By Lori Brown
LIVINGSTON MANOR — September 19, 2006 – The Sullivan West Bulldogs got off to a quick start in Saturday afternoon’s non-league football game versus the host Livingston Manor/Roscoe Devilcats.
LMR won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball. But the Devilcats fumbled the opening kickoff and SW’s Jason Leewe recovered it near the LMR 25-yard line.
Just two minutes later, SW’s Jonathan Figueroa ran for a 10-yard touchdown. Jim Moloney kicked the extra point to give the Bulldogs an early 7-0 lead.
LMR (0-3) was unable to gain any yards on its next possession.
SW (1-2) gained control of the ball and quickly moved up the field. The Bulldogs reached the Devilcats’ 25-yard line before the LMR coaching staff called a timeout.
Following the timeout, Bulldogs’ Jim Moloney passed the ball to Brad Reimer to give the Bulldogs a first-and-goal situation just inside the LMR 10. Two plays later, Will Schlott ran five yards to paydirt. Moloney’s kick was no good, but the Bulldogs had a 13-0 advantage.
The SW defense forced the Devilcats to punt on their next possession. SW’s Donald Cooper caught the ball around midfield and returned the punt to the LMR 10.
On second down, Moloney ran the ball into the end zone. He then booted the ball between the uprights to give SW a 20-0 lead with 1:28 remaining in the first quarter.
LMR began its next possession on its own 17-yard line. Following a two-yard loss on first down, the Devilcats fumbled on second down. Bulldog defender Matt Swendsen recovered the ball at the LMR 15.
On second-and-goal at the Devilcats’ 8-yard line, Moloney handed off to Leewe, who then ran into the end zone. The TD gave SW a 26-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
LMR’s Tyler Schmidt returned the ensuing kickoff about 15 yards to give his team a first-and-10 at its own 32.
Unfortunately for the Devilcats, they fumbled the ball on first down and Leewe recovered it for the Bulldogs at the 23-yard line.
A 20-yard run by Figueroa brought the Bulldogs closer to the end zone.
But the LMR defense sacked Moloney on third down and forced an incomplete pass on fourth down.
The Devilcats then took over on their own 15-yard line. But a penalty and an eight-yard loss on a second down play backed the LMR offense up to its own goal line. On third down, the ball was fumbled and SW’s John Whittaker picked the ball up in the end zone for another Bulldogs’ TD.
Moloney added the extra point to give SW a commanding 33-0 lead.
Neither team was able to score in the remaining minutes of the quarter, so the Bulldogs held that 33-point lead at halftime.
SW opened the third quarter by moving toward the LMR goal line.  The Bulldogs gained 45 yards on three plays before the Devilcats called a timeout.
Seven minutes into the quarter, Schlott scored on a 4-yard run. Moloney tacked on the extra point to make it 40-0 contest.
In the remaining moments of the third quarter, LMR quarterback Tyler Schmidt made some good passes to his teammates, but SW’s defense would not let up.
During the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs again moved down the field. But LMR pushed them back and did not let them score.
By the time the Devilcats regained possession of the ball, they were unable to score a touchdown. SW’s Patrick Knack intercepted a Schmidt pass to stop the final Devilcats’ drive.
The Bulldogs then ran out the clock to record their first victory of the season.
SW Coach Ron Bauer said that his team was improving.
“They blocked well, executed the offense, and played a good game,” he said. “They were in a positive frame of mind.
“I defensively made changes and they played well and now we are getting ready for next week’s game,” Bauer added.
The Bulldogs ran the ball 37 times for 239 yards. The rushing leaders were Leewe, who had eight carries for 72 yards, Dan Figueroa, who ran seven times for 66 yards, and Jonathan Figueroa, who gained 63 yards on six carries.
“I give the credit to Sullivan West, they dominated the game,” LMR Co-Coach Fred Ahart said. We had some errors and fumbles, which lead to early scores. They had momentum early on, which continued over the rest of the game.
The veteran coach praised his team’s perseverance.
“The kids kept on playing,” added Ahart, who guides the team with fellow Co-Coach Kevin Clifford. “This year we only have two seniors and many new players.”