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Monroe-Woodbury Relentless Champs, outshoot, outpass, outcheck Tigers, 6-3 in T-

Posted on November 27, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. By “Red Light” Bailey. November 27, 2006 UPDATED WITH PIX 2:02 A.M. E.S.T.: Monroe-Woodbury’s Crusaders showed why they are the Section 9 State Champions Sunday night, taking a 2-1 lead after one period, stretching it to 5-2 in the final period for a 6-3 win to take the Tigers 2006 Invitational Hockey Tournament. The big, fast-moving, slick-passing, hard shooting Crusaders played 90% of the game in the Tigers defensive end punishing Mike Cambareri with 41 shots to just 19 by the Tigers, and 9 of those came in the Third Period.

JARRING GOAL! After falling behind 3-1 in the second period, a rare misplay at the Crusader blue line let the Tigers Charlie Pavarini carry in on left wing who passed to Matt Altieri (far left of picture) to the right of Crusader goalie. Altieri passed across the goal mouth to Ryan McGee swooping in on right wing — seen in front of Sean O’Sullivan (M-W goalie). Ryan rammed the puck into the lower right corner to make it 3-2 with 3 minutes to go in the second period. The Tigers were back in it! Photo, WPCNR Sports

First Period and Second Period All Blues All the Time

In the first period, Monroe came out flying. The Monroe-Woodbury Coach told WPCNR after the game that his team plays a cycle-the-puck system in the offensive zone working it around in a circle. He added the team plays a trapping game like the New Jersey Devils, stationing his defense at the blue line. And they pinch forward to the opponents’ blue line if the offense is keeping it in.

At many stages this evening, it looked like Monroe was consistently on a power play with 5 skaters hounding the Tigers and taking long shots, short shots, hard shots at Cabarini. Monroe makes this work becase they have fast skaters who rarely make a bad pass. It was evident all first period, because the Crusaders were out forechecking the Tigers deep in their own end consistently. They were getting a lot of shots and because the shots were so hard, Mike was giving a lot of rebounds.

Andy Himelson, big number 7, gave the Tigers the first taste of the explosiveness of the Crusader stars 3 minutes and 48 seconds into the game when he swooshed in across the goal mouth, shot, and jammed his own rebound to make it 1-0.

Tigers Answer

Phil Segona stole the puck from a Crusader defender to the right of goalie O’Sullivan and passed to Rui Encarnacao to the left of O’Sullivan a mere minute later to tie it 1-1, But, this was one of the few successful forecheck efforts of the night by the Tigers, who usually create their opportunities. They could not do that consistently tonight.

Five minutes later at 9:43, The Crusaders stuck again when Himelson again stole the puck walked in on goal, Cabarini went down stopped the shot. Chris DeThomas was at the side door and netted the rebound for a 2-1 Crusader lead after the first period. The Crusaders left fly 14 shots in the first period to 3 for White Plains. Though there was only one penalty in the period, it looked like the Crusaders were perpetually on a power play. They are a great team.

Carney Kills em

In the second period, Julian Carney poked home a rebound off a hard shot to make it 3-1 three minutes and 27 seconds into the period, which stood up until the Tigers McGee gave the Tigers hope late in the period. Again the Crusaders in what looked like a shootaround warmup in the Tiger end, fired 14 shots at Cabarini.

Superb Defensive trapping and holding position, frustrated Tiger rushes the whole night long. Here Andy Himmelson (in blue nearest camera) pokes away a lead pass for Tim Conroy, while his comrade in “Dee” Brad Campagna beats a Tiger to the puck. Himelson and Campagna broke up rushes at the blue line and even pinched at the Tiger blue line keeping the puck in the Tiger zone. Photo, WPCNR Sports

But, as they had all night, the Crusaders skated right back hard and in the Tigers’ faces, answering 27 seconds later when a blistering slapshot by Chris Meily clacked off Tiger Goalie Cambareri’s stick out in front, and rebounded straight out to Tyler Sioboda inbetween the circles who blasted a forehand just to Mike’s left and in for a 4-2 lead to close the second period. It was the biggest goal of the night.

