Rams strike quickly against Warriors

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bill Buell

Quarterback Geo Rodriguez made a handful of big plays, and tailback Brett Stanavich rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries Friday night, lifting Amsterdam to a 42-20 victory over Mohonasen.

It was the first varsity win for Rugged Rams head coach Doug Edick, who replaced Pat Liverio this season.

“Amsterdam has had a great football program for 16 years with Pat Liverio, and before him Frank Derrico and Brian Mee,” said Edick, whose club lost a 30-24

decision last week to Averill Park. “I want to keep that tradition going, so this is a huge win for me.

“Last week is over, and the players have moved on. We’re inexperienced, but I think we’re going to continue to improve each week.”

The Rams scored on their first two possessions of the game, marching 67 yards in eight plays following the opening kickoff. Stanavich ran the ball six times for 48 yards during the march and bowled over from two yards out for the first score.

Following a Mohonasen punt, Amsterdam struck quickly again, marching 68 yards in six plays, with Rodriguez lofting a perfect pass to senior receiver Rob Sherlock for a 30-yard touchdown and a 14-0 advantage with 4:26 left in the first quarter.

With the help of a 20-yard punt return by Trevon Tucker, Mohonasen got the ball near midfield and moved deep into Amsterdam territory on quarterback Justin Kretzler’s 26-yard pass to senior fullback Justin DiTripano. The Mighty Warriors had a first and goal just inside the 10, but came away without a score as Kretzler’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Amsterdam took over and, behind Stanavich, moved the ball to the Mohonasen 38 when Rodriguez lofted another well-thrown ball to Louis Laboy for a long touchdown. The extra point kick by sophomore Marcus Pritchard, who was perfect on the night, made it 21-0 with 5:14 left to play in the first half.

Mohonasen finally scored on the next possession after a 45-yard pass from Kretzler to Eric Perrone and a 25-yard run right up the middle by DiTripano. The kick failed, but with 3:03 left before the half, the hosts were within 21-6.

Later in the quarter, Mohonasen attempted to pick up a first down on fourth down near midfield and the play backfired, allowing

Amsterdam to tack on another second-period score when Rodriguez and Sherlock again connected for a TD, this time from 14 yards out.

“My big three, Rodriguez, Stanavich and [two-way lineman] Mason Calhoun all came up big tonight,” said Edick, “and Rob Sherlock came out and made some great catches after spraining his ankle just two days ago.”

Stanavich’s second touchdown came on a 44-yard run early in the third period, and his final score of the game at 2:06 of the third period helped his team to a 42-6 advantage. While Stanavich was done for the night, Mohonasen head coach Dennis Corbett made sure his team didn’t quit. Following Stanavich’s score, Corbett called a time out before the Amsterdam kickoff to give his team a pep talk.

“I took the time out because I wanted to challenge my team,” said Corbett, who watched his club post a 27-14 win over South Glens Falls last week. “They answered my call. They played much better in the fourth quarter. I want to give Amsterdam a lot of credit. They lost a difficult game last week, and we stumbled a bit tonight. But I think we also showed some glimpses of life. If anybody plays us and they’re sleeping, they’re going to get a rude awakening. We’re going to improve and become a better football team.”

With the help of John Mulvaney’s long kickoff return to midfield, the Mighty Warriors got on the scoreboard again on Tucker’s three-yard run with 11:47 left in the game. The next time they had the ball the Warriors went 92 yards in 11 plays for another score, DiTripano getting the touchdown from two yards out. The big play in the drive was a 44-yard pass from Kretzler to Mulvaney.

Amsterdam 14 14 14 0 — 42

Mohonasen 0 6 0 14 — 20

A — Stanavich 2 run (Pritchard kick).

A — Sherlock 30 pass from Rodriguez (Pritchard kick).

A — Laboy 38 pass from Rodriguez (Pritchard kick).

M — DiTripano 25 run (kick failed).

A — Sherlock 20 pass from Rodriguez (Pritchard kick).

A — Stanavich 44 run (Pritchard kick).

A — Stanavich 3 run (Pritchard kick).

M — Tucker 5 run (kick failed).

M — DiTripano 2 run (Tucker run).