Contributed column from GYFL. Here are highlights from the games on October 9, 2022.
Seniors
CRUSHERS 28 BULLDOGS 21
The Senior Crushers put the pedal to the medal on Sunday scoring on their first possession of the game. Walker McClure took to the air early and found Michael Carroll streaking for a 24-yard TD pass. Jake Natale would pound in the PAT for a 7-0 lead. They’d do it on the ground on their next possession when Oliver Caspi broke off a 51-yard TD run.
Liam Zeller, Casey Baker, and Henry Schmedlen paced the Crushers D in the first half, highlighted by a strip and recovery by Ryder Garcia.
After a near interception turned into a long Bulldogs TD, the Crushers offense responded. Walker took a 32-yard scramble to the house and Matisse Sostre ran home one of his 2 PATs in the game . A 21-Yard pass from Philip Tarantino to Natale set up a drive that ended with Tarantino pounding home a 1-yard TD run. The Bulldogs would cut the lead to a 1 score game, but the offensive line of Charlie Burchell, Jaden Lachance, Mickey Petrone controlled the line of scrimmage and the Crushers would control the clock to take a 28-21 win.
After finding themselves in a 14-0 hole, the Bulldogs defense began to settle down with some big tackles by Grant Andrews, Austin Tice and Gaspar Gomez. The second half saw the offense come alive with a beautiful 50 yd TD pass down the seam from Colin Suvansri to Garin Kopilak, and two TDs by Graham Geisler, including taking a 70 yd screen pass to the house for a long TD. Ben Peden made a key strip tackle that led to another TD by Geisler to make it a one score game with just 3 minutes left, but the Crushers were able to run the clock out on their final drive and seal the victory.
GENERALS DEF BANC RAIDERS
The Generals got back in the win column following a great performance against a strong Raider team. Madsen Ehrhart, Teo Pita and Harry Collier split time at QB leading the team down the field into the endzone. Ayden and Chase helped from the WR position to open up outside running lanes for Owen Cunnion, Alex Neitzell and Max Townsend. The Mighty Mite duo of Kellen Aslansan and Lorenzo Corsano ran hard all game to pick up first downs and extra points. Marco Gabelli came in as center and gave his team an All-Star performance with only good snaps.
On the defensive side of the ball, Luke Perriello was a force from Defensive End pressuring the Raider passing attack. Jake Leonard picked off a pass and returned it for a TD, while Will Hadley came down with 2 more interceptions. Brett Schmidt made his presence felt and gave maximum effort to break into the backfield disrupting plays.
Juniors
CRUSHERS OVER BULLDOGS 6-0
It was another defensive grind as the Junior Crushers punished the Bulldogs all afternoon. The hits came early and often with Phillips Simms, Joseph Breheney and Braden Wallace getting into the backfield early and often.In the 2nd Quarter, their linemate Evan Kane registered his 2nd strip fumble recovery of the season. Austin Woolven would Quarterback a steady diet of run plays behind Kearnon Henske, Liam Kirsch, Alex Crimins, Lorelai Tarantino and Gavin Moeller in the First half.
Jack Anton opened up the second half by bailing out the defense running down a loose Bulldog for a touchdown saving tackle. After big stops by Hudson Caspi, Ryan Mora and E.J. Gentile, the Crushers offense finally broke through.
On 3rd and 15 QB Max Parker aired one out which was tipped high by a Bulldog defender and fell into the hands of a streaking Williams Sachs who took it 75 yards to the house. “The Immaculate ReSACHSion” would finally break the scoring drought for a 6-0 Crushers lead.
The score would hold up behind big defensive plays by tackles by Tommy Burchell, Ben Kies, Mikey Dussinger, Logan Connaughton. Mora would add punishing runs to control the clock and take the win.
The Bulldogs lost a defensive battle that will go down as one of the best efforts of the season. The first defensive play of the game set the tone with a big sack for a loss led by Joey Dussich, Ryan Logan, and Andre Vigilante. The remainder of the first half included numerous sacks and tackles for losses led by Callum Hennigan, Vigilante, Evan Beilenson, Cooper Kitselman, Ethan Voehl, Jack Stanley, Colin Marra, Jojo Marchetti, Grayson Neak, Hunter Flores, Campbell Sippel, and Dussich.
Although there were numerous big runs by Beilenson the Bulldogs offense was unable to offensively capitalize in the first half.
The Bulldogs defense stepped up again with a huge hit by Nick Alfaro to stop the extra point. The defense continued to hold the Crushers offense in check with a monster game from Vigilante and big tackles by Logan, Stanley, Cam Dianis, Kitselman, Neak, and Alfaro. The offense continued to gain momentum throughout the game, but in the end the clock ran out.
General Juniors (Blue Team) vs Glenville Mavericks
The Putnam Generals (Blue Team) defeated the Glenville Mavericks 18-0 in a hard fought game on Sunday afternoon.
The Generals offense was once again led by Miles McClary, Ryan Kelly and Aiden Kiger. McClary scored on one of the most impressive runs of the season, carving his way through the defense for a 70 yard touchdown run. Kelly also had an impressive run while Kiger caught passes from quarterback Max Pacifico for long gains. Once again the offensive line was strong for the Generals.