The Third Period stayed 4-2 through the first 6 minutes of the third period before Monroe-Woodbury’s Ian Mauriello got his stick on the puck in center ice and, getting up a head of steam skated uncontested straight down Broadway in the circle to the right of Cambareri and beat him clean to Cambareri’s left side, lower right corner, making the net bulge for a 5-2 lead. Mike Altieri answered 18 seconds later, when on one of just three Tiger goal gangups tonight, Charlie Pavarini passed the puck to Ryan McGee to the right of the goal who fed Altieri on the opposite side of goaltender O’Sullivan’s left, Altieri whisking it into the net to cut the deficit to 5-3 with 9 minutes to go.

With 9 minutes to go in the game, and a 5-3 lead, Monroe-Woodbury returned to their one-third ice game, and kept peppering Tiger goaline Cambareri with shot after hard shot, chewing up 6 minutes of precious Tiger comeback time. This was the balance of the action in the final half of the third period right here. This was the scene most of the evening a lot of big blue jerseys hanging out, circling like sharks in front of the beleagured Tiger defenders, blasting away and capturing rebounds and firing again. Photo, WPCNR Sports

By this I mean, Monroe-Woodbury keeps passing and shooting the puck at your goaltender in your ice, most of the time, and they always get the rebound, and they always keep the puck in, I have rarely seen anything like this, but then they are the State Champions. They are aided greatly by their quick-reacting defensemen Andy Himelson (#7) and Brad Campagna, who play on the opposition’s blue line, and in reactions of incomparable timing keep the darn puck in you zone. When your forwards do break out they pesk you up in center ice and stand you up at their own blue line, or hold their ground and deftly poke the puck away.

The Tigers took one of the night’s rare penalties, an unfortunate hooking by Pavarini, and that extended Monroe-Woodbury’s shooting gallery time, though they did not score. When the penalty ended, Jaime Fairhurst got called for a crosscheck and the Tigers were shorthanded for another two minutes. With the penalty killers exhausted from chasing rebounds onto Monroe sticks, Mauriello stole the puck again at the Monroe blue line and under a full head of steam ¾ the length of the ice, skating uncontested swooshed in front of Cambareri and tried to jam it in on Mike’s left side. Mike turned it aside but Julian Carney trailing the play picked the rebound and lofted it over Mike’s left shoulder into the upper right corner for a 6-3 lead with 3:03 to go in the game.

“The Conroy Creaming”

Then the game got very ugly. On a Tiger breakaway, Tim Conroy was taken down from behind. No penalty shot was called. In an ensuing melee around the Monroe net, Crusader defenders objected to their goalie being jostled on O’Sullivan’s two toughest saves of the night. Minutes later Conroy coming in on goal for a rebound and was lined up and crosschecked from behind across the shoulders and sent flying into the Monroe net, and was real slow to get up.

The Conroy Creaming was a flat-out dirty play from behind that the Crusader player lined up and deliberately laid on Conroy. The coach should kick that player off the team. If a player is hurled into the net and his throat/neck hits the cross bar you could break the player’s neck or paralyze him.

The player who did that disgraced his fine team — a great team — by laying on a vicious hit from behind just because he could. He tars his team with one brush with that act, and the players I saw for Monroe hit hard and clean and play the puck not the man. And it ended the game with a pall.

A Champion player doesn’t make a hit like that.

Champions don’t play like that.

Fights.

Naturally this lead to retaliation. On the next Monroe rush, a Crusader pushed the Tiger goalie. The Crusaders’ Mauriello and Matt Goldstein of the Tigers were sent off for roughing at 1:34 to go.

