YORKTOWN, N.Y.—No. 2A Yorktown’s season came to an abrupt end in its 27-19 loss to visiting No. 3B Eastchester in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Class A Tournament on Oct. 31.
However, what happened after the game at midfield was far more important than what happened during it for Yorktown, as players and coaches genuinely embraced one another in long and heartfelt hugs afterwards.
That’s because when it comes to Yorktown football, family isn’t just a slogan, it’s a way of life.
“To me, it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later,” said Yorktown coach Pantelis Ypsilantis. “These are lifelong bonds that were forged during the season. Coaches, with the kids, when we say we are a family, we mean it. We’ll coach them up throughout their entire lives. Anytime they need us, they know where we are and we will be paying attention to what they are doing going forward. Losing stinks but I told them (his players) not to get hung up on the end result, instead to enjoy the journey.”
Yorktown senior captain Tyler Galante (3 receptions, 69 yards; 12 tackles, 2 for a loss), said the embracing of coaches and players after the game was meaningful.
“It really means a lot,” Galante said. “All the coaches, all the parents around, all the boys around. It’s just sad because we built this bond and it’s over now. What we have is special.”
Yorktown’s defense, helped by Rocco Lore (10 tackles) and Dion Balaj (7 tackles), came up big with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter, with Eastchester having a first and 10 at the Huskers’ 19-yard line. That’s when it forced a fumble, which Galante recovered and brought to the Huskers’ 30 yard-line.
“Props for Eamon (Coney) for hitting it out,” Galante said. “It just fell right in my arms and I caught it, and I just kept running with it.”
That play set up the Huskers’ first score. Off that fumble recovery, Yorktown jumped out to a 6-0 lead when a 2-yard touchdown run by Coney (4 tackles) finished a 10-play, 70-yard drive with 21 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
“We had really good tempo on that drive,” Ypsilantis said. “We were gaining yards and making plays. When the ball is moving and we are getting first downs, it’s easier to call the offense. We did a nice job blocking and moving the ball.”
The key play on the drive came when David Jerome (5/13, 105 yards) connected with Galante on a third and 17 with a 33-yard pass that put the ball at the 2-yard line, setting up Coney’s score.
“I told coach Trager (Brandon, offensive coordinator), I kept telling him the middle was open, throw it in the middle, and it was there open,” Galante said.
Dominic DeBellis made sure Yorktown took that 6-0 lead into halftime when he intercepted a pass at the Huskers’ 4-yard line with 54 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
“That interception was huge,” Ypsilantis said. “It kept us in the lead. He’s a sophomore who just recently came up from JV and made a heck of a play.”
Yorktown (4-5) extended its lead with an electrifying 77-yard punt return for a touchdown by Galante, with Adam Yakout’s extra point giving the Huskers’ a 13-0 advantage with 8:43 to play in the third quarter.
“I just saw the gap, I made the defender miss, and I broke a couple of tackles,” Galante said.
The Eagles rallied with touchdown runs of 5 and 1 yard to go up 14-13 but Yorktown responded to take the lead back 19-14 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Tyler Caricati (15 carries, 102 yards; 2 receptions, 36 yards; 3 tackles) with 55 seconds left in the third stanza. Caricati set up his own score with a 3-yard run, that was preceded by a 36-yard scamper.
“Tyler is a dawg,” Ypsilantis said. “He doesn’t go down with the first hit, he keeps his feet moving. He’s a really great player, luckily we have him for another year.”
Eastchester came back to seal the win in the final quarter, on touchdown runs of 45 and 1.
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