Dobbs Ferry football grinds out 12-7 win over Bronxville in big Class C matchup
BRONXVILLE - Dobbs Ferry and Bronxville both have high goals this season, so Saturday's matchup had a playoff-type feel. They even got heavy rain for dramatic effect to help set the stage.
There was the downpour, but Dobbs Ferry also weathered the momentous storms and swings on the gridiron, grinding out a 12-7 road victory over the Broncos.
"These guys have been working really hard, a long journey that we started back a long time ago, so for these guys, I'm happy with the work they put in to come out here and really get what felt like a nice team win today against a good football team," Dobbs Ferry coach Joe Cox said. "Thought we showed a lot of heart and a lot of resilience in the second half, when some things didn't go our way."
In a low-scoring, tightly-contested battle, the Eagles were able to get timely contributions and big plays from across the lineup.
"This is our first game in two weeks, we had a bye week last week, so it was a couple long, hard weeks," Dobbs Ferry quarterback Kevin Hartnett said. "We were definitely eager to get back here and we wanted to win."
They held a narrow 6-0 halftime lead, thanks to a long 15-play drive that was topped off by an early second-quarter touchdown by Drexel Lewis, who caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Hartnett.
The Eagles struck again midway through the third quarter. After a couple of empty-handed possessions by both teams, Khamrin Holman broke free for a 67-yard run, which helped set up Hartnett's touchdown pass to Elan Messeri for an 18-yard score.
Bronxville didn't go away quietly and adjusted well late. It trailed 12-0 going into the fourth quarter, but closed the gap.
Brian Formato capped a 14-play drive with a 22-yard touchdown run to make it a 12-7 game, with 10:44 remaining.
"We made a couple minute adjustments on defense, did a great job," Bronxville head coach Patsy Manganelli said of the Broncos' second half. "Offensively, we just had to lock in a little more and attack it. Everybody knows we're gonna run the ball and we did that well. Sophomore Brian Formato, he's gonna be a really good back and he showed at the end he's gonna have a bright future."
The Broncos built off the momentum and their defense started to slow down the Eagles' running game and get stops.
They mustered one last drive into Eagle territory, but Patrick McGoey came up with an interception that helped seal the victory. The Eagles also got a key fourth-down conversion on fourth-and-two from their own 40-yard line, which helped keep the clock rolling.
"We had guys stepping in all over the place making big plays, doing a lot of great things for us," Dobbs Ferry two-way senior Marty O'Leary said. "There was a lot of adversity we had today, but we want to build off of this. There's a lot of good things, but still a lot we got to work on."
What it means
Dobbs Ferry will look forward to taking on another Class C challenger next week, when it plays Valhalla on Friday night. As for the Broncos, they'll get a bye week before retaking the field against Haldane on Sept. 30. The Broncos have now lost their last two games by five or fewer points.
It was also Dobbs Ferry and Bronxville's first game since the COVID-impacted Spring 2021 season, when the Broncos were previously in Class C. The Eagles got to enjoy a happier trip to Bronxville, as their last time on the Broncos' turf ended with a 48-7 result back in 2021.
Game balls
Dobbs Ferry offensive line: They might have been smaller than the Broncos upfront, but they paved the way for the Eagles to go to work. It was a balanced effort offensively, with different players chipping in and all in all, the Eagles amassed 325 yards of total offense thanks to their help.
Dobbs Ferry defense: They kept the Broncos off the board in the first half and they buckled down to get big stops from a variety of players when they needed them. It also helped having a couple of turnovers forced by Elan Messeri and Patrick McGoey. Marty O'Leary logged a team-high eight tackles.
By the numbers
Dobbs Ferry (2-0): Kevin Hartnett threw touchdown passes to Drexel Lewis (8-yard) and Elan Messeri (18 yards). Harnett also ran 11 times for 84 yards. Khamrin Holman tallied 147 yards on 13 carries. Messeri forced a fumble and recovered it on defense. Patrick McGoey also made an interception. Marty O'Leary led the team with eight tackles. The Eagles outgained the Broncos, 325-172.
Bronxville (1-2): Brian Formato gave the Broncos a spark in the second half, rushing nine times for 67 yards and a touchdown. Davis Patterson had 61 yards on nine carries. Wyatt Gravier had an interception on defense.
They said it
"At the end of the day, it's not how you start, it's how you finish," Manganelli said. "It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. At the end of the day, we want to be there at the end of November and we'll do those things to make it right to put us in the best position to be there."
"It means a lot to them to get their job done, because they know everyone's all counting on each other," Cox said. "Defensively, we had big plays from a bunch of guys and a lot of guys just dug their heels in. Offensively, when we needed chunk plays late and a couple of big first downs, we were able to get them. I felt like they really dug in and banded together, and I'm proud of them for that."
Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: lohud high school football: Dobbs Ferry grinds out win over Bronxville
