Hackley vs. Riverdale -- 9/27/13

Written by Jim Garvey: It was a sparkling early fall day that brought alumni near and far to the Hackley campus, and to cheer on the football team against chief nemesis Riverdale. This was the 88^th match-up between these two rivals dating back to 1925, with the record tied at 42 wins apiece and 3 ties. Last year’s contest featured a clearly rebuilding Riverdale team, so the Hornets were unsure what to expect from this year’s squad.

 

Following the opening kick-off, Coach Treglia employed the running attack, with Joe McDermott, Eli Ngbokoli, and Ilan Gressel moving the ball to Riverdale’s 10 yard line on 6 consecutive running plays. However, a fumble by Ngbokoli on the next snap was recovered by Riverdale. Hackley’s stellar defense, unscored on in the first two contests, came to the rescue when a bad snap forced Riverdale’s quarterback to fall on the ball in the end zone for a 2-point safety. Following Riverdale’s punt, and after a long run by McDermott, it took the Hornets just 3 plays to reach pay-dirt when McDermott hit Mustafa Dais for a 10-yard touchdown pass making the score 9-0 Hornets.

 

Riverdale pounced on the ensuing kick-off, with its returner charging up the left side untouched for a 90-yard kick-off return making it 9-7. On the next drive, Hackley was able to move the ball for several first downs, but Riverdale’s defense held, sacking McDermott on a pass attempt that also forced him from the game with an apparent knee injury. Riverdale’s kick-off return and McDermott’s injury certainly had the Hackley faithful concerned, but they needn’t have been. Following a Riverdale quick three and out, Hackley took over at its own 32-yard line with Ryan Walker in at quarterback. On the first play from scrimmage, Gressel blew through a huge hole created by Derek Rosenzweig, Brandon DiFalco, and Zach Reeber to scamper 68 yards for a Hackley touchdown. With James Firpo’s extra point, the score was Hackley 16, Riverdale 7.

 

Riverdale’s offense finally got moving on its next possession, helped by several Hackley penalties, but most gains were modest, thanks to strong tackling from Harry Lieblich, Omar Momani, and Jack Hogan. Following several first downs, Riverdale’s punt was returned 22 yards by Ngbokoli to Riverdale’s 30 yard line, and on Hackley’s first play, Walker hit Dais on a beautiful pass and catch for another touchdown. Walker had plenty of time thanks to a strong performance by the offensive line, with James O’Keefe and Milo Lempert blocking a contingent of large Riverdale linemen.

 

After several ensuing possessions with no score, by both sides, Hackley’s offense once again took over with 4 minutes left in the half, when Walker went to work hitting Dylan Garvey, Dais and Hogan on passing plays. Unfortunately, Hogan’s completion ended up being costly as he came down hard resulting in a broken arm. Two plays later, and in the waning seconds of the half, Walker once again hit Dais on a jump-ball between two defenders for a 15 yard touchdown. Coupled with the two-point conversion pass from Walker to Nick Gutfleish, made the score 30-7 at halftime.

 

On the second half opening kick-off, the right side coverage of Momani, Garvey, and Sumail Morton made sure there would be no long touchdown return, burying Riverdale’s returner on the 30 yard line. On third down, heavy pressure by Lieblich forced a poor throw by Riverdale’s quarterback that was picked off by Winston Britton at the 34 yard line. Following a mix of pass and running plays, Walker was able to punch it in from the one-yard line for another Hackley touchdown making the score 36-7. Following another three and out for Riverdale’s offense, Hackley once again capitalized as Anthony Broderick scampered 70 yards for another touchdown, making the score 42-7.

 

Hackley’s defense finally succumbed for the first time all season on Riverdale’s next possession, as it went on a 9-play drive on a mix of pass and running plays leading to a touchdown by the Falson’s nimble quarterback, making the score 42-13. Hackley’s defense ended up holding Riverdale on several ensuing possessions, with strong performances by Xan Jarecki, Clifford Joseph, and Jack Waterhouse.

 

It was another powerful statement from this year’s Hackley squad heading into this Saturday’s home contest against Eldred High School at 3:00 PM. In particular, Walker completed 9 passes on 12 attempts for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns, with a run scoring touchdown to boot. Dais had 3 touchdowns, and the defense was stout with a large group of contributors. The team and its fans look forward to having McDermott back on the field soon, and for a complete recovery for Jack Hogan.