By Rob Potter
ROSCOE — October 3, 2006 — The Webutuck Warriors made history on Saturday afternoon at Roscoe Central School.
After starting its varsity football program in 2004, Webutuck was winless that season and in 2005. The Warriors began this year with four losses, including a 16-12 defeat by Eldred on September 23 in which the Warriors had an early 12-0 advantage.
On Saturday, however, Webutuck (1-4) grabbed a 21-0 lead at halftime and went on to post a 28-6 victory against the host Livingston Manor/Roscoe Devilcats.
After a scoreless first quarter, Webutuck’s Andrew Durant scored on a 36-yard run with 10:21 left in the second quarter. Cody Cafiero then kicked the ball through the uprights to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead.
Webutuck added to its advantage less than a minute later. On the first play of the LMR possession following Durant’s TD, Ryan Richardson picked off a pass by Devilcats’ quarterback Tyler Schmidt to give the Warriors a first-and-10 at the LMR 22.
Tiere Spruill then ran for a touchdown and Cafiero added the PAT kick to make it 14-0.
Cafiero, who is also the Warriors’ QB, scored on an 11-yard run in the final minute of the first half.
Spruill scored the final Webutuck TD of the day midway through the fourth quarter on a 41-yard run.
After that touchdown, LMR (0-5) took over near midfield. On a third-and-eight play from the Webutuck 46-yard line, Schmidt pitched the ball to Mike Hendrickson, who found some running room down the right sideline. Hendrickson eluded a couple of would-be tacklers and raced to the end zone to give the Devilcats their first touchdown since the team’s season-opening game against Deposit on September 2.
Following the win, Webutuck Coach Doug Winslow said that he was so happy for his players, all of whom started out with him in 2004.
“I’m very proud of them,” he said. “They kept working hard and didn’t quit.”
In his postgame comments, LMR Co-Coach Fred Ahart was quick to praise the Warriors for their first-ever ‘W.’
“Congratulations to Webutuck,” he said. “They played very well today.”
The veteran coach then noted that the Devilcats were hurt by a couple of key penalties.
For example, on LMR’s first possession of the game, the team drove to the Warriors’ 8-yard line on 16 plays. But on fourth-and-one, the Devilcats were flagged for illegal procedure. After moving back five yards, LMR tried to convert the first down, but an incomplete pass turned the ball back over to the Warriors.
Ahart, however, remains optimistic that the Devilcats can alleviate some of their mistakes and keep building on some positives, such as their fourth quarter TD.
“All we can do is keep practicing hard and working to get better,” he commented.