At 11 seconds to go in the game the Tigers and the Crusaders mixed it up in front of the nets and two fights broke out. The referees ended the game without playing the last 11 seconds. It was an ugly end to a well-played game by Monroe-Woodbury all because one player decided he’d play tough guy by cross-checking a player flying into a net. It’s easy to hit a person from behind. Nothing difficult about it at all. Even I, a lowly untough 61 year old reporter can do that and on skates too. That’s how tough it is to hit a person from behind. Even a 61 year old can do it. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Coach Howard Rubenstein of the Tigers, said he was disappointed his team did not play better, but noted Monroe Woodbury has very skilled players who pass and shoot well, and rush the puck up ice. He said he’d like to play Monroe Woodbury again.

All’s Well: White Plains Coach Howard Rubenstein hands out awards after the game. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Tiger Paws: Tim Conroy said his shoulder was all right after the game…There were only 10 penalties called tonight, 7 on the Tigers…however 5 of those penalties were in the roughhousing last 3 minutes of the game…After seeing the first Monroe-Woodbury power play in the first period where the puck never left the Tiger end…it was a good thing the Tigers did not take a lot of penalties…All 6 Monroe goals were scored at even strength…Shots on goal: Cambareri stopped 41, O’Sullivan had a leisurely night in the nets stopping 19, 9 of those in the third period…

In other action…Mahopac defeated Horace Greeley for third place, 5-3, and Stepinac shutout Ryetown-Harrison, 3-0, and Brewster defeated Somers-North Salem, 5-2.

The WPCNR Three Stars of the Game: Star # 1: Ryan McGee (Goal to get Tigers back in the game, and an Assist to keep hope alive) of the White Plains Tigers; Star # 2: Andy Himelson,Defenseman for Monroe-Woodbury, (1 goal, 1 assist– incredible work disrupting the Tiger rushes and keeping the puck in the Tiger zone); and Star # 3: Julian Carney (who scored the big 4th goal and the clinching 6th goal).

Conroy’s Elegant Backhanda Wins Tiger-Greeley Shootout, 5-4.

Posted on November 26, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. By “Red Light” Bailey. November 25, 2006: The shootout was tied 1-1 after three shooters a side had taken their shots after 50 minutes of play and six shooters.

Conroy Slips his backhander in past Horace Greeley Goaltender, Dylan Picker for the Shootout Clincher. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Tim Conroy started skating slow cruising in head-to-head with Greeley goaltender Dylan Picker with a chance for sudden victory. He conned Picker to his forehand about 15 feet out drawing the netminder sprawling forward, then deftly sweeping to his backhand in Andy Bathgate style, Conroy slipped the puck cleanly alongside the goaltender’s sprawled right leg into the center of the net for the winning goal. Pandemonium! The Tigers leapt the bench and raced to join Conroy after the coup de grace for a mass hug in front of the stands. The Tigers were 3-0, and looking good.

The Equalizer: Rui Encarnacao(9) behind the net has just cruised past after Phil Segona, farside has jammed in Rui’s rebound to tie the score with 1:50 in regulation. Picker looks into his net at the puck. Photo, WPCNR Sports

The two hundred fans for the nightcap of the White Plains Tigers Invitational Hockey Tournament had seen the Tigers Phil Segona tie up the game jamming a rebound home after Rui Encarnacao’s flip over aimed over the goalie’s shoulder had hit his armboard and dropped the puck in front between the tender’s legs. Segona, right on Rui’s tail in a superb trailing effort, rapped it between the goaltender’s legs for the tying goal at the 13:10 mark of the final period with 1:50 to go– one of the few rebounds Picker had allowed. Encarnacao had corralled a loose puck in center ice and broke alone on a breakaway swooping in on left wing with Segona trailing on right wing, beating the defenders playing catch up.

Goal Disallowed.

The Tigers Matt Goldstein got caught retaliating on a heavy check with 1:21 to go in the third period, and on the ensuing power play a Quaker low on the box rifled a shot across the goalmouth behind Tiger Goalie, Mike Cambareri, but a Quaker was sprawled in the crease and the goal was disallowed to the disbelief of the Quakers.

