WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. October 16, 2004, UPDATED WITH DETAIL 1:25 A.M. EDT: Kevin Avery’s third down and 9 touchdown strike diagonally across the field to Garry Morello who recepted just inside the endzone fonton, put White Plains on top 21-14 with 7:50 to go in the football game this afternoon in Spring Valley. The Tigers dominated the second half with ferocious open field tackles by all hands on deck in their finest performance of the season, and a 220 yard rushing performance on 40 carries by Number 28, Ike Nduka, to move to 5-2 on the season.
Nduka moved the ball behind a White Plains surge that opened holes in the Gryphon line by sheer will, and when they sprang the Dukester, the swivel-hipped back chewed up yardage, breaking tackles carrying mammoths on top of him, refusing to be stopped, much less go down. Nduka scored the tying touchdown midway through the third quarter, after setting up his equalizer with a 30-yard rumble around left end to the Ramapo 20 after White Plains had trailed 14-7 at halftime.
TouchDOWN! TouchDOWN! THE A-Man to the G-Man, Kevin Avery of the Orange and Black far left, has just threaded the needle with a touchdown strike on 3rd and 9, to Gary Morello who gathers the flare in at his waist in full stride low, tacklers to the left of him, tackler to the right of him at the goal line and dives inside the fonton for the go-ahead-to-stay 6. Morello is seen on paydirt just to the left of the Green # 4 jersey. Avery has a talent for the surgicial strike. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
DOWN THE SIDELINE HE GOES to the 40 -35-30 : Connor Lantier center of picture, being chased by Number 55, racing down the side for a 70-yard punt return for the Tigers first touchdown in the First Quarter. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
THEY’RE NOT GONNA GET HIM: Lantier, outrunning Howard Rutty, (#1) at the 10 yard line to conclude his electrifying 70-yard punt return that put Tigers up 7-0 in the first 3 minutes of the game. Photo by WPCNR Sports
This football memory unfolded against a Grantland Rice slate gray sky on a real football classic day. The clouds were gray and billowy. The slant of the autumn sun sank low and finally disappeared in the second half as fate drove the White Plains Tigers.
White Plains kicked off to Ramapo to begin the game and stopped them on downs after their first series when a holding penalty killed a first on the 50. Ramapo got off a great punt to Connor Lantier standing on his 30 with three Gryphons surrounding him, watching Connor leisurely make the catch. It looked as if the Rams thought Connor was going to faircatch the punt. Big mistake.
BOOM!
Connor wheeled left and the Gryph tacklers were caught flat-spiked. He eluded all three and diagonally high tailed to the far sideline. The rest of the Gryphons were channeled in the middle of the field and Lantier was across the Ram 40 down to the 35. The Rams could not close the angle! Down the sideline Lantier traveled. Inexplicably the last man to have a shot at him, just did not launch himself and Lantier was into the end zone for a 70-yard touchdown run.
Pablo Siaba converted the PAT and it was 7-0 White Plains with only 2:30 into the game.
Gryphons set things in order.
Ramapo came right back, going 77 yards in 8 plays with two big gainers: a Morgan Hall 32-yard run on a sweep play from the WP 45 giving the Rams a lst down on the Tiger 13, with Connor Lantier saving the touchdown, the last man to get him. After stopping the Gryphs on three plays it was 4th and 9 on 12 yard line.
Claude Daniel fired to Aaron Goldstein between two Tigers on the goal line corner and Goldstein leaped for it, got two feet in the endzone at the fonton and it was 7-6. They ran for the conversion and made it, 8-7, Ramapo with 4:34 to go in the first quarter. At this point, White Plains had not run one play from scrimmage.
Another Zebra Takes away on Tiger TD.
