Clinging to their playoff lives, coach Dominick DeMatteo’s Wolf Pac (3-3 in Section 1, 3-4 overall) responded with Mahopac's two biggest wins of the season — 20-17 over Yorktown on Oct. 10 and 28-0 over Eastchester on Oct. 16 — to keep its playoff hopes alive heading into the regular-season finale at Peekskill on Oct. 24.
“Absolutely, those wins were big for us,” QB Ethan Dedvukaj said. “Even though Eastchester wasn’t a league game, we needed to win and have momentum going into the final week of the regular season. We need to go into this week like it’s a playoff game: We win and we are in (the playoffs). Can’t be lazy, need to stay sharp and play our game. We will make a big run and shock everyone.”
The weather was wild at Eastchester. Heavy first-half rains slowed the Wolf Pac's offense before it eventually found its rhythm. Leading 7-0 at the half, the Wolf Pac took advantage of a suspect Eagle defense, averaging 7.6 yards per carry behind RBs Jack Egan (11 rushes, 93 yards, TD), Ryan Grabeklis (11-69, TD) and Dedvukaj (9-74, 2 TDs). That was enough to keep the chains moving in the second half, leading to three TDs.
“The kids believe in what we are doing,” DeMatteo said. “It’s all about getting better every week regardless of the outcome or perception of the causes of the outcome. We study the film, make the corrections and aim to get better every week. With that approach, things typically get better as the season progresses rather than get worse.”
The defense also stepped up, led by LB Sean Carson (4.5 tackles), Jack Kadan (4) and Luigi Luce (4).
Against Yorktown (2-4, 2-5), Egan did the bulk of the damage on the ground, rushing for 85 yards on 17 totes, and a healthy Grabeklis (9 rushes, 52 yards) and Dedvukaj (7 rushes, 38 yards) each found paydirt as the Wolf Pac amassed 175 yards on 33 carries. Dedvukaj (8-13 passing) added an 11-yard TD strike to Justin Lopez and hit on five completions to LaRue (49 yards).
Defensively, Egan (5 tackles), LaRue (5), Sal Garufi (6.5, 6 solos), Max Smolinski (4.5, 4 solos) and Sean Carson (6) came up big while DBs Nick Lucia and Matt Asadoorian each picked off a pass to thwart Yorktown drives.
With the back-to-back wins keeping them in the playoff hunt, the Wolf Pac’s season of ups and downs will hinge on a Week 7 matchup at rebuilding Peekskill: A win and they’re in.
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