The Generals Blue defense posted another shutout and played tough the entire game. Owen Marks, Nash Goodman led the defensive line while James Mulhearn had an interception and several tackles from his safety position.
GENERALS WHITE 29 BANC 0
The Junior Generals White Team was clicking on all cylinders improving to 3-0 on the season with a 29-0 victory over the BANC Raiders. The game’s first score came on the opening drive. After runs by Luke Golden receptions by Cristian Gabelli, John Sibley capped off the drive with an 8 yard TD run. On the next play Beckett Mollett recovered a fumble on defense. Then one play later Bo Carpenteri ran left for a 20 yard TD. Gabelli then connected with Mollett for the 2 point pass and catch. Later in the 2nd Quarter J.R. Burton found Ford Paulson 8 yards out on a jump ball catch in the front of the end zone. The defense then added a safety right before the half. Mollett had the final score on a 12 yard run, Burton passed to Ryan Curley for the extra point.
The offense ran and passed the ball well throughout the game. Contributing on the ground were Isaac Snedeker, William Ward, Alex Duda, Colt Goodner, and Hayden Marks. The line had a strong push all game led by Cole and Owen Stephens, William Thaler, Fran Colombo, Duda and Thomas Lange.
The defense pitched the shutout thanks to a wall up front and great tackling from the back seven. The group had a number of team tackles for loss and sacks. They were led by Owen and Cole Stephens, Mollett, Golden, Hank Kilcullen, Ford Jackson, Carpenteri, Curley, Golden, Snedeker, and Gabelli. Paulson also added a fumble recovery.
Bantams
Crushers over Bulldogs 13-0
The Crusher defense was especially stingy on Sunday. Ben Sachs and Chris Silver led the effort with six tackles each.
Johnny Bosco had two tackles for loss, including a sack, and a big interception to stop a Bulldog drive late in the second quarter.
Alexander Turano contributed three tackles for loss, including a sack. In all, 16 different Crushers made tackles including important stops by Brooks Woolven and Keegan Zurenda to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
Ben Sachs had a big day on offense, too, rushing for 53 yards and a touchdown. He also completed a halfback pass to Danny Natale on third and long to set up the Crusher’s second score. Tucker Wunderlich scored the Crusher’s first touchdown on a two yard plunge, and Julian Caspi converted the extra point.
First year Crushers Bosco, Silver and Brody Wallace combined for 74 yards on 23 carries down the stretch, including a hard 23 yard run by Silver. Matthew Anderson, Monty Awad, William Kampf and Reno Mattera made key blocks to help the Crusher offense grind out 192 total yards.
Once again, the Bulldog D came to play and after yielding two early scores they came alive in the second half to pitch a shutout. Defensive linemen Adrian Nassa, Adam Beilenson, Niels Oellrich and Levin Steinbeck were faced with an onslaught of runs up the gut but held firm in the trenches. Behind them, linebackers Brody Kitselman and Ashton Swire showcased their aggressive style to ensure the Crushers couldn’t break off any long runs. Defensive backs Ford Gearhart and Jack Zapata sealed the second level showing off their pass defense and open field tackling skills.
Offense was once again tough to come by for the Bulldogs but it wasn’t from a lack of effort. Offensive linemen Gardner Williams, Jack Watson, Ryan Steffens, and Andrew Baxendale battled all game to fend off a strong D line and a barrage of blitzing linebackers. Wideout Spencer Summerton also worked hard keeping the crusher defensive backs in check. QB James Stahl and RB’s Emerson Matsko and Mason Lawrence ran tough and every yard was hard earned. The highlight of the day came on a halfback option from Griffin Trager to WR Crosby Cuneo but unfortunately the long gain did not find pay dirt.
Putnam Generals – 14 – BANC Raiders 6
The Generals Bantam team improved their record to 2-1 on the season with a nail biting 14-6 victory over the BANC Raiders. The Raiders first play was a 50+ yard run that was stopped at the 10 by the Generals defense. The Generals then had a 4 play goal line stop led by their line and backfield of: Grayson Updike, Lawson Caffray, Theodore Renault, Ed Carroll. Other valuable players on defense throughout the game included: Owen Hadley, LIam Schnelle, Liam Corsano, Ivica Kusurin, Luka Kostovic, Tanner Izzo and Luke Bible.
The Generals offense was led by Liam Corsano with solid downfield blocking by Teddy Sullivan and Henry DiCarlo. With great running and blocking from the entire backfield.
Jake Bizzaro opened the game with an outstanding 55 yard run to set the Raiders up in scoring position. However The Raiders offense was unable to capitalize and trailed 14-0 at half. The Raiders didn’t give up and struck pay dirt with a 60 yard TD run by Jake Nalepka who received a crushing block from Luke Gianetti to spring him for his 5 TD on the season.
Bancs defense played well in the 2nd half not allowing a score. However the deficit was too much to overcome. Plays made by Tommy Nalepka, Austin Jozwiak and James Beardsley kept The Generals out of the end zone. The 2-1 Bantam Banc Raiders will face the Bulldogs in their next matchup.