LIBERTY, NY — The most valuable and enduring reward from participating in athletics is a sense of satisfaction derived from knowing you have given your best. That fulfillment of having made great strides by dint of hard work and dedication represents the “gold” that is available to any and all competitors. More importantly, that enduring benefit is not subject to the measure of winning or losing. But now looms the coveted postseason and the allure to vie for a title.

For the undefeated Sullivan West Bulldogs football team 8-0 (3-0 OCIAA), their 28-13 league win over rival Liberty on October 25 punches their ticket to the Section IX Class C championship game against Millbrook at Dietz Stadium on November 8. This clash with the Indians had a special allure as it would be the third time in the past four years that Liberty and Sullivan West would battle for a chance to reach the postseason. Last year, Liberty’s 27-19, come-from-behind win nixed the Dawgs participation in the big dance. Two years prior it was Sullivan West’s stunning 22-21 overtime win that barred Liberty from a run for glory. So here they were again. Though the Dawgs were unbeaten, a Liberty win by more than eight points would have given the Indians the tie-breaker and consigned the Bulldogs to be spectators again. But with a mighty front line, a wealth of experience and by dint of key plays on both sides of the ball, the Westies prevailed. They got out to a 14-0 lead via a pair of TD’s from senior Ronj Padu, augmented by PAT’s from Austin Melchick, who would kick four through the uprights by day’s end. Liberty’s Grant Harrman cut the deficit with a nine-yard run. Brenden Siegal’s PAT made it 14-7. But a timely interception by Sullivan West senior Richard Shevak netted another score to give the Dawgs a 21-7 lead at the half. Early in the fourth quarter Liberty’s Shane Black caught a ball that was tipped by Sullivan West defenders in the end zone to make it 21-13. Siegal’s kick sailed wide. The Dawgs would answer back with a seven-yard TD run by Shevak that made it 28-13. Kevin Puerschner’s late interception iced the win. He also had four sacks on the day. Andrew Stabbert’s outstanding rushing (23/208) was instrumental in the victory. The Dawgs travel to Chester on October 29 for a non-league game under the lights. Sullivan West’s last appearance in a title game was a 34-20 defeat to Ellenville in 2008. One year prior they had fallen to Tri-Valley 18-6, a defeat that had ended a three-peat of titles that included a 21-12 Class B win over Marlboro in 2004 and Class C wins of 34-7 and 47-27 over Tri-Valley in 2005 and 2006. Semifinal losses to Burke and O’Neill barred the Dawgs from title games in 2011 and 2012. For its part, Liberty 5-3 (1-2 OCIAA) has had two title game encounters but lost them both. They fell to Ellenville 27-0 in 2009 and then to O’Neill 35-14 in 2012. Back in 2002 Liberty won the Class C title by default. They were the only Class C team in Section IX. This is the week for soccer sectionals. In boys contention, Fallsburg 12-2-2 (4-0-2 OCIAA) won its first division title in 13 years with a 2-1 win over Liberty. The #2-seeded Comets hosted #7-seeded Millbrook 3-2 in overtime on October 27. #8 Liberty fell to #1 Spackenkill 2-1 on penalty kicks. In Class D #2-seeded Eldred will vie for the title in Middletown vs. #1-seeded Mount Academy. Eldred is the defending Section IX champion in both boys and girls soccer. The Lady Yellow Jackets 13-2-1 (4-0 OCIAA) defeated Livingston Manor 2-0 for the division title. Now looms a rematch of last year’s sectional title, as they got at it again on October 28 in Middletown. The Lady Yellow Jackets advanced to last year’s state final four before losing 4-0 to Poland. At the OCIAA Cross-Country championships, local top finishers included Port Jervis’s Kobe Lane, second (15:24), with teammates Lucas Reilly, 16th (16:25.56), and Denzel Vilsaint, 32nd (16:54.92). Tri-Valley’s Ian Kurzrock was the county’s top boy finisher. He was 41st (17:14.71), just two places ahead of Sullivan West’s Ethan Seidl (17:23.18). There were 144 boys contending. In the girls race, Monticello’s Camryn Johnson was 12th (18:57.59). Sidney Johnson (20:22.21), Jillian McEneaney (20:34.87) and Sarah Grodin (20:36.42) captured places 33, 35 and 38. Eldred’s Kayla Mass was 42nd (20:43.78), and Sullivan West’s Kelsey Dutton was 44th (20:48.96). There were 130 girls in the race. The Section IX Cross-Country Championships will be held at Bear Mountain on October 31. For details on these events and others visit www.sportsinsightsny.com. For albums of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com.