Advertisement

Live updates: Somers faces Whitesboro in Class A state championship game

eugene rapay, rockland/westchester journal news
·6 min read

Somers has climbed back to the top, capturing its second straight Class A state championship after defeating Whitesboro, 35-6. The Tuskers finish the season with a 13-1 record, with their lone loss coming from out-of-state competition.

This was the third straight year the Tuskers have made it to the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse.

Related: How three Section 1 offensive lines paved the way to the state football finals

Quick scouting report on Whitesboro

Whitesboro is making its first appearance in the state finals since 1996.

Everything runs through Dartmouth-committed dual-threat quarterback Kyle Meier, who has completed 65.3% of passes this season for 1,736 yards, 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

He also leads the team in rushing yards, with a whopping 2,262 yards and 36 touchdowns on 197 carries. (11.5 yards per carry)

It will be an imperative for the Tuskers to slow him down. His go-to target is Anthony Dorozynski, who has nearly half of his team's interceptions this season. The senior wide receiver has 43 receptions for 1,056 yards and 16 touchdowns. Brayden Czternastek is another receiver to watch for, with 27 receptions, 521 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Pre-game

Somers has finished initial warm-ups and is heading into locker room.

Both teams are being introduced.

Whitesboro wins the coin toss and elects to receive the opening kick.

The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Check back all game long for updates.

First quarter

Whitesboro prepares to receive the opening kickoff. Warriors begin their drive at their own 38-yard line.

Memphis Ferguson gets a big run to cross midfield, then Kyle Meier connects with Anthony Dorozynski for a pass to the Somers' 33-yard line.

After a few completed short passes, Whitesboro elects to go for it on fourth-and-3. Meier scrambled free for a first down and brought the ball inside the red zone. On the next play, Ferguson took the handoff for what appeared to be an 18-yard touchdown run, but it was called back for a hold on Whitesboro.

Whitesboro is forced to settle for a 35-yard field-goal attempt on its opening drive, and the low kick was blocked and recovered by Somers, with 7:13 remaining in the first quarter.

Tuskers go three-and-out after getting the defensive stop. The punt bounces out at the Whitesboro 36. 5:52 remaining in the quarter.

Whitesboro appeared to be three-and-out, but offsetting penalties gave the Warriors another chance at a third down play. Meier completed a 13-yard pass to Dorozynski to keep the drive alive. On the next play, Somers' Miguel Iglesias swooped in for an interception. Tuskers take over at their own 41 with 4:33 left in the quarter.

Somers feeds Mason Kelly with a series of rushing plays and the Tuskers get a couple first downs to reach the Whitesboro 24.

TOUCHDOWN: After getting stuffed on a read option play, Mac Sullivan connects with Dean Palazzolo for the first touchdown of the game from 24 yards out. Palazzolo becomes the first 1,000-yard receiver in Tusker history. 7-0, Somers, with 1:53 left in the quarter.

END FIRST QUARTER: Somers 7, Whitesboro 0

Second quarter

After forcing Whitesboro to punt, Somers nearly breaks loose for a 77-yard touchdown from Palazzolo, but he was ruled out trying to tiptoe near the sideline at the Somers 43 after a nice catch and run.

Whitesboro bottles up Somers on third-and-short, then fourth-and-1, to take over on the Warriors' 40-yard line.

Whitesboro was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty after picking up a first down, which backed the Warriors up to a first-and-25 situation. Whitesboro was unable to recover and forced to punt. The ball was downed at the Somers 19, but the Warriors were tagged with a personal foul penalty, which moved the Tuskers up to the 34 with 5:09 remaining in the second quarter.

TOUCHDOWN: Mac Sullivan hits Dean Palazzolo on a go-route in stride for a 64-yard touchdown pass. Somers leads, 14-0, with 3:37 remaining in the quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, the return was botched by Whitesboro. The ball bounced off a Warrior and into the hands of Somers, who regains possession at the Whitesboro 39.

Sullivan rolled left and threw a pass to Miguel Iglesias for a 31-yard gain to the Whitesboro 8.

After an encroachment penalty on Whitesboro spotted Somers a couple more yards, the Tuskers went for it on fourth-and-goal and get stuffed at the one-yard line with 1:35 left in the quarter.

With less than a minute in the half, Palazzolo picked up a big gain on a reverse and a late hit moved the Tuskers up to the Whitesboro 12.

TOUCHDOWN: On the first play after the penalty, Mac Sullivan rolled left and zipped a pass to Miguel Iglesias for a 12-yard touchdown. Somers leads, 21-0, with 19 seconds left in the half.

AT THE HALF: Somers 21, Whitesboro 0

Halftime stats

Whitesboro:

  • Kyle Meier: 6-16 passing, 57 yards, one interception, eight carries for 38 yards

  • Warriors defense stopped Somers twice on fourth down in their own territory, including a goal line stand

  • An 18-yard touchdown run by Memphis Ferguson was called back on the game's first drive due to a hold, and a 35-yard field goal attempt on the same series was blocked

Somers:

  • Mac Sullivan: 7-10 passing, 163 yards, three touchdown passes

  • Dean Palazzolo: 3 catches, 105 yards, two touchdowns

  • Miguel Iglesias: 12-yard touchdown reception before halftime, interception on defense

Third quarter

Somers receives the opening kick to begin the second half. It gets returned to the Somers 35.

TOUCHDOWN: After a few solid run plays, Mac Sullivan connected with Dean Palazzolo for a third time. Palazzolo caught the play action pass and went 48 yards, untouched. Somers leads, 28-0, with 9:43 left in the quarter.

Whitesboro goes with a series of quarterback keepers to gain yards and cross midfield.

TOUCHDOWN: After a false start penalty backs Whitesboro up to the Somers 40, Kyle Meier heaved one up to Anthony Dorozynski, who made a catch in double coverage for the Warriors' first touchdown. Somers leads 28-6, with 4:20 left in the quarter.

Whitesboro attempts an onside kick, but it was recovered by Somers at its own 43. However, some great defensive plays by the Warriors forces the Tuskers to punt.

END THIRD QUARTER: Somers 28, Whitesboro 6

Fourth quarter

Whitesboro is forced to punt to start the quarter.

TOUCHDOWN: Somers pieced together another solid drive and opt to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line. Mason Kelly powered his way into the end zone and scored on a second effort. Somers leads, 35-6, with 7:35 left in the game.

Whitesboro's Kyle Meier threw a deep pass into double coverage that got tipped in the air and eventually caught by Somers' Andrew Violante for an interception with 6:14 left in the game.

Somers was forced to punt but got the ball back after stopping Whitesboro on fourth-and-3 inside Tusker territory, with less than three minutes left.

Somers wins the NYSPHSAA Class A title for the second straight season.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Somers NY football vs. Whitesboro: Live updates from Syracuse