By Rob Potter
JEFFERSONVILLE — October 10, 2000 – The key to the outcome of Saturday’s non-league football game between Livingston Manor and host Sullivan West could be described by just two words — second quarter.
Sullivan West (4–2) scored three touchdowns in that 12-minute stanza to take a commanding 28-6 lead into the locker room. The Bulldogs maintained their momentum in the second half, defeating Manor by a final score of 34-12.
The quarter began well enough for Manor (2–4), as the Wildcats answered a Sullivan West first quarter score (a 22-yard run by tailback Kevin Mullally). Less than two minutes into the second quarter, Wildcat quarterback Ryan Carlson sent a frozen rope of a pass to receiver Jon Williams in the end zone to cut the Bulldog lead to 7-6.
But then Mullally blocked the PAT kick and Sullivan West scored three touchdowns in 10-plus minutes.
Following an exchange of punts, the Bulldogs took over at their own 36-yard line. Three plays later Mullally burst up the middle and through the Manor defense for a 28-yard scoring scamper.
Manor then fumbled on the first play of its subsequent possession and Sullivan West recovered the pigskin at the Wildcat 48. Bulldog quarterback Bill Reichmann then found receiver Jeff Peters open down the right sideline. After grabbing Reichmann’s pass, Peters outran a pair of Manor defenders to the end zone. Reichmann kicked the PAT for a 20-6 advantage.
Reichmann and Peters combined for another touchdown toss less than a minute before halftime. On a first-and-10 play from the Manor 49, Reichmann hit Peters with a solid throw and Peters again raced to paydirt. The pair then combined on the two-point conversion pass for a 28-6 lead.
“The second quarter was probably the best we’ve played offensively all year,” Sullivan West coach Ron Bauer said. “Offensively, it was the best game we had all year.”
Sullivan West opened up a 34-6 lead early in the third quarter when Paul Barrett returned a Manor punt 37 yards for a touchdown.
The Wildcats answered on their next possession on a clever call on a second-and-15 play near midfield. Running back George Thomas took a handoff from Carlson and ran left, causing the Sullivan West defense to move to its right in pursuit. Thomas then stopped and threw a lateral pass back to Carlson, who had plenty of open field in front of him. Carlson raced down the sideline for a 59-yard score.
Still down by 22 points, Manor attempted an on-side kick. The Wildcats recovered, but in the scramble for the loose ball Carlson suffered an injury. After lying on the turf for a several minutes, Carlson got up and walked around. But he then sat down on the stretcher that had been brought onto the field and was taken to the hospital by ambulance as a precaution.
It was the latest in a series of unfortunate injuries that have hampered the Wildcats all season. Due to the rash of injuries, Manor forfeited its September 28 game versus Highland.
“Having that week off wasn’t good,” Manor coach Scott Branning commented. “We played like we had a week off. And then when Ryan got hurt, we were kind of helpless.”
Branning noted, however, that his team played well at times in the contest.
“It’s tough, we’re usually playing someone bigger than us,” he said. “We could play (more competitively) with DV or Jeff. But it’s very tough to play DV and Jeff.”
Mullally paced the Bulldog rushing attack, running 14 times for 105 yards and a pair of TDs.