The stakes were high last week, but state-ranked (No. 12) Mahopac could not cash in against reigning Section 1 champion Tappan Zee, ranked No. 3 in NYS, after the host Dutchies secured a 35-19 win over the Wolf Pac on April 17.
The loss, though tough to handle, was followed by a win over Brewster that left the Wolf Pac at 7-2 overall—still very much in the sectional championship picture should they put their best foot forward in the days ahead.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Mahopac coach Andrew Ryan said. “TZ is an unbelievable team, but I’m extremely proud of our effort.”
While the Wolf Pac failed to knock off the reigning champions, they bounced back in a big way the next day to post a 19-0 win over the visiting Bears, the 2025 sectional runners-up and 2024 champs.
Against Tappan Zee, Wolf Pac senior QB Maria Garofalo fired three TD passes in a losing effort, two of which went to senior WR Niamh Kelleher (6 tackles, 4 catches for 15 yards, 1 PAT). Defensively, the Wolf Pac saw freshman LB/DB Courtney Koch snag a career-best six flags. Junior Kayleigh Dolan (1 catch, 24 yards, 46 rushing yards, 1 tackle), senior Gianna Dolan (1 TD catch for 6 yards, 3 tackles) and senior Fiona Kelleher (1 catch for 20 yards, 16 rushing yards, 5 tackles) also chipped in on both sides of the ball.
Against Brewster, the Wolf Pac D went into lockdown mode to post Mahopac’s fifth shutout of the season. Versatile Fiona Kelleher (3 catches, 54 yards, 1 TD, 4 tackles, 1 pick-6) did all the things Fiona Kelleher does.
“Fiona Kelleher was all over the place,” coach Ryan said.
Garofalo hit on 15 completions for 98 passing yards and a TD. Kayleigh Dolan (4 catches, 13 yards, 41 rushing yards, 1 TD, 2 tackles/sacks), Niamh Kelleher (5 catches, 21 yards, 1 PAT, 3 tackles, 1 INT), Koch (8 tackles), Anastasia Villani (2 catches, 9 yards, 5 tackles) and Olivia Hoyt (2 tackles, 1 sack) were impactful in the win.
In a 58-19 romp of visiting Ossining on April 13, the Wolf Pac put up some stunning numbers, including Garofalo (13 completions, 134 passing yards, 3 passing TDs), Fiona Kelleher (3 catches, 17 receiving yards, 31 rushing yards, TD, 2 PATs, 6 tackles, 2 INTs, including a pick-6), Niamh Kelleher (4 catches, 24 receiving yards, 101 rushing yards and a TD, 2 receiving TDs), Gianna Dolan (3 catches, 78 receiving yards and a TD), Kayleigh Dolan (2 catches, 56 rushing yards and a TD, 5 tackles, 2 sacks), Koch (3 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 pick-6), Olivia Hoyt (17 rushing yards, 2 tackles, 1 sack), Taylor Kilmer (1 catch for 7 yards), Riley Hughes (17 rushing yards and a TD), Lily Mazzarulli (2 tackles), Abby Spedaliere (2 tackles, 2 sacks), Maya Ilardi (2 tackles, 2 sacks), Madi John and Ruthmy Perez (1 tackle each).
On April 10, Mahopac cruised past Putnam Valley in a 33-0 rout.
“It was yet another defensive master class,” coach Ryan said. “Big shout out to our eighth grader Lily Mazzarulli for stepping in and playing lights out in dire need.”
Kayleigh Dolan and Fiona Kelleher each had a pair of TDs and LB Anastasia Villani (4 tackles, 1 INT) was pivotal in Mahopac’s fourth shutout of the season.
Mahopac was scheduled to visit rival Carmel on April 20, then host Somers on April 24 before a visit to John Jay CR on April 28.
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