Somers is heading back to the Dome, looking to make it back-to-back state football titles
MIDDLETOWN – Here they come!
Again.
Somers erased an early deficit and will be heading back to the Dome after posting a 21-7 win over Niskayuna in the NYSPHSAA Class A East Semifinal on Friday at Middletown High School.
“It’s never a given,” Tuskers senior defensive end Ryan Cole said. “This is something we all work really, really hard for all year. We have the skill and the talent to do it. This is everything coming together.”
Last week: Somers takes another positive step with quarterfinal win over Averill Park
That makes three trips in a row to Syracuse.
“We expected to be here,” Somers senior lineman Nick Crecco said. “We got this done, but there’s more to do.”
The defending state champions also downed Niskayuna in this game a year ago.
A hungry Tuskers defense gave up early points, then shut down the Silver Warriors for three quarters and set up 21 unanswered points. Timely stops is a specialty of this group. A little pregame chatter only added to the fire.
“We played an appropriate game and I’m proud of those guys” Somers coach Anthony DeMatteo said.
The minutes were piling up early, but the defense was able to dig in and stop the first drive of the game on fourth-and-goal from the 13. Niskayuna, though, continued to moved the ball well on its next possession. Cameron Grasso took advantage of an overplay, going 5 yards for a touchdown on a reverse in the final minute of the first quarter.
It was only highlight of the game for the Silver Warriors, who paid a price for untimely penalties and four turnovers.
Mac Sullivan took full advantage of a short field when he powered in from 6 yards out with 4:29 to go in the second quarter. Luke Cukaj added the PAT to make it a 7-7 game. The 40-yard drive took just five plays. Miguel Iglesias gave the Tuskers another short field when he picked off Ethan Gilson with 54 seconds to go in the half. Sullivan got his team in the Red Zone with a 21-yard scramble then rumbled in from the 6 again with four seconds to go.
It was 14-7 at the break.
“There are expectations, but it’s always week to week for us,” Sullivan said. “Niskayuna put some things in the paper about waiting for us and wanting revenge. That’s not how we do things. It’s never about the other team, it’s how we play.”
Somers delivered a statement drive to open the second half.
After struggling to move the ball on the ground before the intermission, the Tuskers pounded the ball. Mason Kelly found enough gaps to keep the drive moving and Sullivan went over from the 3-yard line to cap the 12-play drive.
“That drive was awesome,” Crecco said. “We came out after halftime and pounded the ball down their throats. They said they had a tough defense and we ran over them. That had to be deflating. All the momentum was going our way.”
Last fall, Somers beat the Silver Warriors in this game 35-7 and went blew past Union-Endicott in the state championship game a week later.
Game balls
Sullivan has been playing hurt, but paid a lingering shoulder issue no mind, powering into traffic when Somers needed yards and scoring three times.
There was a different name called on each critical defensive play, which is what makes this unit so dependable week after week. There are playmakers all over the field. Cole, Crecco, Iglesias, Nick Conti, James Balancia, Giuseppe Gioffre, Andrew Violante and Nick Newman were all in on big stops.
By the numbers
Somers (12-1): Sullivan completed 9 of 16 passes for 82 yards. He ran seven times for 42 yards and three touchdowns. … Iglesias had two interceptions. … Kelly totaled 38 yards rushing on the opening drive of the second half after rushing for 14 yards on seven carries before the break. … Balancia had one interception … Dean Palazzolo caught five passes for 56 yards..
Niskayuna (11-2): Ethan Gilson completed 10 of 22 passes for 108 yards. He was intercepted three times. … Isaiah Linyear ran for 36 yards the first time he touched the ball. He gained just 37 yards on his next 16 carries.
They said it
"The best part about playing in the Dome is you're inside where it's warm," Cole said. "I’m getting used to it."
"Oh, dude, it’s always such a great feeling," Sullivan said of another NYSPHSAA championship appearance. "We’ve had the privilege to go the last three years and it gets better every year."
"We felt that if everyone stayed healthy and we did what we were supposed to do, we honestly expected to go back," DeMatteo said.. "I don’t think its healthy to say, 'Dome or bust,' every season to high school kids. We obviously want to win the section, but within the staff, we felt we had the talent to go back."
Up next
Somers plays Section 3 champion Whitesboro for the NYSPHSAA title at 3 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: lohud high school football: Somers books third straight trip to Dome