White Plains started from their own 23 and began the Ike Nduka Highlight Reel. Ike carried for 2 yards, then on the next play, off tackle for 28 yards scattering green jerseys in his wake for a first on the Ramapo 47. Then it was Nduka for 5, Nduka for 13 to the Ram 35. Another Ike run netted 3. A pass to Joe Henry at the goal was overthrown. On 4th down Kevin Avery hit Connor Lantier in the flat for a first down on the Ramapo 23, first down. Then a pitch back to Ike netted 8 to the 15. Then it was Ike up the middle to the 5. First and goal. Things were looking very nice. On first and goal Ike took it up the middle, the referee’s hands went up. Touchdown! Or was it?
TOUCHDOWN, NOW WAIT A MINUTE! Tigers desperately try to corral “fumbled” touchdown. Morgan Hall (7) beat them to the punch for a touchback, costing the Tigers a touchdown. Ike Nduka had crossed the goal line and a touchdown signalled when the ball suddenly was “out there” Photo by WPCNR Sports
But then the ball was seen loose in the end zone! Ike had fumbled it. The play was continuing the ball was pounced on by a Gryphon. The referee waved off the touchdown. However, swift consultation with a New Rochelle scout that was videoing the Gryphons, came to the conclusion that the referee was wrong. When he signaled the touchdown on a rushing attempt, and the ball broke the plane of the goal when Ike was going in, the touchdown is scored. It is not like a pass play where you have to retain the catch cleanly. Coach Mark Santa Donato discussed the call but it was not reversed.
Burning the Tigers.
On the first play from their 20, Claude Daniel heaved the ball in the deep flat to Aaron Goldstein at the 40 on the right flat sideline for a first down. Daniel on the quarterback option swept around left end to the White Plains 30. It was an amazing turnaround. A run got down to the Tiger 23, then Akin Benton good old 62 stepped up for the Tigers.
Benton Takes it Away.
Daniel ran the QB option again was chased, eluded a sack in the deep near rollout area and raced around left end slicing deep into the Tiger secondary at the 15.
But Daniel seemed to panic among all those white jerseys, carried the ball out in front of him in two hands and Akin Benton yanked the ball out of there and started rumbling the other way!
In a convoy of Tigers Akin lugged the ball all the way upfield to the White Plains 42. No one knew it at the time, but this is a huge play. Instead of a two touchdown swing, the Tigers had stopped a quickie TD disaster.
The Tigers again drove the ball well with Nduka picking up the yardage at will. A first down on the 29 pass play post pattern at the goal line did not work due to triple coverage. And the drive stalled on 4th down at the Ramapo 24.
Ramapo balanced attack sends them in with a 14-7 lead.
Ramapo has shown the most balanced offense the Tigers have faced, with of course, the exception of New Rochelle, because they have a good passing attack. This paid off on a Claude Daniel to Obi Ezemma pass connection over the middle for 46 yards to the Tiger 19 yard line, with Ike Nduka making the TD-saving tackle.
With 3rd and 5 on the Tiger 13, Daniel again working the QB option raced around left end for a 13 yard touchdown run. Daniel tried racing around right end for a killer 2-point conversion but Shawn Jimison pursued caught him from behing and spun him to the turf. No good. We did not know it at the time, but this was a huge stop. A stop made possible because the Tigers have an ethic and that is to make a greater effort on the next play.
The scored stood at 14-7 at the half. By halftime, Ike Nduka had gained 121 yards on 23 carries, and the Tigers had no touchdowns to show for this great effort. The crack Ramapo Marching Band (The best Band West of the Hudson River), dazzled the fans with University of Southern California quality in their halftime spectacular. Photo by WPCNR Sports
It was an amazing first half. Ramapo seemed capable of moving the ball really well agains the White Plains D. What could be done? How would the Tigers come out in the second half? Would they have enough to shut the hard running Hall and Daniel? A lesser team at halftime might be disheartened by the lost touchdown or the final touchdown going into halftime. But, hey, this is White Plains.
The Nduka-clear Holocaust Begins.
At half time, the coaches did not speak. Khaly Merot (53), Garry Morello (22) and Tommie Lee (21) spontaneously addressed the team and fired them up in a scene out of the movies.
