Monroe-Woodbury holds Washingtonville scoreless as football returns to Central Valley
Central Valley. The 21-0 victory was streamed live because of COVID precautions.
| 15 Mar 2021 | 02:49
Let the footbal season begin: Christopher Graham (#1) makes the tackle on the opening kick off. Photos by William Dimmit.
Dylan Dwyer (#11) catches a 43-yard pass from Anthony Campione to end the first quarter against Washingtonville.
Camron Adams (#4) takes a pitch and scores from 21 yards out.
Andrew Pichardo (#37) rumbles through the Wizards’ defense.
Crusaders Defense: Jason Jean (#90) and Anthony Maiorino (#20) wrap up a Wizard running back for a loss.
On a beautiful Friday night, March 12, the Crusaders finally got their 2020-2021 football season started when they hosted the Washingtonville Wizards.
After months of planning the team played its first game in more than a year. With the game being being played in front of a very limited audience the school has arranged to have the games live streamed this year to accommodate the families and fans that can not attend.
So at a little after 7 p.m., the Crusaders kicked off to the Wizards to start the season.
On the Wizards’ first possession Crusader senior Alex Hess made a touchdown-saving tackle. The Wizard running back had broken through the line and and looked to be on his way to the end zone before Hess was able to catch up and bring him down from behind.
A few plays later the Wizards were stopped on a fourth down with four yards to go when Crusader Nick Calderone recovered a fumble.
But the Crusaders fumbled the ball right back to the Wizards on the next play.
The Crusaders defense stiffened again and this time it was Jason Jean who came up with a big stop on fourth down with five yards to go.
This time the Crusaders offense responded. On a third down and 10 yards to go from their own 25 yard line, Camron Adams broke off an 11-yard run for a first down.
Quarterback Anthony Campione then tossed a perfect strike to Dylan Dwyer for a 43-yard gain. The Crusaders were in business at the Wizards’ 25-yard line as the first quarter ended.
The Crusaders lit up the score board when Camron Adams took a pitch and followed pulling guard Dean Pesce 21 yards into the end zone to put the Crusaders up 6-0. Edward Fennessy’s extra point made it 7-0.
With 7:45 left in the half, Adams tackled the Wizard punter after the snap went over his head and the Crusaders had the the ball first and 10 at the Wizards’ 13-yard line.
From there Campione scored on a quarterback-keeper from 3 yards out. The PAT made the score 14-0 at the half.
In the third quarter the two teams exchanged possessions with the Crusaders getting the better of the field positions by holding the Wizards in their own territory.
On the last play of the third quarter, Campione found Kavan Tuttle who made a spectacular catch and the Crusaders were set with a first down on the Wizards’ 20-yard line.
From here the Crusaders again powered it into the end zone with Andrew Pichardo taking it in from five yards out. Fennessy added his third PAT to give the Crusaders a 21-0 lead.
Crusader Cj Gullotta put an end to the Wizards’ night when he picked off a pass near midfield and the Crusaders then ran out the clock.
The Crusaders’ 21-0 victory over the Wizards brings their record to 1-0 on the season.
Their next game will be Friday, March 19, when they host Pine Bush.
- William Dimmit