Roscoe dominates Eldred 35-6

TED WADDELL
Posted 9/20/17

ELDRED, NY — Friday’s night game under the lights was a bit like the Battle of Thermopylae. You just knew that the massive Persian army was going to win, and the 300 Spartans, along with …

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Roscoe dominates Eldred 35-6

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ELDRED, NY — Friday’s night game under the lights was a bit like the Battle of Thermopylae.

You just knew that the massive Persian army was going to win, and the 300 Spartans, along with a handful of Thespians and Thebans, were going to lose.

Going down fighting until the end.

In a sense, history repeated itself on Friday night September 8 as the Roscoe Blue Devils (2-0) took on the role of the Persians, while the Yellow Jackets of Eldred (0-2) defended their home turf against the odds.

Eldred took to the field in the wake of a one-year hiatus from varsity football, while the Blue Devils comprise players from four schools: Roscoe (13), Downsville (1), Livingston Manor (10), and new this year, five from Sullivan West, for a total of 29 players suiting up.

The Blue Devils stunned the “under-the- lights” crowd of several hundred, as on the first snap of the game, they showed they came to play, scoring at 11:48 on a 60-yard pass reception by James Deaveiro from Collin Hauschild.

That’s right, with 12 seconds into the game, and in the wake of a successful point-after touchdown (PAT) by Erick Hill, the visitors were up 7-0.

At 9:06 in the first period Roscoe added another TD on a 23 run by Shaine Hubert to put them in the lead 14-0.

In close order on the game clock, a home-team rally was derailed by a fumble, and a long gain by Roscoe was negated by a penalty call.

Still in the opening frame, the Blue Devils scored again at 4:35 on a six-yard run by Hill, and the home team scoreboard started to weep, as the visitors led 21-0.

On the first play of the second period, Roscoe coughed it up while knocking on the Yellow Jackets door, but in a case of turnabout is fair play—tell that to the 300 Spartans—Eldred fumbled.

At the 7:21 mark in the second quarter Hauschild went into the promised land from the one-yard line.

The PAT was good, and Roscoe was up 28-0.

Roscoe scored their final TD of the game at 1:35 on a 31-yard run by Hauschild, his second score of the game.

The PAT sailed straight and true, putting the Blue Devils up by an impressive 35 points.

Unlike the opposing commander of so long ago, Roscoe’s veteran coach Fred Ahart showed his class and a lot of mercy by sending in the subs to give the other team a chance.

Which they did, aided by a penalty call to give them good field position, as the Yellow Jackets scored on a TD by Chett Kelty with 7:30 left on the game clock.

The PAT snap went somewhat south, and the scoring of the non-league game closed out at 35-6.

Hauschild had quite an evening for himself: 8 carries for 141 yards, 2 TDs, and 3 of 6 passes for 120 yards with one TD.

Hill was 5 for 5 in the PAT department

For Eldred, John Goodell posted 100 yards on 22 carries, and in addition to his TD, Kelty carried 12 times for 59 yards.

Steve Barone, a 30-year veteran of gridiron action, is in his first year as coach of Eldred’s revitalized varsity football program.

His take on the squad?

“I think there are some talented athletes here… my job is to make ‘em into football players.”

It’s a bit early to really get a handle on how the season will shape up, but Eldred’s colorful coach said, “The kids are starting to pick up different things… we’ve simplified a lot of things… we’ll win some football games.”

“We made a lot of correctable mistakes… it’s back to work on Monday.”

Fred Ahart is closing in on his golden anniversary in the coaching game. Now in his 49th season as a coach, he is at the helm of the combined Roscoe Blue Devils football team.

“We’re pleased to have the Sullivan West players on our team,” he said of the new guys in town. “It’s all about giving the older Sullivan West players the opportunity to play football…. we are the Blue Devils.”

Asked for his take on Friday night’s win and upcoming football games, Ahart gave his classic response.

“We always take it one game at a time; that’s what we’re all about.”

Hauschild, a 17-year-old senior who hails from “The Home of the Bulldogs,” was asked about the new season.

“I’m excited… the game was just another step… the team all worked together. We’re meshing well, and we’re going to keep it up.”

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