Football: Schultz runs for 2 TDs, throws for another as Eastchester beats Brewster 21-0
BREWSTER — You can only be hit with so many big penalties and expect to win.
That is if you don't have an offense fully capable of making big plays in big spots.
That's what Eastchester relied on Saturday night in a 21-0 win over Brewster — that and a defense that has now allowed just 14 points in its last four games, while the offense has scored 124.
Eagle QB Aidan Schultz had a big game, running for two 1-yard scores and throwing for a 79-yard TD that essentially sealed things with 7:40 to play.
The loss dropped Brewster, which came into the game off successive shutouts of Pelham and Fox Lane, to 2-2 on the season.
Eastchester, which has been on fire since losing its opener by two points to upstate Averill Park, is now 4-1.
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Key plays
Eastchester got on the board in the second quarter after taking the ball over on its own 19 in the first quarter after a Bear field goal attempt missed left.
Its drive contained big gains and big penalties, including successive calls for blocking in the back and holding.
Those penalties were overcome with Schultz running for 11 yards before hitting a double-teamed Kieran McCloskey for a 27-yard gain to the Bear 3.
Two plays later and Schultz had his first score. and Jerome Harrigan booted his first of three PATs.
The score remained 7-0 entering the third quarter when Brewster came close to knotting things after Chase Prohazka recovered a fumble on Eastchester's 45-yard line.
With a fourth-and-seven , Kenny Dillon, who alternated at QB for the Bears with Kevin Fox, hit Trey Ficara with a pass down the left sideline to the Eagle 13.
Three plays later and Brewster was at the Eagle 1.
But a false start, a run for no gain, a ball off a receiver's hands in the end zone and a short pass left Brewster with a fourth-and-goal from the 3 and Alex Titto ended what would be Brewster's best scoring chance, wrapping up Fox on a keeper at the 2.
That goal-line stop not only kept Brewster off the board but led to the Eagles' second score. On Eastchester's second play of the drive, Jaden Bruner showed why he's such a threat, getting outside and running 62 yards down the right sideline to the Bear 29.
A couple of plays late,r it was Titto who got outside the Brewster D, running 24 yards to the 1 to lead to Schultz's second 1-yard TD carry.
Brewster was able to move the ball to midfield early in the fourth quarter but on a third-and-10, McCloskey recorded his first of two fourth-quarter interceptions.
The first pick preceded the game's biggest play, a Schutz-to-Mike Diaz 79-yard TD hookup.
Diaz was all alone when he pulled in that pass. The score came with 7;40 left to play.
They said it
The catch was the senior Diaz's longest in his two seasons on varsity and he credited assistant coach Tony Panio with the play's design.
Of the win, Diaz said, "This sets us up in a really good spot for playing Harrison," the Eagles' next opponent.
Schultz noted Diaz wasn't his primary receiver but he was told to look for him if the Bear cornerback reacted a certain way to the play.
Mulvihill, who chalked up the 79-yard TD play to blown coverage ("It happens," he said.), was happy with Colin LaMoreaux's play on both sides of the ball.
LaMoreaux, who had an outstanding, touchdown-saving tackle in the Bears' 7-0 win over Fox Lane, made several tackles for Eagle losses and had several receptions, one going for 19 yards with him breaking tackles and dragging defenders along the way.
Mulvihill was also impressed with Schultz, calling him "very tough."
Schultz, who wasn't shy in taking the ball and pounding up the middle for 10 or more yards, said Brewster's tough inside defense made his team look outside, where it had more success.
"They're a very physical team. Running inside wasn't easy," he said. "They really close the gaps. They're very disciplined inside."
Eagle coach Fred DiCarlo, who lamented his team's penalties but was happy to have another win, agreed with Schultz.
"We felt inside they have big, strong players but we liked our speed to the outside," he said.
Up next
The Bears will play at 4-1 Somers, which is undefeated in Section 1 games, Friday in a 6:30 p.m. start.
Eastchester will play 3-2 Harrison (a 21-0 loser Saturday to Somers) Friday at 7p.m.
Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track & field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, basketball, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at @HaggertyNancy.
The win solidifies its standing as one of Section 1's top Class A teams — one that Brewster coach Ed Mulvihill thinks will give other teams "fits" due to its speed, and dual-threat QB.
What it means
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Football: Eastchester's Schultz with 2 TD runs, one TD pass in 21-0 win
