SOMERS, N.Y. - After opening the season with two losses, Somers finally found its footing in a divisional matchup against Yorktown. But when the home team marched downfield for a 3-0 lead, an uneasy silence fell over the stands. The sideline, however, stayed confident.
“We started off a little slow,” said Jaron Faulkner. “Once we got into it though…”
And 30 straight points from Somers completed the senior’s thought.
Yorktown’s opening drive ate up eight minutes and nearly ended in the end zone, but Jackson Whipple closed the door by breaking up a pass on third-and-goal.
With 3:25 left in the first quarter, Somers began at its own 35. A new wrinkle in the offense paid off.
“Running back gives me a different way to get the ball,” said Dean Palazzolo, who picked up the first big gain.
The attack stayed balanced. Nate Mitchell and Tristan Iglesias churned out yards on the ground, while Cam Violante hauled in a short pass to move the ball to the Yorktown 24 as the quarter ended.
Early in the second, quarterback Gavin Kelly connected with Iglesias for the first touchdown. “Gavin is a tremendous overall player,” the receiver said. “He has the size, the speed, everything. But most importantly, he’s worked very hard.” Iglesias then added the extra point for a 7-3 lead.
The defense quickly followed with a three-and-out. “We played furiously,” said defensive tackle and center Lorenzo D’Ambrosio.
Moments later, Palazzolo broke two tackles on a short screen pass and sprinted 71 yards for another score. “I don’t know, maybe I’m a little slippery,” he joked.
Yorktown had no answer, and Somers kept pressing. Palazzolo moved the chains again, and Mitchell battered his way downfield with four bruising runs to the 25. “I don’t think they were having a good time,” the fullback said.
A holding penalty erased that chance, and Yorktown’s Tyler Galante intercepted a jump ball in the end zone. But the Tuskers’ defense forced another punt, and this time Luke Balancia capitalized. Two strong carries set up his own touchdown run from inside the 10, giving Somers a 24-3 lead with 1:08 left in the half.
The score held through a quiet third quarter. In the fourth, Kelly redeemed himself after a missed extra point earlier by drilling a 35-yard field goal. Iglesias capped the scoring with a determined nine-yard touchdown run, breaking through multiple tackles. “He’s special. He’s worked hard, and tonight, he showed it,” said D’Ambrosio.
With the 30-3 win, Somers showed resilience after its slow start. “Things are going to happen, bumps in the road come in but you can’t let that define who you are,” Faulkner said.
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