In what could have been a letdown game for the Saugerties’ football team and was certainly a first-half scare, the Sawyers last week ran and passed their way to a 44-24 victory over Poughkeepsie. The Sawyers’ record now stands at 7-0, as they get ready for what promises to be their toughest game of the year against Cornwall Friday, October 21.
Saugerties could have been forgiven for looking past Poughkeepsie because the game in Cornwall is for the Division A title. It’s expected that the two teams will meet again in the Section 9 playoffs.
The Sawyers jumped off to a quick start scoring on a quarterback keeper by Matt Bucci. The drive that was aided by three Poughkeepsie offside penalties. Running back Jim Ball took the ball in for a two-point conversion for a quick 8-0 lead.
After playing a complete game the previous week against Red Hook, the Sawyer defense reverted to its former ways and gave up a long run on a quarterback keeper and it was 8-6 Sawyers. Poughkeepsie failed on a two-point conversion attempt.
Neither side could muster much offense after that, and the first quarter ended with the Sawyers up by an 8-6 score.
In the second quarter, running back Jack Hindes saved Saugerties’ bacon on two plays; the first was a fumble by Bucci, which Hindes recovered, the second a fumble by Ball that Hindes recovered in the Poughkeepsie end zone for a Sawyer TD. A two-point conversion attempt was no good, and it Saugerties up by 14-6.
On Poughkeepsie’s next possession as the first-half clock ran down, the Sawyer pass defense allowed a Poughkeepsie touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was no good, and the Sawyers were up by q meager two points,
In the third period, offensive lineman Pete Leser suffered an ankle and knee injury and left the game. Shortly thereafter a Bucci-to-Hinds 20-yard pass play was good for a score. Seth Vanderbeck kicked the extra point, and it was Saugerties 21-12.
On Poughkeepsie’s next possession Jacob Bowe came away with an interception. Bucci had a 30-yard run, and Ball rushed it in for a touchdown. Hindes got the two-point conversion, and it was 29-12.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Sawyer secondary got caught asleep at the wheel, and Poughkeepsie connected on a long pass for a score. The two-point conversion again failed, leaving the score at 29-18.
Saugerties went into its ground-and-pound ball-control game. Ball scored on a 20-yard TD run, with Hindes once again going into for the two-point conversion. It was 37-18 Saugerties.
There was still fight in Poughkeepsie as they scored on a long run, failed a fourth time on the two-point conversion, and it was 37-24 in the fourth quarter.
Poughkeepsie turned the ball over on a fumble a Bucci recovery that was followed by a Hindes TD run and a Vanderbeck extra-point kick for the final at 44-24. That sewed up the game.
The Sawyers ended the game with a total of 450 yards of offense. The team had 22 first downs, with Hindes gaining 133 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Ball ran for 118 yards and two TDs, and Bucci had 96 rushing yards and 58 passing yards.
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