NO GOAL! NO GOAL! Referee disallowing Greeley goal with 13 seconds to go in regulation because the across-the-goal-mouth shot was put in by a player in the crease. The Photograph appears to show the player is definitely in the crease. Photo, WPCNR Sports

This was a honey with great goaltending by the Tigers’ Mike Cambareri who kept the Tigers in the penaltyfest with 43 saves, including 3 breakaway saves in the second period, and two stops in the shootout. Dylan Picker was Patrick Roy-look-alike in goal for the Quakers denying the Tigers point blank consistently. It was a game that built and built in intensity with both teams throwing everything at each other.

Cambareri Big Time in Period Two

Cambareri was spectacular in the second period where the Quakers leveled 17 shots at him in 15 minutes, and scored 3 times. The second period began with the Tigers trailing 1-0, the result of a first period short-handed goal by Greeley’s Cole Cherney who snared a loose puck behind the Tiger net and jammed it in around the left post behind Cambareri. Though the Tigers threw 11 shots at Picker in the first, it remained 1-0 going to the second period.

The Second Period saw the Tigers tie it up on a feed from Matt Altieri to Ryan McGhee skating across at the top of the circle left to right, rifled one on a clear shot at Picker and it entered lower right corner to tie it 1-1 at 2:11 of the Second Period. The Tiger penalty killers, Charlie Pavarini, Jamie Fairhurst, Phil Sigona Rui Encarnacao and Tim Conroy frustrated the bigger, but not as fast Quakers, killing off two penalties back to back, allowing only one shot on goal from the 10 minute mark to the 7 minute mark. When Rui Encarnacao scored with another quick low right corner shot at 9:04 of the second period, the Tigers had a 2-1 lead.

Rui Encarnacao (9) has just fired in a flaming forehander that has caught the lower right corner on a screen shot for a 2-1 Tiger lead in the second. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Then the Quakers stepped it up a notch

C. Belles scored on a breakaway to tie at 10:59and Cherney on a great effort on a rebound in a melee to the left of Mike Cambareri, and whipped it behind him into the far left corner to make it 3-2, Greeley at the 13:47 mark. This was after concentrated pressure by the Quakers, who dominated the last five minutes of the second period.

White Plains superior speed produced another equalizer in the last 10 seconds of this rouser of a period. Steve McCarrick fed Tim Conroy who swooped into leaving three Quakers down ice. Conroy fed to Rui Encarnacao who, skating left to right across the goal mouth just about between the circles shot as he was falling and fired, skated around the net, and when Picker failed to cover the bound slipped it behind him on the right side to tie it 3-3 at 14:47 of the Second Period with 13 seconds to go.

The second period showed heavy hitting as the bigger, rangier Quakers were bumping the elegant swift skating Tigers who had been having their way getting down into the Quaker ice. Not in the last half of the second period. Nine penalties were called in the last 10 minutes of the period.

Breakaway Goal Almost Stands Up

The Tigers came out flying in the third period on a power play but got caught pinching for the go-ahead goal when a puck came flying off a Tiger leg on a slapper and ricocheted into center ice. Cole Cherney snared it with John Amodeo on right wing with him. With only one defender to beat, Cherney passed to Amodeo who beat Cambareri cold, lower right corner for the go-aheader at 2:40 of the Third Period. It was 4-3, Chappaqua. Thirteen penalities were called in the third period…9 on Horace Greeley and 4 on White Plains. There was hooking, slashing, roughing, interference, check from behind. The action was gritty, tough, fast and high energy. End to End action with the Tigers finally scoring on Segona’s rebound off the Encarnacao steal when the Tigers were on a power play due to a check from behind by Belles at the 12 minute mark.

