LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — With the 26-6 win over the Bears of Tri-Valley, the Sullivan West Bulldogs clinched the Division I 8-Man Football crown before the packed homestand bleachers on Friday, October 21.

Adding to the thrill of victory, the game’s announcer rallied the hometown fans in the stands at key moments during the game by shouting “loud and proud. ” 

Plus, as the Bulldogs posted score after score, a phalanx of fire apparatus from local volunteer fire departments lit up their emergency lights and wailed their sirens in celebration: Youngsville, Narrowsburg, Cochecton, Callicoon, Hankins/Fremont Center and Hortonville.

The scoring

Sullivan West’s Jaymes Buddenhagen at 7:26 in the first quarter, plus a two-point conversion (SW 8, TV 0); Tri-Valley’s Austin Hartman at 3:43 in the first quarter (SW 8, TV 6); Buddenhagen at 1:08 in the first quarter (SW 14, TV 6); Sullivan West’s Rally Cruz at 4:43 in the second quarter (SW 20, TV 6); and Buddenhagen wrapped up the scoring in the final frame at 4:15 (SW 26, TV 6).

Game stats

Sullivan West (6-1 overall, 4-0 league)—passing yards 52, rushing attempts/yards 48/225, first downs 19, and turnovers 1. Total offensive yards 277.

Tri-Valley (5-2 overall, 4-1 league)—passing yards 48, rushing attempts/yards 38/132, first downs 8, and turnovers 3. Total offensive yards 180.

Game leaders

Sullivan West—passing (Jaymes Buddenhagen 2/6, 52 yards); rushing (Buddenhagen 26 carries, 164 yards, 3 TDs); and receiving (Jacob Halloran 1 reception, 29 yards).

Tri-Valley—passing (Austin Hartman 2/8, 48 yards); rushing (Hartman 26 carries, 115 yards, 1 TD); and receiving (Zach Kataychik 1 reception, 37 yards).

Happy birthday, Coach Bauer

During halftime in a varsity football game that marked the culmination of Homecoming Week in Sullivan West’s fall sports season, Ron Bauer, the veteran helmsman of the Bulldogs’ gridirons, was honored for his 80th birthday. He officially posted it on Tuesday, October 18, after more than a half-century of coaching local teams. 

During a moving tribute to Coach Bauer, he was presented with a birthday-celebration banner signed by hundreds of well-wishers, including players both current and past, coaches and legions of fans.

In a post-game gathering under a goalpost, assistant coach Justin Diehl told his battle-hardened troops, “You went out and played good, hard-hitting football; that’s our style of football… Congratulations, you owned it!”

Always a man of few words, Coach Bauer addressed his team, “Great team effort, unbelievable blocking… a hard, tough line. Bulldogs football, right? Great job!”