By Rob Potter
MONTICELLO — October 5, 2010 — The Monticello Panthers celebrated Homecoming on Saturday afternoon by defeating the visiting Goshen Gladiators, 42-20, in a Class A football game at Ed Kennedy Field.
After falling behind 12-0 in the second quarter, Monticello (4-1, 3-0 Class A) scored 42 straight points on its way to the victory.
Goshen (1-4, 0-3 Class A) took a 6-0 lead when quarterback Quinn Carpenter ran for a 9-yard touchdown with 2:12 left in the first quarter.
Carpenter extended the Gladiators’ lead to 12-0 with an 80-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter.
But Monticello answered immediately as Shane Jackson returned the subsequent kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown. Angelo Niforatos then kicked the extra point to bring the Panthers within five points at 12-7.
After forcing the Gladiators to punt on their next possession, Monticello proceeded to march 60 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Jackson capped the drive with a 1-yard run. Niforatos’ PAT kick was good, which gave the Panthers a 14-12 lead.
In the third quarter, the Panthers scored twice to push their advantage to 29-12. With 5:25 to go in the quarter, Jackson ran for a 2-yard TD. Jose Cruz ran for an 8-yard touchdown with 42 seconds on the clock.
Monticello wide receiver Anthony Gray scored his team’s final two TDs in the fourth quarter on passes from Jackson. With 10:40 to play, Gray outjumped a Gladiator defender to make a great leaping catch in the corner of the end zone to complete a 41-yard connection. Then with 4:20 remaining, Gray made another outstanding reception in the end zone on an 18-yard pass play.
Goshen scored its last touchdown of the day on a 1-yard run by Chris Ferrelli with 54 seconds left.
Following the game, Goshen Coach Chip Elliott praised Carpenter and his entire team.
“He’s a good athlete and a hard-nosed kid,” Elliott said of Carpenter.
“We played a full 48 minutes of football today,” Elliott added. “That’s been questionable the past couple of weeks. Our kids played hard out there today. There was no quit in them and that’s all I can ask of them.”
Elliott also complimented the Panthers.
“They have a lot of weapons and a lot of speed,” he said. “Shane Jackson is one of the fastest kids I’ve seen going from zero to 60 miles per hour. He takes two steps and he’s at full speed.”
Jackson rushed nine times for 94 yards and completed 5 of 11 passes for 99 yards.
Cruz led the Monticello rushing attack with 96 yards on 14 carries.
Gray had two catches for 59 yards, while Chandler Williams made two receptions for 16 yards and Bobby Wagner had one reception for 14 yards.
Mistah Alli and Sean Reuss each had a quarterback sack to lead the Monticello defense. Alli also recovered two fumbles. In addition, Wagner made an interception.
Monticello Coach Matt Buddenhagen noted that Jackson’s kickoff return for a touchdown gave his team some momentum.
“Shane made a big play and the other players responded to it,” Buddenhagen said.
Buddenhagen also noted his team played better in the second half.
“Jose Cruz ran the ball well and our blockers moved some people around,” he said.
However, Buddenhagen knows that the Panthers need to improve because their next two games are against fellow Class A teams Cornwall and Wallkill.
“We will need to bring our ‘A’ game because those are two of the best teams in the state,” he said. “We need to get better every week. We are still making mistakes.”
Buddenhagen reminded his players to enjoy playing the game.
“I tell these guys that they are the luckiest people around because they get to play football,” he said. “A lot of people in the stands and our coaches would love to strap on a helmet and get out on this field again.”
Notes: Prior to the game, the Monticello Chamber Choir sang the national anthem as several Monticello Central School officials gathered at midfield. Superintendent Dr. Pat Michel, High School Principal Arleene Siegel, Assistant High School Principal Virginia Morse, Board of Education members Bob Kunis and Stacey Sharoff and Board of Education student member and Student Council President Taylor Reardon remained at the 50-yard line as a moment of silence was held for Raymond Chase and Matt Strong. Chase, a member of the Monticello Class of 2010, passed away last week. Strong, who was a bus driver for Monticello Central School, passed away on Labor Day Weekend.
One of the Homecoming festivities prior to the game was a Powder Puff football game featuring girls who are members of the Monticello senior class. The Purple Panthers defeated the Pink Flamingos, 12-6.
Take 57, a Monticello-based band, performed at halftime.