.