So you’re the Huguenots and long-time coach Tom Tegeler…who would you give the ball to? Of course. So it was Jimmy Verney on a keeper for three yards, then four, but New Paltz is penalized 15 yards back to their own 25-yard line. And when Verney only gets a yard on a quarterback keeper, the Huguenots are facing a big third down-and-19. What to do? Well, those screen plays to DiMarco and Burda worked earlier, so why not try it again…right? Right, but this time Marlboro read it as DiMarco caught the ball in the left-flat just at the line of scrimmage, was hit immediately by a handful of Marlboro defenders but just kept running, breaking tackles and bulling his way forward for 25 yards and the improbable first down at the Marlboro 49. Outside of McVea’s TD-saving tackle in the first quarter, DiMarco’s gut-busting run with Verney’s screen pass may have been the non-touchdown play of the game. From there it was Anthony Nittolo for a yard, Jimmy V for two and then 46 yards for an apparent touchdown, but New Paltz was called for a “block from the back” and it was called back. No matter, the ball on Marlboro’s 25, it was Jimmy V for three, another penalty sending the Huguenots back five yards — again, no matter — it was Jimmy V for 14 to the Marlboro 13, and then DiMarco around end for the last wild-bull 13 and the final touchdown at 2:41. Soumah’s point-after was blocked again, but — no matter — it was New Paltz up 33-17. It was game over and New Paltz is the 2016 Section 9 Class B champion.
Verney ran for 134 yards on 19 carries and added 239 yards on 7-for-12 passing (going over 1,000 yards both running and passing this season) and three TD’s. It was yet another tour-de-force performance from the lithe, speedy junior quarterback, who is arguably the Most Valuable Player in the Section (all classes) this year.
Next up for the Class B champions is the winner of Section 1 (either Pleasantville or Westlake) in a State quarterfinal this Friday, November 11 at 7 p.m. again at Dietz.
