WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. November 25: The 34th Turkey Bowl featured six senior stalwarts stepping up to make key plays in the White Plains Tigers' 24-8 victory over stubborn and poised Stepinac Crusaders. The contest was played under threatening skies, featured a pelting shower just before the half, and turned gloriously sunny before a festive crowd WPCNR estimates as about 3,000. It was a day that showed all that was good about football.
The game turned on special teams play. Pablo “The Second Toe” Siaba drilled a 22 yard after a goal line stand by the Crusaders in the first quarter.
THE NUKE'S LAST TIGER TOUCHDOWN: Paul Scotman (29) and Gary Morello (22) turn aside tacklers as Ike Nduka standing crosses the goal line for the TD that made the score 9-0 in the second quarter. A partially blocked punt set up the first Tiger touchdown on a signature Kevin Avery to Gary Morello 29 yard pass completion to the 6, followed by lugs by "The Nuke," (Ike Nduka) for Mr. Nduka’s final touchdown as a Tiger. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
This was followed by a 50 yard punt return by Mike “Night Train” Lane breaking open the game in the second quarter, to give the Tigers a 17-0 lead midway through the second stanza.
An interception by Connor Lantier set up the third and final Tiger T.D, putting the Tigers in business on the Crusader 25. Avery’s pretty flare pass in the left flat to a lone Paul Scotman scored the final Tiger 6 of the year, to make it 24-0. The White Plains Tigers finished the season with a 6-4 record, Stepinac, 4-6.
Tiger Stops on 4th Down Stymie Stepinac.
Stepinac took the kickoff on their own 26 and drove 41 yards in 8 plays to the White Plains 33 yard line where they were stopped on a 4th and 2 as the Tigers stalled Dwayne Jones in the middle to take over on downs. The drive was highlighted by Mike Hendersons 13 yard scamper on a quarter draw.
Taking over at the 6 minute mark of the First Quarter the Tiger line systematically drove to the Stepinac 5 on 5 carries by Ike Nduka. The big play occurred on 1st and 10 at the Tiger 43, when QB Kevin Avery pitched back to Nduka who swept around left end gathered steam and got rolling. He lost the handle on the ball at the Crusader 30, picked it up and was pushed out at the Crusader 9, a run of 48 yards. Two carries by Ike got the ball to the five and a pass to Shawn Jimison was tipped by the Crusaders, and the Tigers brought on Pablo Siaba who drilled a 22 yard field goal to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead at the 3:50 mark. (We will miss Mr. Siaba’s leg and all-around kicking game and wish him well.)
The Crusaders took the ensuing kickoff on their own 20. Mark Cleary’s scamper to the 34 gave them a first down. Dwayne Jones carried to the 42. Jones got a first down on the 44. The first down play gained nothing. Then Henderson hit Paul Faia with a short flat pass on the right sideline and Faia took the ball to the Crusader 48. On 3rd and 5, Jones got 3 yards but was stopped at the White Plains 48 by Gerard Bryant, Kahly Merot and Shawn Jimison.
Bryant Gets a Piece of the Punt.
The game turned around as the second quarter started. Stepinac’s 4th and 2 punt was partially blocked by Gerard Bryant and fluttered like a quail where the Tigers recovered it at the Stepinac 46. With the score 3-0, it was still a football game.
Paul Scotman carried straight ahead for 10 yards and fumbled forward at the Crusader 36. Right there with him, was Tiger Khaly Merot to recover his fumble at the 36.
The stage is set.
The next play saw Avery drop back roll right to the near sideline looking for his favorite target the crafty Gary Morello.
How to Beat Double Coverage: Morello found himself doublecovered at the 15 yard line and came up away from the double team to get Avery’s pass. Then swoosh-shazam, Morello whirled and powered between his two defenders to the 6 for a first down and goal. The pass play covered 30 yards, and the play has been a mainstay of the offense this season. Here Mr. Morello is finally bulldogged down at the six after his comebacker catch and spinmove. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
Avery gave the ball to Nduka on first and goal and Ike rammed it to the 2 and went through the middle on the next play. The Tiger line was a cohesive, clear-em-out, take-no-prisoners line today. Pablo Siaba’s point after touchdown made it 10-0 White Plains with 10:21 to go in the first quarter.
Night Train Switches on to the Main Line.
On the ensuing kickoff Stepinac took over on their 22 and could not move it. Punting from his own 6 yard line, the Crusader kicker got the punt off and a good one 25 yards from scrimmage and high, plenty of time to smother any return.
Two Crusaders were within 3 feet on either side of Mike Lane in deep punt coverage for the Tigers at the 50 yard stripe right by the Tiger paw. The two Crusaders in coverage watched flat-footed as Lane moved up to make the catch.
NIGHT TRAIN BURSTS TRIUMPHANTLY OUT OF THE END ZONE AFTER HIS 48 YARD PUNT RETURN. Mike Lane is carrying the football far right. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
Lane leisurely moved ahead of his defenders as if to make a fair catch, but did not raise his hand. He picked off the punt, accelerating, and wheeled left blasting away from them and lit out for the far sideline. DOWN the sideline he went picking up freight cars (blockers) and around the Crusaders he went for a 48 yard touchdown. Siaba’s kick made it 17-0 with 8:06 to go in the half. Two Crusader special team mistakes, the blocked punt, and the punt coverage had been converted into two touchdowns in 4 minutes.
