Schalmont ground game wins By JAMES ALLEN Staff Writer Published: 12:00 a.m., Sunday, November 21, 2010
High school football -- Schalmont players celebrate their win over Croton-Harmon in the state Class B semifinal football game. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)
KINGSTON -- Schalmont's second trip to the state Class B semifinals proved vastly more enjoyable than the first one in 2009.
Schalmont delivered a superlative all-around effort and scored the final three touchdowns of the game to register a 28-14 victory over Section I champion Croton-Harmon on Saturday at Kingston's Dietz Stadium.
"I'm proud of these guys," Schalmont second-year coach Joe Whipple said. "We set goals. We stuck together through thick and thin."
The Sabres did not attempt a pass against the Tigers; the ground game proved to be more than ample enough as Schalmont secured its first trip to the Carrier Dome.
The Sabres (12-0) move on to face No. 1-ranked Hornell (12-0), the defending state champions, in the state title game next Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Carrier Dome. Schalmont is the first Section II team since Albany Academy in 2006, and just the fourth overall, to compete for the Class B state championship.
"It's phenomenal. I can't even believe it," Schalmont senior receiver/defensive back Alberto Beltran said. "I'm so happy. I'm sure everyone is."
A year ago, Schalmont struggled from the outset during its state semifinal game against Section I champion Nanuet, a 28-7 loss. That setback provided the motivation for the success in 2010, Whipple believes.
"We said if we want to get here, we're going to have to live in the weight room and we have stick together. We'll have our goals, and we don't let anyone sway you from them," Whipple said.
This time, against a physical squad from Section I, the Sabres were never overmatched.
Schalmont marched 65 yards on its opening possession. Senior running back Jaren Ramundo burst down the sideline for 46 yards to the Tigers' 1. On the next play, senior quarterback Joe Paskevich scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
Croton-Harmon (10-1), also a team that features a strong rushing attack, responded with a pair of scoring drives capped by touchdown runs by bruising senior fullback Kevin Soares for a 14-7 lead with 4:37 remaining in the second quarter.
Undaunted, Schalmont answered as Ramundo (191 yards on just 12 carries) took a direct snap and raced left for what turned into a 17-yard touchdown run with 2:02 left before intermission. The extra-point by JJ Murphy knotted the score at 14.
"We decided in the locker room that we weren't going to let them go anywhere. We were going to stop them and finish this game off," Beltran said. "We did."
Credit Beltran. First, he returned the second-half kickoff to the Tigers' 49, and then he added two long runs before ending the march with a 6-yard touchdown run. Schalmont had a 21-14 lead with 9:24 left in the third quarter.
Croton-Harmon decided to gamble on fourth down four times in the second half. Two worked and two did not. Schalmont pushed the advantage to 28-14 when freshman running back Devon Willis burst up the middle untouched on a 39-yard touchdown run with 47 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Tigers gained 280 yards on 70 plays. The Sabres were more efficient, rolling up 357 yards on 38 runs.
Schalmont now is one win from capping the best season in school history with a state title, but the Sabres will have to unseat 2009 champion Hornell.
"This is special and they wanted to stay together one more week," Whipple said of his players. "They are going to give it everything they've got, and more, Sunday night."
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Congrats Saber's.(Don't believe that comment is sincere ask Mrs Pepe) - no go out there and make the max of my tax money and kick Mohan's A$$ in your Regents scores - do that and you will will a yes vote come May
If not for me or yourselves, Do it for ACE
Talking to each other is better than talking about each other
Schalmont has plenty of options By JAMES ALLEN Staff Writer Published: 12:51 a.m., Saturday, November 27, 2010
High school football -- Schalmont's Joe Rosen, left, and Jaren Ramundo are all smiles after their win over Croton-Harmon. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)
ROTTERDAM -- Jaren Ramundo made a profound statement about the 2010 version of the Schalmont High football team, compared to the 2009 version, after the Sabres beat Ravena for their second straight Section II Class B title.
"We have more weapons and kids have stepped up," Ramundo said. "Everyone wants to get a chance to run the ball, so everyone works hard every time they have the ball."
Schalmont coach Joe Whipple has tweaked the running game throughout the season but believes the current backfield setup featuring Ramundo, 235-pound senior Nick Reali and freshman speedster Devon Willis has been the Sabres' most potent unit.
Last week in the state semifinals, Ramundo, Reali and Willis combined for 257 yards on only 21 attempts and scored three touchdowns in a 28-14 win over Croton-Harmon.
"That is the good part of the offense: They are all going to touch the ball a little bit," Whipple said. "I don't care what anybody says, if one kid gets the ball a lot more than the rest, the other kids are thinking, 'What's wrong with me?' Jaren has more rushes than anyone else, and he is our best athlete, but guys like Nick, Devon and Joe (Paskevich, Schalmont's quarterback) run the ball a lot."
Schalmont (12-0) looks to capture the school's first state Class B title Sunday night when the Sabres take on 2009 state champion Hornell (12-0) at the Carrier Dome. The game begins at 6 p.m..............>>>>..............>>>>.................................http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Schalmont-has-plenty-of-options-835017.php
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
It was great to see the Schalmont football team honored at the Town Board meeting tonight. They deserved the recognition. Similarly, it was great to see the Schalmont seniors who are in the S.U.P.A. class give a great presentation on the survey that they conducted .. and great to see that they were recognized for their efforts as well.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
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