From the Courier Sports Archives

CARMEL—It’s been quite a while since a Carmel football team posted a perfect regular season by the Rams turned the trick for coach Todd Cayea last week, completing the picture with a neat 23-7 domination of RCK to close at 7-0.

Now the real season begins as Carmel Enters the playoffs as the top seed and with home field advantage in thequarters and semi-finals. The Rams host New Rochelle (5-2) in a quarter final Saturday at 2 p.m. at Carmel High. The winner advances to the Class AA semifinals next week. The loser takes on another quarterfinal loser with a corporate sponsored bowl birth on the line.

Carmel’s win over Ketcham (4-3) was classic Rams football, : power running, deadly passing, stingy defense and an ability to cash in on the opponent’s mistakes.

Man Spallina took care of the power running part, rushing for a career-best 1981 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. Rams quarterback Jeff Mahon burned his opponent in the airlanes again, hitting prime target Ryan Mahoney with a pair of touchdown passes and completing 10-0f-20 attempts for 124-yards. And Carmel’s defense forced two fumbles and sacked the Indians quarterback four times.

They also didn’t allow a point after the first quarter.

“I was happy to get the win,” said Cayea, who was thrilled to see his team remain perfect through the regular season. “RCK is a good football team, and we wanted to keep the momentum going into the playoffs. PEARLMAN The kids did what they had to do.”

Ketcham actually scored first on a one yard TD by Wheeler in the first quarter. But Carmel responded with its own touchdown drive, capping the march with a 33-yard scamper by Spallina that tied the came after Mike Mauriello’s kick.

Carmel staked six more on the board in the second quarter on an eight-yard pass from Mahon to Mahones (four receptions, 55 yards). The Rams made it a 16-7 game after Maurriello nailed a 26-yard field goal in the third, and the final blow came when Mahon and Mahoney againshooked up, this time on a 15-yard touchdown connection.

Paul DeLaurentis picked up three receptions for 43 yards, and Mike De- Grazio had three catches for 26-yards. Mike Castelli had an interception for Carmel and Nathan Mooney stripped the ball fro the RCK return man on the kickoff following Maureillo’s field goal, setting up Carmel’s final score.

Alsoproving big for Carmel were sacks by Ryan Colella (twp), Jay Memmel, and Jesse Eroch.

Now Carmel turns its attention to New Rochelle and the Rams know the stakes are high.

“To this point it’s been a great year,” Cayea said, “ but it’s not time to reflect now. Now it’s up or out. We’ll think about the regular season when it’s over.

“We know the expectations are high,” Cayea added, “There’s a little added pressure.” Now each game gets bigger. We’re the No. 1 see so there’s the added pressure to do well. And obviously we’ll be disappointed if we don’t meet our goals.”