Lantier Picks One Off.
The sky turned dark and threatening with 6 minutes to go in the first half and a brief heavy thunder shower spritzed the big crowd.
Trying to get back into the game, Stepinac attempted to pass, and Connor Lantier picked one off setting up the Tigers with a first down at the Tiger 25. Ike Nduka in the midst of a sudden thunder shower, ran some 70 yards to the Crusader 9. Avery found Paul Scotman all alone running out of the backfield into the flat for a 9-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-0 with the Pablo PAT.
APOCALYPSE NOW: Paul Scotman partially hidden, has just taken a Kevin Avery Pass wide open in the left flat, just two strides ahead of Stepinac's George Kehayas (11) and Justin Kolman (54) and is about to pounce into the endzone for the score that will make it 23-0. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
Excellent clock management.
Will some one tell me why our high school coaches manage the clock better than Tom Coughlin and Herm Edwards?
A personal foul gave Stepinac a first down on the Tiger 35, after a valiant drive by the Crusaders was threatening. With about 15 seconds left in the first half, Mike Henderson found Paul Faia behind the defense in coffin corner for a Stepinac score and 2-point conversion to make the score 24-8 at halftime and that’s the way she stayed.
TOUCHDOWN! Paul Faia of Stepinac holds arm aloft, celebrating Crusader TD with 8 seconds to go in the half. Faia had slipped behind the Tiger D and Mike Henderson lofted a beauty on target. The score with two-point conversion made it 24-8, and that's the way she stayed. Photo by WPCNR Sports
The Tigers used running plays to chew out the clock in the Third Quarter. Stepinac was driving for a score midway in the 4th quarter with still an outside chance, when Gary Morello intercepted a pass in the end zone to end any chance of the Crusaders.
This game, as mentioned before, turned on several key plays that had Stepinac recovered a fumble there, or made a tackle there, the game would have been different. But that’s football. Analysts like yours truly can always point to what won or lost the game, but the players play it and they know how hard it is.
That’s why the handshakes and congratulations that follow these contests seem to be more genuine than the perfunctory "good game, good game" gatherings at home plate. The players, the coaches, are participants in a great thing that is hard to do, requiring endless dedication and concentration with brief unsung moments of glory, when some dumb reporter doesn't even see your number or your block.
The seniors leaving White Plains and Stepinac today had one last taste of that glory and why they play this hard game today. It was glorious.
The fans did, too.
What is great about White Plains and Stepinac football is that the town of White Plains just comes out, hangs out, enjoys each other, heals each other and appears to be very thankful they live in a place like White Plains.
WHITE PLAINS SENIORS ARE INTRODUCED AT PARKER STADIUM FOR THE FINAL TIME:
Pablo Siaba, Kevin Avery, Connor Lantier, Shawn Jimison, Robert Ostrander II, Gary Morello, Mike Lane, Jeff Bagley, Jr., Ike Nduka, Paul Scotman, Khaly Merot, Akin Benton, Keith Simone, and Drew Mollo. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
In a ceremony at the beginning of the contest the “Dedicatees” of the game were given plaques for their service to athletics at WPHS and Archbishop Stepinac. This year the game was dedicated to Jim Noonan, White Plains resident for 41 years, and the City of White Plains Insurance Risk Manager, long time supporter and tireless worker for Stepinac success and growth, and to Mariano Scarano, recently retired Athletic Director of White Plains High School, who built up the present WPHS athletic program over the last six years.
THE SUPERBAND With Lesley Tompkins In Command (White Jacket) Got the Turkey Bowl Started. Photo by WPCNR BandCam
Jim Noonan, left, and Mario Scarano right, holding plaques-- Honored before the Kickoff. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
At the conclusion of the game, Khaly Merot of White Plains and Richard Shanahan of Stepinac were selected for their outstanding sportsmanship in the game. Mayor Joseph Delfino in blue cap, congratulates Mr. Merot, and Mr. Shanahan. Each player received the B. T. Lauer Award Scholarship awarding each player $1,300 each for college tuition. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
The big crowd did not leave when the showers came at the half. They stayed to watch “The Superband,” the White Plains High School Marching Band. They met and greeted alumni back on college break and White Plains football players of the past. The Mayor of the City of White Plains, Joseph Delfino, was back from Japan for the game, saying he had a wonderful time there. The Mayor watched a lot of the second half on the sideline, watching the game with Mario Scarano, the former Athletic Director of White Plains High School.
THE SUPERBAND: White Plains High School Marching Band held the crowd at halftime with a spectacular marching display. Photo by WPCNR BandCam
TIGERETTES TEAM UP WITH THE SUPERBAND AT THE HALF. Photo by WPCNR BandCam
Neighbors greeted each other. Young adults who you worked with in high school not so long ago, come up and say hello to you on their return from college. You meet great players of the past we still remember.
This only happens once a year in White Plains on Turkey Bowl Day.
ALL-AMERICAN AUTUMN: Parker Stadium on Turkey Bowl Day. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
