Somers Puts Another State Championship on the Dotted Line

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On Friday Dec 6, Somers set down in the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University and lifting the state championship trophy was the main itinerary. Twenty-Seven consecutive first half points seemed to have the Tuskers coming in for a landing. But Whitesboro fought back to within ten, and the defending champs had to get back into the grind with 3:21 left in the third.

Miguel Iglesias, Mason Kelly, Dean Palazzolo, Cam Violante and the whole offensive line, the boys ate up plenty of clock and chowed down a 68 yard drive. Mostly putting the game in the bag, the Tuskers hoisted for the 3rd year in a row, and Coach Anthony DeMatteo was beaming. “I’m extremely proud to be part of this,” he assured.

The game began with the same efficiency. Bruising runs by Kelly, elusive keepers by Iglesias and crazy leg connections to Palazzolo, the standard game plan gobbled up ground and was good for a first and goal. But Whitesboro held firm and forced a fourth and five.

Going for the six, the gamble looked good when Iglesias put the ball in the hands of an open Will Marcus. Unfortunately, the receiver dropped the ball, and the defense was left to pick up the pieces.

Unterred, they did more than scarf up the scraps. After one Whitesboro first down, Memphis Ferguson dropped back and some sure hands waited.

They just happened to belong to the Somers quarterback. Iglesias came down with the ball on the Tusker 36, and the offense returned with a carbon copy of the first drive.

Two runs by Kelly, one by Iglesias and a screenplay each to Kelly and Palazzolo had Somers at the 28. Violante's turn, the receiver was all outstretched hand on Iglesias' strike over the middle and while the catch was no surprise, the player was a welcome one this year. “Cam is a sophomore and has become one of our best contributors. He has sure hands and makes big plays,” said DeMatteo.

Only two more needed, the QB did the honors. Six yards to the one and then the keeper with five seconds left in the quarter.

Gavin Kelly made it 7-0, and he wouldn't have to wait long for another try. On third down from the 30, Ryan Brush stepped into the passing lanes, and the defense had its second interception. A holding penalty on the return started the drive at the 50, but the backtrack was quickly forgotten.

First Iglesias hit Jackson Whipple for 8 yards, and after two no gains, Kelly moved the line and then the chains. The dirty work done, the back rumbled to the 25, and on the next play, Palazzolo popped outside for the a 13-0 score at 8:37

One more on the extra point, Whitesboro gave another away. On third down from the 28, the Warriors fumbled, Logan Ruby scooped the oblong and ran it in for six more.

Seven on the extra point, Whitesboro turned over again. Bret Kennedy had the pick this time, ran to the one, and Iglesias made it 27-0 on the next play.

Not this time for Gavin Kelly, the place kicker would get to redeem himself and in a big way. But first Whitesboro made themselves heard.

After another Somers drive deep into Whitesboro territory, Tyler Thorngren kept the game from completely going off the rails. The cornerback made a diving interception in the end zone, and the offense took the cue.

Ferguson hit two long passes to the Somers 30, and Connor McDonald got around the corner on the next play to get his team on the scoreboard.

The Whitesboro defense then followed the offense’s good work and forced Somers into punt formation. But another miscue was next. A roughing the kicker gave the ball back, and Somers reached the 25 on a Palazzolo run and screen reception and an Iglesias keeper.

Only 10 seconds remaining, Coach DeMatteo deferred the Hail Mary and pressed his palms together for Kelly's foot. Up went the kick, and there was room to spare on the 42 yard field goal.

Whitesboro ignored the momentum, though, and even more difficult, Ferguson feigned the same ignorance of the Somers pass rush. With the line crashing down on him, the QB completed a 26 yard pass to Thorngren and set his team up at the Somers 44.

Shaking the onslaught off, the QB pushed the line down to the 33 and burst through two plays later for a first down at the 11. Earning a breather, John Paul DeSantis picked up the next six yards, and Ferguson finished what he started. A five yard touchdown run, and a 30-14 game resulted.

Two drives and two scores, Somers had themselves a game. Now it was Palozzolo's turn not to care. He took the kickoff in the air, emerged from the morass, and two stepped the sidelines and a series of pursuing defenders.

Stopped at the Whitesboro 31, DeMatteo admitted to the unexpected. “I’m surprised that they kicked it to him,” he revealed.

Even so, a holding penalty set the drive back. But Iglesias and Kelly were another matter. The running back got the first to the 18, and the quarterback scored on the next play.

37-14 with 6:31 left in the third, Whitesboro refused to give in. Three for three it was and took only four plays. Ferguson barreled three times to the 43, and then on second down, he connected for a 57 yard touchdown play to McDonald..

37-21, the Whitesboro offense only had to wait one play to see if they could hit for the cycle. Somers fumbled the kickoff, and the Warriors took over at the 44.

Still, Somers looked like they would recover when Whitesboro was flagged for an illegal receiver downfield. Second and 14, Whitesboro went bait and switch. Two receivers lined up on the left, and both Somers defenders followed the long road.

All by himself, Jax Hill waited for Ferguson to roll out of the pocket, made the easy catch and shook off Iglesias on the sideline. The only thing remaining was open field, and a tenuous ten point game.

The two point conversion failing, Somers was on alert nonetheless. A two yard loss by Kelly on first down potentially turned the threat level to red. But the color was already taken, and a great play call turned the tables.

Iglesias faked his standard run into the line, and then loaded up for Violante across the middle. An 18 yard gain, the herd was on the move - until it wasn't.

Third and six, the duo hooked up again. This time in the left flat, the sophomore pulled the ball in and raced to the 31.

One more third down to convert, Somers kept it schoolyard. Palazzolo ran a down and out and the reception would bring him to the 13.

Just too much, Iglesias put the writing on the ceiling. He went around the corner, gave Somers a 17 point lead and this had DeMatteo giving thanks for his two senior standouts. “Mason and Miguel, we had our sights set on them in middle school,” said DeMatteo. “We knew they were program changing kids.”

No doubt, the only thing left was a turnover to seal the championship, and the hands were familiar. Logan Ruby did the deed, and once again, the dotted line says Somers Tuskers.

Three-peat complete, congratulations Tuskers.