I’m up at Dietz for the weekend, which kicks off with Tuckahoe trying to lock up its fifth trip to the Carrier Dome and second in three years.
The Tigers have a fun matchup this afternoon with Section 2 champ Rensselaer. I’ll have all the updates @LoHudInsider. Afterward, I’ll post the final score, a recap and the schedule for next Friday’s state championship.
Enjoy the football. If you’re not here, follow along on Twitter.
Friday’s games – Class D state semifinals
At Dietz Stadium, Kingston:
Tuckahoe 14, Rensselaer 12
GAME RECAP
Class D state semifinal
Tuckahoe 14, Rensselaer 12: At Dietz Stadium in Kingston, Tuckahoe advanced to the fifth state championship game in program history, beating Section 2’s Rensselaer 14-12 in a dramatic Class D state semifinal at Dietz Stadium Friday night.
“They’re a good football team,” Tuckahoe coach John D’Arco said. “I expected a good, tough football game. I got a good, tough football game. Fortunately, we won.”
Senior running back Nick Reisman scored his second touchdown of the night on a 5-yard run with 3:37 remaining. Reisman answered a go-ahead score by Rensselaer’s Seth Butler just 1:36 earlier.
The Tigers will play for their third state championship at noon on Friday, Nov. 23 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. They will meet Randolph (Section 6), which edged Tioga 7-6 in the other state semifinal on Friday night.
Reisman finished with 70 yards and two touchdowns, which helped Tuckahoe (8-2-1) overcome a 6-0 halftime deficit. The Tigers fell into that hole on the opening kickoff of the game, which was returned 85 yards for a score by Tyler Stasack.
After the defense held Rensselaer scoreless for the remainder of the half, Reisman capped an 85-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the third quarter. The score was set up by first-down runs of 27 and 14 yards by quarterback Shyheim Nixon.
Reisman was named the team’s offensive MVP. Defensive end Mike Arborn earned defensive MVP honors. He anchored a unit that stalled the Rensselaer run game, limiting it to 114 yards on 41 carries. John Paulino and Michael Castracucco also had interceptions and Bryan Madan had a sack.
Nixon led the Tigers with 96 yards rushing on 13 carries. He also had a 16-yard run that set up Reisman’s winning touchdown. Tuckahoe is now 4-0 since he replaced Castracucco as the team’s starting quarterback following a three-game winless streak to end the regular season.
“That was our main goal, to get to Syracuse,” Nixon said. “The regular season was tough. We had a tough schedule. We just had to fight through it. We knew we were going to be in our class for the playoffs and we knew we could do it.”
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 23
Class D state championship
At Carrier Dome, Syracuse:
Tuckahoe vs. Randolph (Section 6), 12 p.m.
9 Comments
hip hip horray…tuckahoe won 14-12 on their way to syracuse
Congratulations Tuchahoe
GREAT WIN,BRING HOME THE “GOLD”
You guys at the class a game now??
Yep – congratulations Tuckahoe. At a way to represent section 1. Hopefully New Rochelle will join you. Go New Ro.
Any Cornwall burnt hills score?
gonewro-still early,but sounds like BH is playing good d??
CONGRATULATIONS TO TUCKAHOE!!! GO ALL THE WAY, NEW RO WILL BE NEXT!!!!!!
WHAT A LUCKY GUY ,I AM I FOLLOW HARRISON BECAUSE I LIVED IN HARRISON FOR 35 YEARS AND ALL MY 5 SONS WENT AND PLAYED THERE…...BUT I AM A TIGER GRADUATE AND PLAYED BASKETBALL ,... BASEBALL AND LOVER…AT TUCKAHOE….CLASS OF 49 MY HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES ARE GREATER FOR THE ONE YEAR AT TUCKAHOE THAN THE 2 YEARS AT A.B.DAVIS IN MOUNT VERNON