8 Tiger Power Plays in the Final Stanza.

Greeley stymied 8 Tiger Power Plays in the third period with heavy hitting, brutal, deft stickwork and looked like they were going to stop the 9th until just 1:50 was remaining in the game. Encarnacao’s alert steal in center ice and Segona following the play as Rui flew past the slow Greeley defenseman and closed in. Rui shot high on the right side hitting Picker high. He failed to smother! Picker deflected, but could not smother and Segona’s stick bladed it in to tie it up. The Tigers threw 17 shots at Picker in the third, but the 18^th went in to tie 4-4

The overtime was cautious ending in a 4-4 tie. In the shoot out, Cole Cherney lead off for Chappaqua. Pavarini closed his shot on the right post padding it aside. Phil Segona skated in on Picker. Picker covered his head-on shot. Ian Steinberg closed on Pavarini and again Mike smothered the low left shot to the right. Pavarini refused to commit.

Second up for the Tigers in the shootout was Rui Encarnacao who beat Picker who committed to soon on Rui’s forehand as the boards shuddered with Tiger fan approval.

Belles whose penalty gave the Tigers the extra power play in the third period, was Greeley’s last hope he got Mike to commit and scored. With six shooters gone by it was now, “next goal wins.”

Tim Conroy took the ice and with his Andy Bathgate style won the game deking Picker to come out and whisking the backhand past him. The rest as they say was history.

Tiger Paws: This was big league hockey in every way…Tiger speed is blazing (all must be of French Canadian ancestry, with a lot of Montreal Canadien in them)…they are fast on their blades and tough in the corners. In the two tough wins this weekend they out forechecked and worked the corners against big tough players, and for the most part, refused to lose their poise…They are much more fun to watch than the Rangers, Islanders and Devils.

Saves: Mike Cambareri stopped 43 shots, Dylan Picker, 38…There were 28 penalties in this hockey game , 17 on Greeley, 11 on White Plains. The penalties increased as the game went on…6 were called in the First Period. 9 in the second period, and 13 in the third period… In other tournament action Saturday, Ryetown-Harrison beat Brewster, 5-3; Ryetown plays Stepinac Sunday at 4:15 today. Stepinac defeated Somers/North Salem, 6-0; Monroe-Woodbury downed Mahopac, 4-2 and will face White Plains Sunday night at 8:15 P.M. for the Invitational Crown. Mahopac plays Horace Greeley at 6:15 P.M.

Three Stars of the Game: Star # 1 Horace Greeley’s Cole Cherney (2 Goals, 2 Assists); Star # 2: White Plains Rui Encarnacao (2 goals, 1 Assist) and Star # 3: White Plains Tim Conroy (Game Winning Shootout Goal)

Tigers Celebrate! Photo, WPCNR Sports

Hockey Night in White Plains. Photo,WPCNR Sports

Flying Tigers Hold off Somers/North Salem, 4-3 in Furious Finish.

Posted on November 25, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Red Light Bailey. November 25, 2006: White Plains held off a furious finish by Somers/North Salem, making Phil Sigona’s point blank goal off a flip in from the left crease on a pass from Rui Encarnacao and Tim Conroy at 4:34 of the Third period hold up for 10 minutes for a 4-3 win in the Tiger opener of the 2006 White Plains Tiger Invitational Hockey Tournament Friday. The Tigers play Horace Greeley Saturday night at 8:30 P.M. on Ebersole Ice in their second game.

TIGER Phil Segona behind goaltender and defender (8) puts the rubber in the net for the winning goal at 4:34 of the Final Stanza after Rui Encarnacao (9) and Tim Conroy (right) set him up. It was Segona’s second goal of the game. Conroy had 2 assists, and Encarnacao 1. Photo, WCPNR Sports

