SOMERS, N.Y. - After heading into the locker room with a 20–0 lead, it seemed Somers had the sectional semifinal against Harrison well in hand. But a 70-yard touchdown run by Huskies quarterback Jack Badner got the Tuskers’ attention — especially after Harrison stopped the No. 2 seed on the next series. With momentum shifting, Somers needed to regroup, and muscle became the game plan.
“Our defense is full of studs,” said Gavin Kelly — and Dylan Jimenez delivered at the perfect time. His pick-six on third down put the game back on course and allowed the Tuskers to close out a 28–14 victory.
Of course, the offense did its part early. After Dean Palazzolo returned the opening kickoff to the 30-yard line, quarterback Tristan Iglesias connected with Kelly for 17 yards before fullback Nate Mitchell powered through the Harrison defense for another 10.
Facing first down at their own 44, a holding penalty slowed the drive — but Iglesias responded. He hit Kelly for a short gain, then kept the ball himself for a 30-yard run to the 13. Two plays later, Palazzolo took a handoff to the edge and squeezed into the end zone for a 6–0 lead with 7:55 left in the first quarter.
Kelly added the extra point. Harrison managed to reach midfield on a completion to Cole Presto, but the Somers defense stood tall. A backfield tackle by Joey Fink forced a turnover on downs.
From there, the Tuskers’ ground game went to work. On second and eight, Iglesias broke free through contact, dragging a pack of Huskies to the Harrison 46. Then, showing his speed, he cut to the 32 before giving way to Luke Balancia, who carried for 13, then 10, and finally five yards to make it 14–0 with 11:53 left in the half.
Harrison again moved the ball to midfield, but this time Chris Fink stopped the drive cold with a pair of big tackles that forced a punt.
Pinned at their own six, Somers didn’t flinch. After Jaden Abruzese gained four yards, Iglesias burst through the line and appeared to be gone for a 90-yard score — but a holding call at midfield brought it back. Undeterred, Abruzese pounded up the middle for 19 yards, setting up a diving catch by Kelly to the six-yard line.
“I knew I couldn’t give up on the play,” Kelly said.
A play later, Abruzese finished the job, scoring at 4:31 to give Somers a 20–0 halftime lead.
When play resumed, two short-yardage stops by Somers seemed to have Harrison stymied — until Badner broke loose again, racing 74 yards for a touchdown that cut the deficit to 20–7 with 10:04 left in the third.
Somers went three-and-out on the next series, but Kelly made his mark on special teams. “I swung it as hard as I could,” he said of his booming punt that rolled dead at the Harrison six-yard line.
Two plays later, Jimenez read the quarterback perfectly. “I read the quarterback’s eyes and went to the ball,” he said.
He returned the interception for a touchdown, sealing momentum back for Somers. “Scoring on an interception — it’s unlike any other feeling, especially in a big game,” Jimenez added.
After the two-point conversion, Harrison tried to rally again. A facemask penalty and another Badner run moved the Huskies to the Somers 31, but Jackson Whipple quieted the comeback with an interception.
“It’s awesome hearing their fanbase get quiet after a big play,” Whipple said after his first of two picks.
Even then, the Huskies weren’t done. Badner led a six-play, 60-yard scoring drive early in the fourth, cutting the lead to 28–14 with 10:44 remaining. Harrison then recovered an onside kick at midfield, but the Somers defense stiffened once more. Fink and Jaron Faulkner combined on a key tackle, and an overthrow on third down ended the threat.
The Tuskers marched downfield again, and Iglesias connected with Palazzolo on the sideline for a big gain — but a fumble gave Harrison new life at its own nine-yard line with 7:12 to play.
The Huskies converted a fourth down and benefited from a defensive holding call, but Whipple struck again, picking off his second pass to finally seal the win.
Now, Somers turns its attention to a rematch with Rye in the sectional final — a challenge Palazzolo welcomes.
“Come to practice, work hard — it’s that simple,” he said.
The Tuskers will face Rye for the section title on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Mahopac High School.
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