Pawling topped 14-16 by Lincoln Hall at Tiger Homecoming

Tigers played well enough to win, but lost on turnovers and missed opportunities

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By John M. Benson
October 6, 2007

Next Game:
Pawling vs. Croton
1:30 p.m. at Pawling Elementary School
Saturday, October 13, 2007

Pawling lost the Fumble Bowl on Saturday, October 5, falling short by one failed PAT in the 14-16 loss to Lincoln Hall for the Pawling Homecoming.

“This was a game we could have won and should have won,” said Pawling coach Carl Ferraro. “Instead of 3-2, we go into the final game against Croton at 2-3, and our post-season position depends on what we and other teams do on Saturday. We could end up third in our league and play the second place team in the other league, in fourth place in our league and play the first place team, or out of the playoffs altogether. We are going to need people to step up and make plays on Saturday.”

Pawling played well enough to win on both offense and defense, as they showed in the first quarter.

Don Otto and Ray Gordineer had very good days at the defensive end spots, recording pressures, sacks and tackles that helped to keep Pawling in the game.

Nick Cato was tough in the middle, forced one fumble that was recovered by Anthony Reda, and recovered a fumble himself.

In the first three possessions of the first quarter, the Tigers forced Lincoln Hall into a 3-and-out, drove the length of the field with Anthony Reda running behind the dominating offensive line for the touchdown and PAT and the lead at 8-0, and took over the ball on downs when they stopped Lincoln on the next possession.

But the ball got slippery at the end of the first quarter, as Pawling killed their own second drive with their first loss of a fumble in the game. It was a bad omen that would rear its ugly head in three more turnovers for the day.

The Tigers fumbled the ball away three times, gave up one interception, and dropped two passes in the open field behind the defense that appeared to be sure touchdowns. There were several more fumbles that the Tigers recovered for themselves.

Lincoln Hall was the mirror image of the Tigers, with three lost fumbles and one interception by Chris Mayes on the final play of the first half.

The Tigers made too many mistakes and let the visitors stay in the game until they hit on several long pass plays. Lincoln scored on four pass plays for all 16 of their points.

Quarterback P.J. Pancio hit wide receiver Brendan Reinert on a crossing pattern for 39 yards down to the Lincoln Hall 11-yard line with about 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter. An excellent 20-yard pass from Pancio to Bill Vitro, ten yards in the air and ten yards after the catch, and a beautiful 40-yard aerial strike to Reda, showed how far Pancio has come as a throwing quarterback.

Pawling showed the character to get it revved up again in the fourth quarter, after Lincoln Hall had taken the lead at 16-14 in the third quarter.  

The Tigers began a scoring drive late in the third quarter at their own 49-yard line. Anthony Reda and Doug Leonaggeo carried the ball through good holes opened by the offensive line of Ray Gordineer, Nick Cato, Ken Bauer, Cody Clarkson, Nico Musella and Joe Hyatt, and lead blocks by Bill Vitro and Leonaggeo.

Reda gained 15 yards on one sweep and 23 yards on another, before he swept left from the Lincoln 4-yard line and dove into the corner for the touchdown. Pawling failed on the PAT and trailed at 14-16 mid-way through the fourth quarter.

Pawling continued to play hard, but the Tigers fumbled away the ball twice between their final touchdown and the end of the game, effectively ending their chances of the win and the 3-2 record they had hoped to take into the Croton game next Saturday.