SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY—When it comes to predicting outcomes in sports, there is no shortage of “experts,” including some sportswriters (present company excluded) who will look at a team’s record as a divining rod to foretell what will happen next.

In high school football this past week some such “mavens” presumed that 2-0 Class B Rondout Valley would hand 2-0 Sullivan West its first loss of the season. (R-V) had beaten Saugerties and Monticello and was coming off an appearance in the Class B championship game last year, which the Ganders lost to Marlboro. But instead, the rabid Dawgs turned the tables on the Ganders to the tune of 40-13 to improve to 3-0. Suddenly the Westies are being taken seriously. Led by Andrew Stabbert’s 228 yards on 27 carries, the Bulldogs’ offense had R-V back on its heels. Stabbert scored on a five-yard run and returned an interception 42 yards for another score. Senior quarterback Richard Shevak completed five of 12 passes for 46 yards that included a nine-yard TD toss to senior Brian Stauch who added a six-yard TD. Ronj Padu had the Bulldogs’ first score on a one-yard plunge, set up by an electrifying kickoff return to the R-V nine after the Dawgs handed the Ganders an early 7-0 lead off an interception, followed by a 91-yard jaunt by R-V’s Andrew Koonz. Kevin and Sean Hart registered two sacks apiece. The Bulldogs travel to Dietz Stadium on September 27 to take on Class D powerhouse Renssalaer. Many thought 2-0 Liberty would down 0-2 Chester, but once again the pundits were dead wrong. Chester’s losses were to Westchester’s Hackley School, a private school powerhouse and a late upset to Class B Burke. Chester marshaled great running from senior Angel Suarez and fine line play to take a 28-0 first-half lead on the shell-shocked Indians whose victories were against Class D Livingston Manor and a rebuilding O’Neill team. Tri-Valley was paced by sterling runs by quarterback Justin Swarthout and a defense that staved off a late two-point conversion attempt that would have given host Eldred it’s third straight win. Instead, the 3-0 Bears prevailed 33-32. They host Liberty on September 27 for their homecoming game. In other football action, Monticello (1-2) was bested 40-18 by Goshen (1-2). Livingston Manor (1-2) overran Roscoe Downsville 34-7 in a non-league win. In girls soccer, Eldred stands atop of Class D with a 4-1 overall record. They beat Livingston Manor 3-1 in OT. Tri-Valley got its first win of the season with a 3-0 blanking of Sullivan West. In boys soccer, red-hot Fallsburg continued to roll (8-1, 2-0 OCIAA) with wins over Burke and O’Neill. In girls tennis, Liberty posted its first win of the season downing Port Jervis 4-3. Miyanna Vernon, Maria Symanski and Cheyenne Howell prevailed in singles play. For ongoing stories, visit www.sportsinsightsny.com, and be sure to look in on www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com with a panoply of county superstars. Parents from Sullivan West, Eldred and Tri-Valley who are interested in having Richard shadow their sons or daughters for the season to provide them with a DVD of outstanding action shots at the end of the season should e-mail rross@sportsinsightsny.com.