The Tigers received the second half kickoff, and the cheerleader parent sitting beside and I agreed that the Tigers had to take it down and tie the game.
That’s what they did.
On a drive reminiscent of the ghosts of the Green Bay Packers.
Starting from their 30 the orange and black drove 70 yards in 9 plays, tying the score on a Ike Nduka 2 yard run and a Pablo kick. It was 14-14 with 7:40 to go in the third quarter.
The big plays on this drive were an Avery to Connor Gilmartin-Donahue pass (right over the middle) forfirst down on the 50.
PAGING JIM TAYLOR: Then on 2nd and 2 from the Ramapo 48, Nduka took a pitchback and rolled around right end, like the old Green Bay sweep, gathering steam sweeping up tacklers to the Rampo 23. Another first down. On first and 10 from the 23, Kevin Avery hit Shawn Jimison at the 10 with a flat pass for another first down. Then in three plays, it was Nduka up the middle for 4. Nduka to the 2. Nduka OVER! Photo by WPCNR Sports
NDUKA POUNDS IT IN FOR THE EQUALIZER. Photo by WPCNR Sports
The Stop and The Hit.
Now how would Ramapo respond was the question. White Plains had chewed up half the quarter with this classic drive with Jim Taylor (Ike Nduka) bread-and-butter plays with just the right Starr to Dowler mix (Avery to any one of a corps of receivers).
Ramapo took over and the Tigers chewed them up. Tommie Lee bottled up Morgan Hall on first down. The fullback was turned at the corner. On 3rd down an offside made it 3rd and 5 and Morgan Hall was stopped at the 36. Ramapo punted.
The Tigers got the ball back and could not move it, punting. But this series saw Kevin Avery hit after he had delivered a 3rd pass to Connor Lantier. Avery was down on the ground and the trainers came out. Holding his helmeted head in his hands, Kevin looked very hurt as his leg was tested. He walked off, limping after the injury time out. This reporter felt a flag should have been thrown for the late hit, but no yellow was thrown.
Stop Two
After bobbling Siaba’s high bounced punt, with White Plains almost recovering the bobble. Ramapo took over again.
The team the Tigers could not stop in the first half was stopped again.
After taking over at their 21, Claude Daniel ran for a first down to the 38. Ramapo only managed to get to their 40 yard line on three plays after that. Khaly Merot and Joe Henry combined to stop Morgan Hall at the 40 on second down. On 3rd and 9 from the 40, Akin Benton, Khaly Merot and Gerard Bryant combined to drag Craig Daniel down on a big sack back on the Ramapo 30 to end the third quarter, the score tied 14-14. This was another huge defensive play by the fastest most superbly conditioned linemen in the county. You have to be in condition to make this kind of play in the 4th quarter.
The Lone Tiger Rides Again.
Ramapo punted from their 30 as Joe Danyo almost blocked the punt as the fourth quarter started as the skies were a dramatic gray and the shadows long.
White Plains came to the line of scrimmage at their own 45 and a desperate fan from the Ramapo section hollered, “Watch 28!” It was sound advice.
Kevin Avery returned to the controls and pressed the Nduka Button.
It was Nduka for 5 up the gut to the 50, and as the drive rolled, it began to look like one of those NFL Films drives, the only thing missing was Harry Kalas narration.
On 2nd and 5 from the 50, rolling towards the scoreboard end of the field, Avery pitched back to Ike on the famous Green Bay sweep Nduka who seems to get bigger and faster as he runs like some kind of Incredible Hulk transformation, circled end down to the Gryphon 22 yard line, a 28-yard pickup on a sweep.
You know what’s coming but you can’t stop it.
In amazement fans watched Nduka lug up the middle for 1, up the middle for 4, and up the middle to the 10 for another first down. I mean, the White Plains line was annihilating the bigger Gryphons, pushing them aside like bottom heavy bowling pins. Nduka followed this up with his Jim Brown ability to carry two tacklers at a time on his back for an extra 5 yards after he was stopped each carry. He was awesome.
