By Rob Potter
ROSCOE — October 17, 2000 – Sullivan West ran out to a 28-point first-half lead and cruised to a 43-12 victory over host Roscoe Saturday in a non-league clash.
Junior running back Kevin Mullally led the way for the Bulldogs, rushing 17 times for 235 yards and three touchdowns. Mullally had scoring runs of 26 and 55 yards in the first half and added a 51-yard scamper in the third quarter.
Thanks to Mullally and fellow running backs Paul Barrett and John Compton, Sullivan West (5–2) enjoyed a 28-6 halftime lead. Following Mullally’s 26-yard score in the first quarter, Compton (101 yards rushing on the afternoon) busted up the middle of the line for a two-yard touchdown plunge with 9:54 left in the second quarter.
After an interception by Bulldog defensive lineman Joe Hernandez set up Sullivan West deep in Roscoe territory, Barrett, who rushed for 40 yards in the game, ran left for a 13-yard touchdown. A bad snap on the PAT kick was picked up by Sullivan West quarterback/kicker Bill Reich-mann, who ran the ball into the corner of the end zone for two points and a 22-0 lead.
On its ensuing possession after the second Mullally score, Roscoe (3–4) answered back. On a first-and-10 play at their own 37-yard-line, Blue Devil quarterback Shawn Hendrick-son faked a handoff to running back Brian Ryder and handed the ball to end Brian Ballard on a nifty reverse play. Ballard then raced to the corner, weaved back to the middle of the field and outran defenders for a 63-yard score.
Mullally’s third quarter score gave the Bulldogs a 35-6 lead and Compton added an eight-yard touchdown and subsequent two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter for a 43-6 advantage.
Roscoe’s other touchdown of the day came on a 22-yard scoring strike from Hendrickson to Jeff Bury with 5:22 remaining in the game.
“We ran the ball well today and had good blocking,” Sullivan West coach Ron Bauer said. “And we had a tough defense. Overall, we’re playing well all around, we just have to keep it going.”
Roscoe coach Fred Ahart noted that Sullivan West “deserved the credit today.”
“They’re a good team with a well-rounded offense,” Ahart added.
As for his own squad, Ahart said that the Ballard reverse and Hendrickson to Bury touchdown were both great plays.
“At times, we moved the ball well today,” the veteran coach commented. “But we also put ourselves in holes with penalties, especially in the first half. And against a good team like Sullivan West, you just can’t do that.”
Ahart added that he and his team will try to not to linger about the loss and focus their energy on this Saturday’s opponent, Tri-Valley.
A win over the Bears, a fellow Class D team, may — depending on how the remainder of the regular season pans out — enable the Blue Devils to play in the Class D championship game at Kingston’s Dietz Stadium.