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead at the 3:26 mark of the first period on a brilliant hustle goal unassisted by Matt Altieri (shown at far right in this shot, stick in air, flat on ice), who picked off a clearing pass falling to the ice and batted it 20 feet into the lower left hand corner of the Somers net. Outstanding pesky pucking behind the goal by Charlie Pavarini, center of pic, and Ryan McGee(8) resulted in Altieri’s hustle goal. As a Somers defender cleared the rubber, Matt intercepted in an athletic dive-and-shoot motion and deftly lined it low and hard past the screened goaltender, zipping it into the net. The puck is about to jut the net out to the right of the official’s arm. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Somers-North Salem got the equalizer on a power play goal at 4:06 of the second period as Nick Mastroianni skated across in front from 30 feet out and fired unobstructed dead-on, beating Mike Pavarini to his left side. Somers stepped up the hitting, checking and decking Tigers left and right disrupting the flying Tigers. Somers aggression distracted the Tigers to where Joe Marasco scored a shorthanded goal 11 minutes into the second period, with the Orange and Black on a power play, Marasco slipping behind the Tiger defense, giving Somers a 2-1 lead at 11:32.

The Little Forward Stuns

Jeremy Lindh, the little forward, the Bobby Shantz of hockey, who comes up to the knees of every player on the ice took a pass from Weston McCandless and Matt Goldstein, skated in deep on the near side to the goal line and 15 feet to the goaltender’s right, fired a parallel to the goal line shot from the side of the net in behind the Somers netminder of the unlucky keeper’s skate to equalize matters a minute later at 2-2 at 10:32.

The Tigers peppered 15 shots on goal in the second period packing most into the last five minutes. The pressure paid off when Phil Sigona took a pass from Tim Conroy from the side of the net at the top of the left circle, skated in to the top of the circle and blasted a forehand blazer whipping it into the lower right hand corner for a 3-2 lead at 12:39 into the second stanza. Here Sigona facing the sports camera celebrates from where he fired the shot into the lower right hand corner of the net. Defenseman Steve McCarrick(24) raises his stick in celebration. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Through two periods the Tigers had outshot Somers-North Salem 25-10.

Somers tied it up off a face off to begin the third period, a mere 3:39 into the final 15 minutes as Joe Marasco took the draw to the left of Pavarini and skated straight in unmolested

On Mike’s left and beat him between post and leg for the equalizer.

The Seek Line Combines for the winner. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Not to be denied the “Seek” Line of Conroy, Encarnacao and Sigona hit the ice and working deep in the Somers end worked the puck loose. Encarnacao circled in the near corner behind the goal, unchallenged by Somers defense, he skated in passed to Tim outfront who fed to Sigona waiting on the back door on the left post at point blank range got it past the goaltender who had come out a skate too far. Phil was right there to stick it in for a 4-3 advantage 3 minutes and 26 seconds into the period. There were ten minutes and 34 seconds to go.

Bottling them up: The Tigers work the trap in center ice in the final minutes killing off two penalties. Defensemen Steve McCarrick, (24) and Jaime Fairhurst (16) and their mates did not let Somers-North Salem get into gear. Photo, WPCNR Sports

The Tigers were tested on two power plays by Somers but they handled the kills brilliantly, particularly the second man-advantage, bottling Sommers up in the center zone like the Devils trap. Mike Pavararini made his toughest save of the night on a three-foot high mortar shot from the top of the circle plucking it out of the air before it found the upper right corner.

Closing the Backdoor. Mike Pavarini, Tiger Den Minder, closes the door as Somers attacker attempts to jam the post in final two minutes. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Somers pulled their goaltender and Charlie steered away one close call with less than a minute to go, and the Tigers held on to win one of the most entertaining high school hockey games you’ll see. Tiger Coach, Howard Rubenstein, said Somers gave the Tigers all they could handle, and the Tigers were fortunate to come away with the win.

Chippie Second Period. Matt Altieri (6) fires! Puck heads for Somers Goaltender as a Flying Tiger dives for the bound with 2:25 to go in the rousing Period 2. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Tiger Paws: The Tigers unloaded 35 shots to 19 for Somers-North Salem…There were 14 penalties in this contest, 9 in the line-em-up and let’em have it second period. The contest was well-called by the officials. There were three or four Tigers who were slow to get up in this one due to the heavy hits. The Tiger conditioning helped considerably in the Third Period as Somers appeared to not have the legs to challenge on the two power powers in the last 7 minutes… The Tiger forechecking was the difference in this game, fearless forechecking created every Tiger goal.

