WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. September 13, 2003 UPDATED 10:30 PM. E.D.T.: John Corretti  swooped in and got a paw on a Gorton punt in the first quarter on the GHS 30 and Mike Johnson alertly fell on it, to start the Tigers on their way to their second win of the 2003 season at mist-swept Gorton High in Yonkers Saturday.

Moments later after the Tigers had scored on 5 consecutive runs by Spencer Ridenhour TD plunge capped by Number 33's first touchdown of the season, Evan McGuire recovered a fumble on a sloppy Gorton reverse to set up the Orange and Black on the Gorton 35.

Mike Devere followed that play up with a sweet cross-the field 35 yard touchdown strike to Ryan Smalls. After seven minutes of play, the Tigers had a 14-0 lead, and held off the Wolves the rest of the way to win 28-14. Spencer Ridenhour intercepted a Gorton pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to give White Plains a 21-8 lead at half-time. Ike Nduka emerged as a chew-em-up companion back to Ridenhour, rushing unofficially  for close to 100 yards in the second half, scoring the Tigers clinching TD in the third quarter.

TIGERS SET THE TONE IN FIRST HALF: Mike Lane, a major force in the Tiger secondary all afternoon, stops a Gorton touchdown at the close of the first half. The "Night Train" added an amazing interception in the third quarter to set the Tiger clincher. The Orange and Black defense contained Gorton sweeps and passes all day on a slippery field, stretching most every series Gorton ran to the full 3 downs or 3-and-out. Photo by WPCNR Sports

White Plains kicked off and stopped Gorton on downs, thanks to that “old reliable,” the Illegal Procedure penalty, that set Groton back to third and 9. After a pass failed to convert, Gorton naturally punted into the 15 knot East wind. Corretti shed a blocker coming in from the left side, got a piece of the ball. It popped in the air and hit on the 35, and Michael Johnson covered it on the 35. First down, White Plains.

6 for 6

After a Mike Devere pass over the middle couldn’t be handled, Devere handed off to Number 33 (Spencer Ridenhour) who started rumbling going left, going right, picking up momentum down the middle to the 13 yard line for a first down.

That worked so well, Devere gave it to him for the same play for 5 yard to the 8, another carry for 4 and on third and 1 from the four yard line, Spence was pushed by Devere for the first and goal. Ridenhour jammed in for his first rushing touchdown of the year at 7:04. The booming extra point by Pablo Siaba cleared not only the uprights but landed in a church yard across the street to make it 7-0. The Tigers, with Devere handling the ball crisply and the offensive line clearing the smaller Wolves with strong surges set the tone for the day.

FUMMMMBOOOOOL!  And a  TD Flyer.

Two minutes later, the Tigers scored again on another “good hands” play. The Wolves attempted a reverse in the back field and the handoff was missed. There it was the football free on the grass at the Gorton 25. Evan McGuire smothered it for the turnover.

On First from the Gorton 25, “Lefty” Devere rolled slight to his left. Ryan Smalls lit out diagonally for the sideline to the 10. Devere lead him perfectly over Ryan’s right shoulder and he was long gone, ahead of the back with the angle and inside the goal line

Pontoon for his first touchdown of the season. Siaba kicked the point and it was 14-0 with 4:52 to go in the first quarter.

Ridenhour Picks Them Off.

White Plains came right back after holding Gorton on downs, and drove to the Gorton 10 as the first quarter ended, only to be stopped on fourth down at the 10 when they fumbled. Gorton tried to pass their way out after being pushed back to their own two yard line. Not a good thing to pass deep in your own territory. Their quarterback’s pass in the right flat was read perfectly be Spencer Ridenhour who picked it off at the 15 and gleefully lightfooted it into paydirt for a 20-0 lead. Siaba’s point made it 21-0.

KILLING CLOCK in the Third Quarter. The Tigers moved the ball at will, taking "comeback time" off the clock. Photo by WPCNR

Gorton scored at the end of the first have on a quarterback draw play on fourth down and added a trick 2-point conversion to make the score 21-8 at the half.

Third Quarter Defense Comes Through.

White Plains took the kickoff in the second half and drove to the Gorton 33 and the strong running of Ike Nduka who picked up 11 and 8 yards, complementing Spencer. A fumble turned the ball over at the Gorton 30, but White Plains got it right back.

Gorton on their first play from their own 30, fired a pass to the right flat near the sideline, behind the receiver. Mike Lane dove to his knees caught the moist football in front of him when he was going down, bellied it,  and came up with a critical “pick,” taking away Gorton’s shot at getting back in the game. With the score 21-8 at the time, it was a great play, the third defensive gem of the game for White Plains. White Plains took over, first and 10 at the 40.

All Nduka All the Time.

Then Ike Nduka out of tailback, took up where he had left off.  After Ryan Smalls was interfered with on the Gorton 15, White Plains moved up to first and 10 on the 25.

It was Nduka for 5 to the 20. Then it was Nduka again, up the middle, hitting one tackler, spinning off, gaining momentum, scattering Wolves like puppies, breaking about 5 tackles, “rumblin’” in the best Jim Brown tradition all the way to the 2. An 18-yard pickup.

The next play was easy. Nduka again up the middle for the touchdown. Siaba booted the point and it was 28-8 with 7:18 to play in the third quarter.

White Plains kept Gorton in check, wasting a few mini drives by fumbles, but it did not matter the rest of the way. Gorton scored their final touchdown in the last two minutes with the game well in hand.

Offense Poised. Defense Pouncy.

The play of the White Plains line opened holes well, and the ability to “show throw” caught Gorton unprepared to stop Ridenhour at the very opening drive, and made Nduka particularly effective in the third and fourth quarters. Unofficially, I would guess White Plains gained around 250 yards rushing in this one, had to have a great edge in time of possession.

White Plains generated touchdowns from four turnovers, three of them created.

 On offense, the cohesive line play and precise routes and timing by the running backs in taking the handoffs from Devere and hitting the holes was outstanding.

The New Toe in Town.

The talk of the stands was Pablo Siaba's extra points. He is now 5 for 5. When was the last time, we have seen that?  I mean he booms them through the uprights and brings foot to the ball quickly, with the style and consistency of a professional football kicker. As one Papa Tiger said in the stands, "I've never seen extra points like this at this level." Way to go, Pablo.

The Grandstand Offensive Coordinators were having dreams of Field Goals dancing in their visions down the gridiron road.