WPCNR PRESS BOX. November 25, 2005: White Plains won the Battle of White Plains Thursday morning with a third quarter touchdown pass on a rollout left, spin and throw TD pass from quarterback Conor Gilmartin-Donohue to “Old Reliable # 21” Tommy Lee to cap a 6 minute touchdown drive. The Tigers held Archbishop Stepinac to just 11 plays in the second half to win their fourth straight Turkey Bowl at Parker Stadium before the traditional good-natured throng of about a 1,000 fans.
Tiger kicker Ian Jackson saved a touchdown with another patented open field tackle intercepting the Crusader’s Rashaad Slowley at the 50 yard line on the ensuing kickoff to save the tying touchdown.
Tigers Bleeding the Clock late in the Fourth Quarter. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
White Plains began its victory drive, when Justin Lee, the Tiger upman took a short Crusader second half kickoff at the Tiger 30 and returned it 15 yards to the Orange and Black 47. The Tigers then chewed up 6 and a half minutes of the Third Quarter with a 53 yard march in 8 plays, highlighted by a key 2nd and 10 pass play at the Crusader 30, Gilmartin-Donohue to Mickey Morello.
Conor dropped gracefully back, looked to his left in the flat and found Mickey wide open at the 20, and the Mick rumbled on a slanting run all the way to the Crusader 7 for a first and goal. Jamaine Hewitt lost two yards to the 9. Then the Tigers struck for the gamer.
Gilmartin-Donohue dropped back, rolled to his left and winged a pass to an uncovered “Mr. Lee” to the left of the goal post who turned, said “Come to Pappa” and gathered it in clean at his belly. TouchDOWN! Ivan Gayton kicked the PAT and it was 7-0 nothing, Orange and Black, and they had melted almost 7 minutes out of the third quarter on the drive. White Plains will miss Tommy Lee’s special ability to rise to the occasion when the chips are down next year.
Ian Stops the Equalizer.
On the kickoff, Ian Jackson booted mightily to inside the 10, but an offside on the kickoff cost the Tigers a do-over from the 35.
Rashaad Slowley took Ian’s second kick at the 20, slanted left, gathered blockers and was funneled to the far side, but he did not wait for a blocker, and Ian Jackson was the last Tiger standing.
Angling on Mr. Slowley in full stride, Jackson got the angle exactly right and bearhugged him from the side and bulldogged him down out of bounds at the 50 yard line saving the equalizer. By WPCNR count, this is the third time Ian has saved a touchdown on a kickoff this year. He is fearless mano a mano.
A Costly Bobble stalls Stepinac March.
Stepinac started up their drive at the 50. After a running play gained little yardage, quarterback Steve Meys hit Slowley with a beauty flat pass to the near sideline for a first down on the Tiger 35. There was a run for no gain. Then on third down a pitchback to Slowley was dropped — the only fumble of the game to that point. He fell on it in the backfield for a 5 yard loss. On third and 15, a Meys pass to the 20 was broken up by three Tigers around the receiver and it was 4th and 15 from the 40. Stepinac elected to pooch punt rather than go for it, attempting to bloop it short and hit a Tiger defender with it causing a free ball, but the Tiger linebackers were careful and let the pooch die.
The Tigers took over with Hewitt running 17 yards on first down to the 50. Gilmartin-Donohue ran to the Crusader 41 as the Third Quarter ended with the Tigers on the 41 and up 7-0.
Tiger ball control bleeds clock.
After Gilmartin-Donohue made a first down at the 40, two plays lost two yards. Then Conor was about to be sacked deep at the 50 on 3rd and 14, but he stepped out of a tackle like Fred Astaire and rumbled 17 yards on a slant around right end down to the Crusader 30 for a first down. Jeff Terreda on 2nd and 5 rolled around end for a first down on the Stepinac 16. But there the drive stalled when Conor Gilmartin-Donohue was sacked for the first time back on the 25. The Tigers punted and Stepinac took over at their 26.
However, the eight plays run by the Tigers on the 50 yard drive had stolen 6 minutes off the fourth quarter. Stepinac took over and went 3 and out when Mickey Morello turned aside Mike Degrella on a 3rd and 4 at the 33. A mighty punt forced the Tigers back to their own 10 with 4 minutes to play.
On a third down, Conor Gilmartin-Donohue on a keeper ran for a first down at the 23. This forced Stepinac to burn their time outs to stop the clock after each play. Three plays failed to make a first down and White Plains was forced to punt on 4th down at their 24.
Jackson booms it out of harm’s way.
Standing on his own 10 Ian Jackson punted for the last time as a Tiger with great pressure. The snap was low and he was able to somehow zing a mortar on a line past the 50 yard line to the Stepinac 47. It was a 42 yard punt in the air, 30 yards from scrimmage. It was enough to give Stepinac a problem. The Crusaders had no time outs and there was only a minute and a half to go in the game.
Quarterback Meys elected for a series of medium passes getting a first down which stopped the clock. A completed pass to the Tiger 30 was nullified by an illegal procedure penalty, the last costly penalty of the day. This put the Crusaders back to midfield again. A pass deep to the Tiger 5 was overthrown. A final pass for all the marbles never got launched because Meys muffed the snap and the Tigers recovered, taking over and running out the clock.
Tenative First Half
In the first half Stepinac and White Plains, each showing signs of rustiness had opening drives stalled by procedure and encroachment penalties. Stepinac drove to the Tigers 8 on their opening drive that lasted six minutes but were stopped on a run and two incomplete passes. They elected to try a 15 yard field goal that went wide. The Tigers drove right back to the Stepinac 21, getting an encroachment first down. But could not convert on the following series.
Stepinac then drove to the Tiger 42 where their drive stalled. A closing Tiger possession in the first half ended on an interception and the first half ended 0-0.
Connors, McCarthy Honored. John McCarthy above, and Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors (waving to crowd, below) were recognized in pregame ceremonies as the Dedicatees of this year’s game. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors, acknowledging the crowd, with his wife Jean,(center) and members of the White Plains Board of Education. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Lee and Mohan Receive BT Lauer Awards.
At the close of the game Tommy Lee (below) who caught the winning touchdown and Paul Mohan (above)of Stepinac received the BT Lauer Sportsmanship Scholarship & Awards for their sportsmanship, leadership, community service and character on and off the field during their high school careers. Each young man receives a $1,376 Scholarship. Photos by WPCNR Sports.
The White Plains High School Marching Band (below, playing the Alma Mater) performed a halftime extravaganza that set a new standard in formation segues and choreography. They looked very sharp. Photo by WPCNR Sports
