The Patriots scored on runs by Defino, Dan Passante and Bagshaw. Bagshaw kicked all three 2 point conversions. Despite the score of the game Defino and Averill kept the game in perspective. “It was fun because it was friendly competition,” said Averill. “It was awkward because in real life we are friends but on the football field we were enemies. After the game I shook his hand, hugged him and told him he had a great game,” Defino said.
Mustang Bowl traditions were front and center throughout the day. The field was dressed and decorated in a manner befitting a college bowl game, a student band under the direction of teacher Bernhard Spirig performed the national anthem, a halftime show featuring talented Morse Students and the Mustang Bowl Cheer Team, honorary captains, the surprise delivery of the game ball and a post game festival that included entertainment, music and food.
Mustang Bowl VIII honorary captains were students Ashley Corrado and Dakoda Hally, 9th and third grade, respectively. This represented the first time a student was named honorary captain, a distinction previously reserved for members of the community for their exceptional contributions to the youth in the Saugerties area. Corrado and Hally were honored for their inspiration, determination and demonstration of the power of the human spirit in light of their recent medical difficulties. Corrado suffered critical injuries from a devastating auto accident in December and Hally is battling a serious long-term illness.
This is the second time the game ball was delivered by helicopter, but the significance was far from superficial. LifenetNY, the medical transportation company that airlifted Corrado from the accident site, arranged to have the ball delivered by the crew that responded to the scene. Ashley and her mom met the crew for the first time since the accident.
The Mustang Bowl is a free event open to the public and relies heavily on the generosity of sponsors and benefactors to help with the cost of running the event. Additionally, a volunteer staff coordinated and ran the event.
Despite being postponed to Friday October 21, it is usually played on the third Wednesday in October at Grant D. Morse School.
Averill is the son of Morse second Grade teacher Cathy and SHS Principal Tom Averill and is the youngest member of the family. He is the last of the Averills to play and feels that an era has come to an end. “It is weird that I am the last one, and all my sisters have gone through sixth grade. It was a really good event and I am sad I don’t get to play in it again,” Averill reminisced. Defino, son of Joe and Judy Defino, agreed, “I am really sad because I love playing in the Mustang Bowl.”
