By Rob Potter
LAKE HUNTINGTON — October 5, 2010 — It was a showcase for defense on Friday evening as the Sullivan West Bulldogs hosted the James I. O’Neill Raiders in Class C Division I football game.
Only three touchdowns were scored in the contest played on a field still quite damp from the several inches of rain which fell on from Thursday into Friday. SW scored two of those TDs to record a 12-6 victory.
The touchdown which proved to be the game-winner for the Bulldogs was a 16-yard pass from E.J. Franskevicz to Kitt Borowski with 1:30 remaining in the second quarter. Franskevicz lined up as a running back and took a pitch from quarterback Ryan Alsdorf. After taking a couple of steps, Franskevicz set his feet and threw the ball to Borowski, who was wide open downfield.
SW (3-2, 1-0 Div. I) also scored the first TD of the night. The Bulldogs received the opening kickoff and drove 61 yards in seven plays. Tom Mootz capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead with 8:19 remaining in the first quarter.
O’Neill (0-5, 0-1 Div. II) tied the score with an 11-play, 55-yard drive on its subsequent possession. Quarterback Jerry Nasi reached the end zone on a 1-yard run to knot the game at 6-6 with 2:38 to go in the quarter.
Although both teams had the ball several times in the second half, neither offense could reach the end zone due to failed fourth- down conversions, punts and turnovers.
On its last possession, O’Neill took over at its own 20-yard line with 2:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. But the Raiders’ hopes of driving down the field for a potential winning touchdown were dashed when Alsdorf intercepted a pass with 1:28 remaining.
“We have a very young team, but they responded well,” O’Neill Coach Anthony Finochio said. “We took another step forward tonight. I was proud of our defense. Our backs were against the wall a few times. We bent, but we didn’t break.”
DeGori and Alsdorf led the SW rushing attack. DeGori had 10 carries for 47 yards and Alsdorf gained 45 yards on 11 carries.
In addition, Cruz Burgos had six carries for 22 yards and Mootz ran four times for 14 yards.
Alsdorf completed 3 of 9 passes for 34 yards and Franskevicz completed his only pass, which was the 16-yard TD to Borowski.
Borowski finished the game with two receptions for 25 yards. DeGori had one catch for 20 yards and Burgos made one catch for five yards.
DeGori paced the Bulldogs’ defense with 12 tackles. Brandon Wagner made 10.5 tackles and had half a quarterback sack, while Mootz recorded 9.5 tackles and half a sack.
Alsdorf and Anthony Nicoletti each intercepted a Raiders’ pass.
“What hurt us this week was we were only able to get in one day of practice,” SW Coach Ron Bauer said. “We had a tornado watch and a flood watch. Our timing and quickness were off tonight. We dropped some passes and we looked a little tired.
“Our defense played very well tonight, but we have to get better on offense,” he added.
The Bulldogs also benefited from good special teams play.
“E.J. Franskevicz had three punts inside the 15-yard line tonight,” SW Assistant Coach Norm Bauer said. “That’s phenomenal for a high school punter.”