Big defensive play gives Warriors optimism, 28-22

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Mohonasen’s Trevon Tucker, runs past Scotia-Glenville’s Matthew Esperti to a 1st quarter touchdown Friday.

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Can one defensive stop turn a season around?

Mohonasen thinks so, after slamming the door on a great Scotia-Glenville opportunity late in the game to preserve a 28-22 Class A Southeast Division football win Friday night.

“I really think tonight, they put the whole Mohonasen thing away for good. I think the new way is here to stay,” said Mighty Warriors coach Dennis Corbitt after his team improved to 3-2, all against divisional opponents, with its second straight win.

“There’s no more hanging heads. They feed off each other. There’s a lot of fight in these kids. They don’t quit.”

Senior linebacker C.J. Stone made the biggest play of the game, sniffing out a trick play on a Scotia fourth-and seven from the Mighty Warriors’ 19 with under two minutes to play.

Stone smelled out a reverse, and dropped Henry Pacheco for a 10-yard loss, preserving his team’s six-point lead.

“I knew to stay home. I knew that they were going to try some kind of trick play because coach said they ran it twice the first four games,” said Stone.

“It was a big stop. We needed it. If they were to get that first down, our heads would have been up our butts.”

Scotia, which scored on the first possession of the game, had fought back after falling behind, 28-14, midway through the fourth quarter. Senior two-way standout Jon DiPace — whose second rushing TD of the game had pulled his team within a touchdown —picked off a Killian Tallman pass and set the Tartans up at the Mohonasen 22 with 3:29 to play.

“Great defensive stand,” said Tallman, who passed for two touchdowns and ran for another.

“The defense came through,” said Corbitt. “We got pushed around a little bit, but when push came to shove, we stepped up. I’m very proud of how the defense played tonight.”

Scotia coach Kevin Warren knew what the loss meant to his 1-4 team, which stands sixth in a division where only four of the seven teams will make the sectionals.

“This is a tough one,” Warren said. “We knew what was at stake, and we had a chance.

“We kept fighting, but it didn’t happen. It’s tough for the seniors, especially for a kid like Jon DiPace. He played great. I wish I had 40 of him.”

Sophomore Trevon Tucker kept Mohonasen in the game in the first half. He raced down the right sideline for a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown after DiPace gave Scotia the early lead, and his 56-yard punt return set up a touchdown late in the second quarter that gave the hosts the lead for good, 21-14, as Tallman connected with running back Nick Bateman on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds left in the half.

“Our special teams are big for us,” said Stone, who also plays running back. “We’re a running offense, and getting good field position is important.”

“He gave us some great field position,” said Corbitt. “But in the second half, it was like our offense kept shooting itself in the foot. But those are things we can work on.”

Mohonasen plays a crossover at Gloversville next weekend, then finishes the regular season at divisional foe Averill Park, a game that could decide the final playoff spot from the Southeast.

“It’s nice to get the kids into this position,” said Corbitt.

“Coming off a win over Lansingburgh, then winning this game, it’s tremendous,” said Tallman. “It’s a different feeling here. We’re looking forward to getting into the playoffs.”

Scotia-Glenville 8 6 8 0 — 22

Mohonasen 6 15 7 0 — 28

S — DiPace 6 run (DiPace run).

M — Tucker 90 kickoff return (run failed).

M — Tallman 1 run (Bateman run).

S — Pacheco 23 pass from Rumney (run failed).

M — Bateman 10 pass from Tallman (Corbitt kick).

M — Pierone 25 pass from Tallman (Corbitt kick).

S — DiPace 4 run (Tabbert run).