‘Pac Comes Back wi th 11 i n Fourth to Sink Scarsdale, 24-21

MAHOPAC—After watching Scarsdale put 14 points on the board in the third quarter to take a 21-13 lead into the fourth, the Mahopac High football team rallied for 11 points in the final 12 minutes to pull out a 24-21 victory over the Red Raiders in a game played last Friday at Mahopac.

SKIP PEARLMAN Mahopac got a big game from junior quarterback Ryan Wagner Friday night. With a number of starters ailing, the Indians needed a big performance from their backups, and got clutch contributions from junior Ryan Wagner, senior Michael Simmonds and senior Tom Irwin.

Trailing 21-13 in the fourth, Mahopac was faced with a fourth-and-goal from the two, when Wagner hooked up with John Maloney on a two-yard TD pass to make it a two-point game. Wagner then came up with a successful two-point conversion run – evening the score at 21-21 - with about 4:00 left in the game.

Scarsdale fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Mahopac’s PJ DeMercurio recovered near the Scarsdale 40, and Mahopac reached the Scarsdale 7 moments later, where Maloney put on the finishing touches with a gamewinning, 24-yard field goal – with six seconds remaining.

Scarsdale had scored first in the game on a nine-yard run in the first, before Mahopac got rolling with a 15- yard pass from Wagner to Mark Di- Carlo midway through the first. Wagner then gave Mahopac a 13-6 lead in the second on a one-yard quarterback sneak. The score was set up by a 35- yard punt return by Reid Leon, to the Scarsdale 30.

The Raiders scored twice in the third on a pair of 25-yard pass plays, taking a 21-13 lead into the fourth.

It was an impressive performance from Wagner, who finished with 97 yards and a TD rushing and 56 yards and two scores through the air. He was intercepted once.

Mahopac was also missing running back Dillon Addonizio and starting lineman Rob Ricci. But the Indians got solid efforts from Irwin and Simmonds. Irwin had 57 yards on 16 carries from the backfield, and James Lenahan had an interception for Mahopac.

“Wagner played outstanding,” Indians coach Tom Donahoe said. “He and TJ (Foley – out with a knee injury) were very close in performance in the pre-season. He doesn’t get rattled or nervous, and he ran the offense very well. Irwin also did a very good job, and Simmonds played very well on the line for us.”

Donahoe said Mahopac got some clutch plays from a number of sources in the fourth.

“We got a couple of very big plays from Wagner, and Frank Langella came up with a big fourth down reception to keep a drive going,” Donahoe said. “We practice two-point conversions, and we practice end-of-the-game field goals, so they were comfortable doing that. Maloney played well defensively – he was assigned to the quarterback – and he had two big receptions and the field goal.”

Donahoe said Foley is questionable for this week’s game, Addonizio (concussion) is expected to return to the lineup, and Ricci (bronchial infection) is also expected back.

Mahopac hosts Clarkstown North Friday at 7pm. North (3-3) beat Lincoln last week.