Somers Blowout Aims for a Three-peat

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In the previous three rounds of the playoffs, Somers has trailed early and Coach Anthony DeMatteo wasn’t looking to continue the string in the semifinals of the states. “So the stress all week was to come out flying in the first quarter,” he revealed, and the point was definitely taken.

Done mostly on the ground, the herd rumbled downfield, got into the end zone on the heels of Mason Kelly, and setting the tone for an easy 35-0 victory, the boys are headed to the JMA Dome for a three-peat.

The drive also began with Kelly. A four yard run up the middle, he handed to Miquel Iglesias for the next two plays. The quarterback ran right ten yards for a first down at the 44 and next hit Cam Violante for six yards.

At midfield, Kelly ran right twice and gobbled up 33 more yards. He did stall on the next two runs, so Iglesias made sure his teammate’s effort didn’t go to waste. The QB threw left to Dean Palazzolo on the sideline and Somers stood first and goal from the three.

Not for long, Kelly’s number was called again and breaking the plane at 4:46 had him praising his line first. “The holes were all there tonight,” said the senior.

7-0 after his brother Gavin kicked the extra point, the defense took their turn. They did take a little longer to get off the ground, though. Braden Murphy went ten yards on the ground for a first down at the 44 and then received eight more on Quinn Pikarsky’s strike over the middle.

Now awakened, the defense didn’t take kindly when Jordan Bishop tried to go left. Flung for a loss, the boys were just a little too enthused, and the tackle amounted to a 15 yard personal foul.

First and ten at the 31, Somers would put their aggression to much better use. Cornwall gained only five yards on two plays, and after an incomplete screen pass, fourth down had Bret Kennedy reaping the rewards of the defensive line. “We got a good rush, I saw the ball go up and got the interception,” said the linebacker.

Even so, Cornwall didn’t initially succumb to the momentum shift. Two Kelly runs had Somers facing a third and six, so Iglesias did his number. Back to pass, he scrambled left and got a first down at the 30.

Then Iglesias gave his legs a rest. He hit Violante on the right, and the receiver broke two tackles to go across midfield.

Ending the first, Somers backed up to start. Palazzolo was dropped for a loss and an illegal procedure led to a third and 12. No problem, Iglesias bumped outside, and only the sideline stopped the quarterback at the 21.

First down, Palazzolo got a second chance. Around the left corner, the speedy receiver/running back glided and set his team up with a first and goal.

Nine yards away, Kelly ran three times for the six, and this time centered the acknowledgement for the team’s undersized man in the middle. “His aggression is out of this world. He attacks every single block he makes,” the running back said of Dillon Kuchinsky.

14-0, the defense didn’t give the offense much of a rest. Two runs for three yards, Pikarsky could only heave a prayer when Kennedy and Jaron Faulkner brought down their wrath.

A ten yard punt gave Somers the ball at the Cornwall 43, and the Green Dragons looked extinguished. Instead, the defense forced Somers into a third and eight, and maybe there was still some flame in the belly.

Not a chance, Iglesias and Palazzolo were the ones breathing fire. The QB dropped back, passed the sideline, and Palazzolo pulled up on the defender to snare the high ball. The receiver came down and was tackled at the five. On the next play, Iglesias kept the ball and Somers led 21-0.

Nonetheless, Cornwall wasn’t ready to quit, and had a first and ten at the 28. Sorry, the defense held again, and the second half soon had Cornwall realizing that there was no emptying these trunks.

A three and out, Cornwall gave Somers the ball at the 43 after another short punt. Three plays later, Iglesias and Violante hooked up again. “We knew the defense was manned up on me. So on the back side they caught me open,” the sophomore said after the 37 yard TD reception.

The last touchdown went to Kelly and had the back kicking his heels for Syracuse.

“This is our second home at this point,” the standout concluded. “We’re going to get it done.