Avery Time
With first and 10 just short of the 10, Ramapo stiffened. A carry by Ike was stopped, a floater to Shawn Jimison over the middle was just knocked away by two defenders. It was 3rd down and long again. It was Avery time!
Kevin rolled right on his bad leg, looked right but as he has done so many times this season he threw left. To a cutting Gary Morello down the far side line in coffin corner! Two defenders on him. There was a phone booth opening to get it to him, and throwing off a bad leg, Avery floated it in on the G-Mab waist high with a floating doomsday pass.
Morello, legs out in front of him, eyes on the ball, gathered it in as the tacklers hit him, and somehow fell in between the orange fonton and the goal line for the 6 points. Pablo added the point and White Plains had the lead 21-14 with 7:58 to go in the game.
Stop Three.
White Plains kicked off. Ramapo took the ball on their 30 and moved the ball to their 45 for a first down. A third down pass was complete but they were short of the first down at the 50 and were forced to punt. White Plains took over with 4:53 to go and a piling on penalty, (a stupid play by a Ramapo player), gave the Tigers a gift first down on the Ramapo 23. Then it was the Nduka thingy again. Nduka took the ball to the 15, then to the 5…and then he was over again for his second touchdown of the day. Pablo added the point and it was 28-14.
Avery to Ike The Elixir: Kevin Avery hands off to Ike Nduka (28) in 58th minute of the game, and Ike pounds to the 2 to set up Ike’s second and final touchdown to ice the game. Nduka has arms wrapped on the ball, the number 8 showing. Photo by WPCNR Sports
Ramapo drove to a first and goal on the White Plains 5 but were stopped inside the final minute in a final demonstation by the Tiger Dee.
Every week White Plains gives you a game to remember.
Every week, White Plains Tigers make the plays you remember.
When the DeVeres, the Ridenours, the Averys, the Ndukas, the Morellos, the Lantiers, the Bentons, the Lees of today are replaced by new young legends they too, will play with the intangibles that White PlainsTiger players have: poise, coolness, and the ability to rise to greatness when it is needed.
PUT IT IN THE BOOKS! Tigers finished the game with a goal line stand .Photo by WPCNR Sports.
Every week, I learn something new about this 2004 White Plains Tiger football team. Early this season I learned they could take unfairness like champions against Mount Vernon.
Saturday afternoon, I saw these Tigers by the sheer force of their collective will unite as one and with all contributing behind the mighty effort of the great Nduka shut down a bigger offense and totally take over a game that many lesser teams would have folded against.
Two outstanding touchdown drives in the third and fourth quarters had the character of those Green Bay Packer drives in the 1960s when handoff after handoff went to Jim Taylor, and when it was third down and must, or 4th down or die, Bart Starr would coolly crank one to Boyd Dowler or Max MacGee.
The second half was also the best half of football I have seen the Tigers play in the five years WPCNR has covered White Plains football. The team did not make a turnover, and had only one penalty the entire second half and allowed only two first downs. Ramapo had only four possessions. White Plains held the ball for 17 of the 24 minutes of the half.
Saturday, Ike Nduka was a little Jim Taylor, a little Jim Brown, a lot of Gayle Sayers rolled into one: 40 carries for 221 yards. Kevin Avery as a leader kind of quarterback who consistently makes the big 3rd down pass coolly, and he has ends that can catch the tough ones. Notre Dame may have “The Gipper,” but the Tigers have “The Duker.”
The Tigers Greatest Hit.
There was one incredible hit taken by a White Plains punt return man that shows the character of the teams Mark Santa Donato and his staff create.
Tommie Lee was about to catch a punt, just before the Tigers started their drive for the winning touchdown. He was watching the high punt all the way, knew he did not have time to make a fair catch, knew he was going to get leveled by two Rams as soon as he caught and BOOM-BOOM they got him, but he held on to the ball. He drops it or shies, the Tigers lose the ball. But, that was a great, gutsy play!
One to Remember. Photo by WPCNR Sports