In other tournament action, Horace Greeley beat Stepinac 5-2 and White Plains will faceoff against the Quakers Saturday night at 8:30 P.M. Mahopac defeated Brewster, 7-0, and the Indians will play Monroe-Woodbury at 6:30 P.M. Monroe Woodbury defeated Ryetown-Harrison, 9-0. Brewster will play Ryetown-Harrison at 9:45 A.M. Saturday morning, and Stepinac will play Somers-North Salem at 4:30 P.M.

Stepinac Snaps WP String, Wins 30-0 in Rainswept Game.

Posted on November 23, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. November 23, 2006 UPDATED WITH GAME STORY PIX 11:30 PM EST: Stepinac scored on sustained drives the first three times they had the ball against White Plains in this morning’s annual Turkey Bowl Game between the cross-town rivals, building a 24-0 lead at the half behind halfback Rashaad Slowley’s three touchdowns to post Stepinac’s first win in four years in the longtime rivalry, snapping a 4-game White Plains Turkey Bowl win streak.

Backfield In Motion: Stepinac Junior “Rocket Rashaad” Slowley (anything but) carrying the ball about to angle to the right and go in for a touchdown in the First Quarter, to start the dominating peformance of The Crusaders. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Key Third for the Tigers: The Tigers were moving the ball in the opening series and on this third down play a pass complete to Bobby Thompson was just short of a first down. An in motion penalty on the 4th down go-for-it forced the Tigers to punt. Photo WPCNR Sports.

Rashaad Slowley the 6 foot, swivel-hipped Crusader back highlighted four Stepinac touchdown drives with key runs of 15-yards and scored all four Crusader touchdowns as the bigger harder-hitting Stepinac line swept away Tiger defenders on play after play in a game played on a muddy, tractionless(at least for the Tiger defense) gridiron, windswept goopy and merciless. In what is likely the last game played at Parker Stadium in this series on this field as White Plains knows it, this was no classic, and sounded the end of natural grass football in White Plains. (The field will be converted to synthetic Field Turf over the summer and new metal bleachers installed.) Perhaps this is a good thing noting the condition of the field at gametime.

Stepinac dominated the Tigers in this one marching down the field the first three times they had the ball, and scoring three 2-point conversions to boot.

Illegal Motion Penalty Stops Tiger Mo

It did not start out that way. White Plains elected to receive the kickoff and Matt Robles returned the ball to the WP 20. Robles next carried the ball three times for 4, 2, and 14 yards for a first down on the 40. White Plains managed another first down at the 50 and on 3^rd and 5 a pass to Bobby Thompson was just short of a first down at the Step 42. It was 4^th and 2 and the Tigers were moving the ball. This was the highlight of the game for the Tigers. As they took set positions, the Tiger left end moved and the linesman tossed the yellow flag. Illegal Motion. Five yard penalty. The Tigers were moved back to 4^th and 7 on the 48. John Perez with the wet football punted just 13 yards and Step took over at the 35.

The Crusaders began to move and did not stop moving it until midway in the third quarter.

Rashaad Slowley took over. He cruised to a first down, 20 yards to the Tiger 40, then another first down at the Tiger 30. Matt Robles stopped the Crusaders momentarily by tackling Maurice Easterling in the backfield giving the Tigers what appeared to be a chance of stopping the drive. On the next play a face mask was called on the Tigers and that put the ball on the 9 for a first and goal to go. The two penalties appeared to take the heart out of the Tigers right there. Rashaad Slowley ran for two yards then slanted in around right end inside the goal line end zone pylon for six points with 1:34 to go in the quarter. Joe Collins caught three receivers in the end zone and completed to Easterling for a 2-point passing conversion and it was 8-0. That was where the First Quarter ended.

