Somers gets Serious with Win Big win over Rye

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On Friday October 2, Somers bursted on to the scoreboard when Dean Monachelli returned the opening kickoff. Not done, the sophomore made it 14-0 on Tristan Iglesias’ 15 yard touchdown pass. 90 seconds left in the second period wasn’t quite halfway there, though. Rye scored 43 seconds later, and the receiving TD gave Coach DeMatteo some uncomfortable Deja Vu.  “I was getting PTSD from last year,” he said. So with potential for a similar comeback, DeMatteo got the elixir he needed.

The Tuskers quickly got down the field, and Danny Hershfield nailed a 32 yard field goal at the buzzer.  “That was massive,” said DeMatteo, and stealing back the momentum propelled the Tuskers to a 31-13 victory.

Back to the beginning, Monachelli went left, cut through the pile and set the tone. “The return got the energy up,” said Cam Violante.

The extra point too, Somers led 7-0 after only 12 seconds, and the defense didn’t mind getting on the field a lot sooner than expected. After Rye managed a first down, the Garnets' aerial attack fell flat. Two incomplete passes and a Hudson Ruby sack gave the ball back to the home team.

The return this time to Luke Balancia, he bumped outside and set his team up at midfield. A keeper by Iglesias and two runs by Balancia had Somers with a first down on the 15, and an onslaught seemed in order. 

Instead, Rye shut down the Somers attack, and the Garnets got the ball back on downs. Not for long, three incompletions surrendered the ball again, but Somers was almost as fast. 

Getting just past midfield, the drive stalled, and Rye hoped the second quarter would be better.  A couple of Johnny Shoemaker completions made for first down at Somers 32, and a game it could be.

That is until pressure from Chris Fink had Shoemaker throwing the ball away on second down and then fumbling when Ryan Kieran knocked the quarterback to the ground. 

4th and 25, Rye punted, and Somers took over at the 28. 4:59 left in the half, Iglesias rolled right to start the sequence, and hit Bekim Sinanaj on the sideline for a 15 yard gain.

At the 43, Iglesias put in the leg work next. The QB kept the ball and gave his team a first down at the Rye 43.  A three yard loss on the next play by Balancia put another drive in doubt, but the back more than redeemed himself on the next handoff. 

He rumbled to the 15, and a play later, Monachelli took the tough call to go over the middle with his usual aplomb. “I don’t care,” he assured, and Iglesias’ perfect strike in the end zone reiterated the point.

Only 90 seconds left in the half, the Somers juggernaut seemed unrelenting. Not so fast, Rye’s passing game suddenly came to life. Like last year, Shoemaker hit Shay Tuckman and Luke Denvir with precision strikes, and then Tuckman ran past the Somers defense for his QB’s loft into the end zone. 

14-7 game with 47 seconds left, Somers didn’t let time cheat them. On the first play, Jayden Abruzese got to the sideline and wasn’t pulled down until going 33 yards to the Rye 35. 

Iglesias followed with a keeper to the 19, and with 11 seconds left, the quarterback got his kicker in range with a run to the 15.  The kicking team lined up with four seconds to go and went into the locker room with a ten point lead.

So Rye’s previous momentum definitely missed a beat, and Cole Kennedy’s first down sack made sure. “It’s great getting there. All your teammates are there, there’s no better feeling,” said the sophomore.

Carmello Gioffre’s sideline tackle brought out the punt team and Somers took over 42 yards away. Initially, Balancia was set back two yards, but then bounced outside for 12.

Iglesias did most of the rest. He kept it twice, and this time Cam Violante went over the middle for the touchdown. No fear either for this Somers receiver, he chalked it up to preparation. “We know what to do off the defense, and our coaches call the right plays,” said the Tusker.

At 6:34, Ryan McAuley’s sack on second down doomed another Rye drive, but Somers didn’t put it away. On came Hershfield and he gave his team the next best thing. The kicker’s punt left Rye at the seven.

Three plays later, Cole Kennedy’s sack made it fourth down at the one. Rye’s punt wasn’t nearly effective and traveled only 11 yards. Next play, Violante went over the middle, and the touchdown reception had the other receiver gushing over their quarterback. “He can do it all, runner, passer, he’s a stud,” said Monachelli.

A late touchdown for Rye didn’t take off any of the shine and was no doubt extra special. “We took them very serious - especially after what they did to us last year,” concluded Violante.

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