SOMERS, N.Y. - On Friday, Oct. 31, the three-time defending champions hosted Clarkstown North, and the small, sedate crowd seemed confident that the first-round matchup would pose little concern. Not looking to summon any Somers ghosts, the Tuskers quickly proved their faithful correct on Halloween night.
The defense got the visitors off the field after just three plays, and Somers scored three plays later to set the tone for a 35–7 victory.
Pressure undid quarterback Jack Kavanagh in the opening sequence, while synergy had the opposite effect on Tristan Iglesias and Dean Palazzolo. On first down, the Somers quarterback stepped up in the pocket and hit his trusted receiver in stride for a 66-yard touchdown strike.
At 9:24, Clarkstown’s second drive ended much the same way — quickly. After a couple of fruitless plays, Somers took over at midfield. Iglesias connected with Palazzolo over the middle to the 41, and two runs by Nate Mitchell moved the ball to the 15.
On second down and five, Iglesias kept the ball outside for a first down at the nine. After Mitchell was tackled for a loss, he ran it in from the 11 with 2:33 left in the quarter.
Up 14–0 after Gavin Kelly’s extra point, Somers’ defense bent but didn’t break. Clarkstown drove all the way to the 20-yard line before three no-gain plays, a holding penalty, and a sack ended the threat on downs.
Clarkstown found some defensive footing next, forcing the Tuskers to punt for the first time. But any thought of momentum quickly faded when Lorenzo D’Ambrosio delivered a crushing tackle over the middle, jarring the ball loose from a Clarkstown receiver.
Still, the Rams held firm and forced Somers into a fourth-and-12 from the 36. The Tuskers opted to punt and play the field-position game with two minutes left in the half. That decision paid off when Clarkstown was pinned at its own one-yard line, and three plays later, Somers had the ball back with time to spare.
Taking over just 42 yards out, the Tuskers needed only two plays and 20 seconds. Palazzolo made a sideline grab at the 21, and Kelly hauled in another Iglesias touchdown pass in the corner with 48 seconds left in the half.
Intermission didn’t save Clarkstown either. Receiving to open the third quarter, Palazzolo fielded the kickoff on a bounce, ignited his broom, and flew through the coverage for an 80-yard touchdown return.
Dean Monachelli’s 12-yard touchdown reception capped the scoring as Somers cruised to a 35–7 win and advanced to the next round.
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