WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. October 12, 2002 UPDATED 11:00 PM: White Plains was 2 yards away from the go-ahead “6,” and it was 4th down with 3 minutes, 49 seconds to go. The Tiger faithful were roaring. The Knights followers were screaming for “Defense.” One big play was coming up.
TURNED ASIDE ON 4TH AND GOAL: After three handoffs to Spencer Ridenhour had gotten the ball to the 2, the call went to Darrell Mack. Churning valiantly into the pile in the pelting late afternoon rain, the Knights held him off. When the referees untangled the pile,Mack was on his back the ball on his chest, six inches from paymud. Mount Vernon had held, and the Tigers were done. The 24-22 loss was the Tigers’ best effort of the season with only one turnover on a rainswept Saturday afternoon.
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Mount Vernon took over and was forced to punt from their goal line, but Mount Vernon’s Coach, Ric Wright, made the absolute right call, he instructed his punter to take a safety, rather than punt, necessitating a free kick from the 20.
Outstanding clock management
Wright also showed judicious use of the clock calling time out before the White Plains 4th and goal, which might have watered down Tiger adrenaline just enough. Wright also milked the clock beautifully on the count down to the safety play.
On the ensuing kick, White Plains fumbled, the only fumble of the day, and Mount Vernon ran down the clock until 20 seconds were left. Mike Devere threw one pass to Mack at the 15 which was tipped away and was intercepted on his last ditch throw to the far sideline, and Mount Vernon remained undefeated.
It was a remarkably error free game considering the slanting rain that fell during the first and fourth quarters.
80 yard kickoff return stands up for Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon’s winning touchdown came on an 80 yard kick off return with one minute to go in the third quarter, right after White Plains had taken the lead, 20-16. Deshawn Washington ran through the entire White Plains team slipping through tacklers and breaking out of the scrum at his own 40 and lighting out for the near sideline, and down the alley. 80 yards, six points.
Tackling was difficult all day as runners were ahead of the tacklers, thanks to the rainsoaked uniforms, wet hands and the treacherous footing slowing down defender cuts and pursuits.
Touchdown Save, too.
Washington had also saved a touchdown by bringing down Darrell Mack on the sideline at the 30 yard line of Mount Vernon on the last play of the first half. Darrell had just made a beautiful interception and was returning his pickoff of Knight pass about 50 yards to the vicinity of the 30. Washington caught up to Darrell and saved 6 points with a looming tackle, using his height advantage to overpower Mack’s desparate straight arm and bring him down.
Ridenhour Scores three touchdowns
The Tigers started fast, taking the opening kickoff and after an encroachment penalty gave them a first down on the 50, Spencer Ridenhour rambled 40 yards to the Knight five. He punched in from 3 yards out for a 7-0 lead with the point after just two minutes of the First Quarter. He was to score two more touchdowns.
White Plains moved the ball very well against Mount Vernon, showing their most consistent offensive display of the season pushing them off the ball afternoon, except once.
Mount Vernon strikes back.
The Knights speed immediately got the lead back when DeShawn Washington dashed 36 yards to tie the score, and a run for 2-points put Vernon ahead 8-7, with 30 seconds. Only 6 minutes had gone by in the game.
KNIGHTS STOP IN EARLY 2ND QUARTER pushed the Tigers back from the Knight 5 to the 10, and on 4th down, Tony Ciaramella attempted a 25 yard field goal which fell just wide right.
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After the exchange, the Knights Qb appeared about to be sacked at his own 45, when he hit a receiver across the middle who eluded two Tigers and raced to the White Plains 10. Washington took it in for the score moments later, and again added a 2-point conversion and it was 16-7.
RIDENHOUR CLAWS HIS WAY IN ON 4TH DOWN TO BRING TIGERS TO WITHIN 16-14 AT THE HALF.
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The Tiger comeback in the second quarter was sparked by a brilliant 3rd and 5 pass play at mid-field from Mike Devere to Terrell Smith. Smith slipped behind the Knight secondary wide open turned to face Mike and Devere hit him with a strike. Terrell lit out for the far side of the field and reached the Knights’ 10.
Three plays later, on 4th Down, Spencer Ridenhour powered in for the touchdown that with the point, closed the gap to 16-14 at intermission. On the last play of the half Darrell Mack was caught after 60 yard pass interception return that almost gave White Plains the lead.
Second Half Drama
At the beginning of the second half, the Tigers stopped Mount Vernon on the Knights first series, could not move, then Terrell Smith intercepted a Knight pass, returning it to the White Plains 28. From there the Tigers started a drive.
The drive moved doggedly, with the Tigers alternating runs between Darrell Mack and Spencer Ridenhour until they were stalled on 3rd and 5 at the Knights 47. Once again Devere dropped back. Incredibly, Terrell Smith, good old number 19, had slipped behind the Knights backpedaling secondary again.
Devere landed it right there and the chase was on. Smith rambled 42 yards to the Knights 5 before being surrounded and mug-tackled at the 5 stripe because he refused to go down.
TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN! Spencer Ridenhour gives the Tigers the lead with a minute to go in the third quarter with a power surge from the 2 into the promised land.
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On the ensuing kickoff, DeShawn Washington, ran back the ball 80 yards for the winning touchdown which was preserved by the goalline stand with 3:49 to go in the game.
After punt exchanges in the fourth quarter, the Tigers took over at their own 45 because of a Mount Vernon mistake. Eschewing a punt on 4th and 3, Mount Vernon attempted a hand-off, messing up the snap. The Tigers recovered at their own 48. With a third and 5 on the Knight 48, it happened again.
Again, Terrell Smith gave the Knights secondary the slip, getting behind them, turning, catching a strike from QB Mike (Devere). “Tito” was caught from behind at the 10. This set up the final 4 plays of the drive ending with the Tigers unable to punch it in from the 2 for the lead.
DEFINING MOMENT: With both Tiger fans and Knights fans screaming, the tension mounted as the final play of the Tiger drive for the go-aheader approached.
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The Tiger offense had its best day ever, unofficially gaining over 300 yards. They pushed the Knights defense around most of the afternoon. They came away twice inside the 5 yard line without scoring, though, as the Knight defense spread the field well and bunched the middle just enough to make two last stands.
Some day, the Tigers will win one of these humdingers. The Tigers are 3-3.
