Somers Moves onto Semifinals with 28-9 Defeat of Averill Park

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On Friday November 22, Somers traveled to Shenendehowa High School for a rematch of last year’s regional final versus Averill Park, and for the third time in three games, the Tuskers did not score first. “People might think we are regressing,” said running back Mason Kelly. But for Somers, trailing is just another way forward

“We know we are going to respond,” said the senior, and this time, 29 consecutive points made for a 29-8 victory.

The first possession in this case might have had Somers still on the Taconic. “It was a long bus ride,” said Brett Kennedy, who won the defensive player of the game award.

Averill Park, on the other hand, was already revved up. Jacob Phelps ran 12 yards to the 40, Blake Kilgallon took the keeper another seven, and then connected with Drew Canaday.

At the Somers 33, Phelps got around the corner to the 17, and after Somers was offside, Kilgallon ran the ball in for the touchdown. 9:43 left in the 1st, Averill converted the two point conversion, and the 8-0 score gave the Tuskers their turn.

One first down was all they managed, and there was anxiousness in the small Somers crowd. A three and out forced by the defense certainly alleviated matters, though.

Capped off by a Brett Kennedy and Justin Hidalgo third down stop, the offense took over 46 yards away. After Kelly remained in neutral on a no gain, Miguel Iglesias down shifted for a 26 yard run.

Unfortunately, Somers wasn’t quite ready to run yet. Iglesias was picked off and Averill was still sitting pretty.

Not for long, the Somers defense remained in gear. Luca Gambardella and Jaron Faulkner made big tackles on the sequence and gave the keys to the offense.

They weren’t ready to turn the ignition yet, and three plays later, back to the sidelines the boys idled. Only three plays to wait, the offense rolled out the usual suspects. Iglesias hit Cam Violante for a 19 yard gain to the Averill 48, and Kelly followed with 15 more on the ground.

Guilty as charged too, Dean Palozzolo was ready to do his thing. He received a sideline pass for an 11 yard gain, and after Kelly and Iglesias got Somers to the 12 on runs, the receiver hauled in the TD on the left.

Gavin Kelly’s extra point pulled Somers within one at 5:53, and it was Averill’s turn to answer. First Jacob Phelps bumped outside for 21 yard gain to the 43, and on 3rd and nine, Kilgallon found Austin Rouleau in a crowd.

First down at the Somers 42, Averill was measuring up, and after Phelps converted on fourth and one, the Warriors were definitely in range with 65 seconds to go. But the Tusker defense had a yardstick of their own. Three straight no gains, and Averill’s 38 yard field goal attempt at the buzzer fell short.

Last gasp, Somers quickly made sure, and Palozzolo put on the first choke hold. He returned the kickoff to the 39, went around the corner for 22 more and received a screen right for a ten yard gain to the 29.

A breather earned, Kelly didn’t return the favor for Averill. Three bruising runs had Somers second and eight from the 16, and began the onslaught of second half business as usual for the runner, according to Ben Harris. “It’s tiring. We wear them down play after play. They can’t handle it,” said the offensive lineman.

Throw in Iglesias’ ground game and the quarterback’s subsequent TD run at 8:18 had Kelly gladly sharing the wealth. “That’s what makes our offense so dangerous,” said the runner. “They have to be ready for both of us.”

Averill wasn’t dead yet, though. After a pair of short runs by Phelps and Kilgallon, Canaday ran left to the 43, and Kilgallon faked a handoff for 17 yards to the 40.

No further, Faulkner stopped Kilgallon on a quarterback draw, and two more no gains by the signal caller gave Somers the ball back on downs.

Still, the Averill defense kept their team in the game, and three plays later, Somers was forced to punt. 1:48 left in the third, the Averill offense didn’t quite follow suit. On a half back option, the ball went up for grabs, and Aiden Coolican came down with the interception.

Unfortunately, the Somers joy ride was put on hold when two penalties derailed their drive. No problem, the defense took out their noise makers. A Faulkner sack set up a three and out, and the offense was ready to whoop it up.

Starting at the 15, Iglesias got ten on the ground and then let Jason Whipple do the leg work. The sophomore received right and did a dance number to the Averill 47.

The double threat next, three runs by Kelly and two by Iglesias had Averill chasing and Somers stood at the 14, Of course, with the help of the offensive line, the mileage on Averill’s pain-odometer was no accident “Toward the second half, they stop firing out as much,” said Dillon Kuchinsky. “They’re like, holy crap, I don’t want to block against these guys.”

Even so, Somers faced a third and six, and the time proved right to scoot around. Iglesias flipped the reverse to Palozzolo, and he landed at the seven. Two plays later, Iglesias scored the keeper at 5:45, and a little electricity allowed Somers to put on the finishing touch.

Iglesias hit an open Palozzolo for a 70 yard touchdown, and the victory had Kuchinsky putting on the beating where it belonged. We have heart, the center concluded, “You know who taught us that and nails it down, (Assistant Coach) Vinny Defilippo. And I also want to give a shout out to all our coaches.”