By Rob Potter
KINGSTON — November 2, 2004 – Sullivan West scored three touchdowns in three different ways in the second quarter of Saturday’s Section IX Class B semifinal game versus New Paltz at Dietz Stadium in Kingston.
The Bulldogs scored on a blocked punt, a run and a pass to build a 21-0 halftime lead. And the powerful SW defense made sure that lead held throughout the third and fourth quarters.
By the time the scoreboard clocked ticked down to 0:00 at the end of the fourth quarter, SW had earned 21-0 victory and a spot in this Saturday night’s Class B championship game. The Bulldogs, now 8-0 and ranked 15th in Class B in the New York State Sportswriters’ Association state football poll that was released on October 24, will play undefeated Marlboro (9-0) in the Class B title game.
Marlboro was ranked sixth in that Oct. 24 NYSSA poll and defeated John S. Burke Catholic High School 49-6 in last Saturday’s other Class B Semifinal game at Dietz. The kickoff for the contest between the Section IX Class B Division I champion Iron Dukes and Section IX Class B Division II champion Bulldogs is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday at Dietz Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter in Saturday’s semifinal, the Bulldogs wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the second quarter. New Paltz was driving into SW territory when the Bulldogs forced the Huguenots into a third-and-8 situation. As New Paltz quarterback Robert Marks dropped back to pass, SW defensive end John Kitson broke loose from the blocker in front of him and hit Marks hard enough to jar the football loose. The pigskin did not lay on the artificial turf for long, however, as fellow Bulldog defensive end Bryan Lopez picked it up and raced 45 yards to the end zone.
Joe Meyer then booted the ball through the uprights to give SW a 7-0 lead with 9:51 remaining in the quarter.
On its next possession, New Paltz moved to the 50-yard line before facing a fourth-and-9 play. With the Huguenots in punt formation, SW’s Jimmy Erlwein rushed in and blocked the punt. Erlwein then fell on the ball at the New Paltz 27-yard line.
On first-and-10, SW running back Scott Peters swept to the right side. He turned the corner and ran into the end zone to give the Bulldogs a 13-0 advantage. Meyer booted the PAT to make it a 14-0 contest.
After the Bulldog defense forced another New Paltz punt, Meyer and the SW offense took over on the Huguenots’ 48-yard line with 3:20 remaining until halftime. Three plays later, Meyer connected with Peters on a screen pass that became a 38-yard touchdown play. Meyer then kicked the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 21-0 lead.
SW moved inside the New Paltz 20-yard line twice in the second half, but those drives were stymied by penalties and an interception by the Huguenots’ Jonathan Coicou.
“Sullivan West played a great game,” New Paltz Coach Tom Tegeler said. “They’re good, solid players with a good coach. We played them two years ago when a lot of their kids were sophomores and they were a good team then.”
Tegeler also called the Bulldogs “the most physical team I’ve seen in my eight years here [at New Paltz].”
Peters was named the Offensive MVP of the game. He ran the ball four times for 73 yards and caught two passes for 63 yards.
Justin Martino of New Paltz was named the Defensive MVP of the game.
Erlwein added 114 yards rushing on 11 carries and Corey Hornicek ran four times for 12 yards.
Meyer completed 4-of-9 passes for 124 yards.
“The defense played tough,” SW Coach Ron Bauer said. “The linebackers did a nice job.”
Bauer also noted that it was nice to have an offense with several ballcarriers. Peters, Erlwein, Hornicek, Steve Daley and Orion Darder all rushed the ball during the contest.
“It makes a big difference and it’s an advantage for us,” Bauer said.