Slowley Turns Into Ray Rice.

Rashaad Slowley continued his Ray Rice impersonation in the second quarter as the Tigers went three and out, again punted poorly and Stepinac started up again from their 41. Slowley ran the ball swiftly slipping tacklers to the Tiger 43. Greg Datino cruised to the Tiger 30. Slowley then bounced off tacklers at the line of scrimmage, slipping around two Tigers in the center of the line and started stepping up the gut for 21 yards to the Tiger 5. He scored two plays later to make it 14-0 with 8:39 to go in the half. And again Quarterback Collins passed for a 2-point conversion to make the score 16-0.

BOOM! And it’s 22-0 At the Half. Rashaad Slowley into the end zone for the third Crusader Touchdown at the end of the First half. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Slowley scored on another touchdown following yet another mispunt recovery, and this time Collins ran the ball in for 2 points, making it 24-0 at the half. The third quarter found Slowley scoring again after a Tiger fumble late in the third quarter on a 2 yard run.

The Stepinac line was blowing the Tigers off the ball on the slow track all morning and after the first touchdown drive the Tigers could do nothing on offense. The Tigers end the season at 2-8, the Crusaders, 4-7. It was Stepinac’s first win in the series since 2001, their 10^th win over all against 26 defeats. The Crusaders truly dominated this game, the two crucial penalties not withstanding. Had the Tigers made that 4^th and 2 in the first quarter instead of the unfortunate illegal motion penalty, the game might have been closer, but not the way Mr. Slowley was running today. The only time Stepinac punted, they did that well, too.

Honorees

The Tigers Bobby Thompson and The Crusaders’ Ryan Hoffer were chosen as recipients of the sportsman awards at the close of the game.

Bill Flooks, far left, and Greg Drummond, far right being honored before the kickoff as Dedicatees. Photo WPCNR Sports.

Bill Flooks and Greg Drummond of White Plains were honored as the Dedicatees of today’s Turkey Bowl for their long unselfish service to Archbishop Stepinac High School and the White Plains High School football program, respectively and their tireless, generous community service.

White Plains High School Alumni Association Gives $10,000 to the WPHS band for new uniforms. To right are members of the Board of Education: Michelle Tratoros, dark coat, Peter Bassano (blue cap), and Bill Pollak (yellow cap). Photo, WPCNR Sports.

The White Plains High School Alumni Association awarded a $10,000 check to the White Plains High School Band for new uniforms for the “Best Band in All the Land” just prior to their spectacular halftime show performed in a driving rain on a muddy field.

“WP” Forever. The Best Band in All the Land playing the Alma Mater at start of the game in panchos and berets, Looking sharp in the monsoon. Band Director Leslie Tompkins is perched precarious on a wet ladder to conduct the musicians. Photo, WPCNR Sports

The show was easily the best program Leslie Tompkins the Band Director and her stalwarts have ever marched at Parker Stadium performing pinwheel formations, creating a steamboat with turning wheels to “Rolling on the River” and dancing as their brass section played “Thriller.”

A crowd of around 1,500 fans from the community filled the old concrete bowl for the last time, and fans from both schools were totally impressed by the band which looked as good as a Big Ten Marching Band today in miserable marching and playing conditions

So another football season ends with the pleasant memories of a Tiger team that did not turn in a great record, but there were those names and moments to remember: Matt Robles nearly running the Tigers to victory over Mount Vernon and touchdown saving tackles week after week, Savaugn Green’s acrobatic clutch catches, Ray Mitchell’s go-to work, Paris Young Conner Spellman amd George Don Pierre’s valiant efforts on comeback drives, Joseph Petit and Bobby Thompson never-give-up leadership. Paul LaBarbera’s standing in and engineering chances to win. Mike Howard’s “step up leadership.” It was a season of more bad breaks and the most bad officiating this reporter has seen in seven years of writing WPHS football, but the team, the attitude, the heart was always there.