Heading into this past weekend’s Class AA Regional Final showdown, Mamaroneck was already enjoying a dream season that saw the Tigers reach heights never before attained in the program’s long and storied history.
But what happened on Saturday night put an took things to another level entirely.
Squaring off against Section 9 champ Monroe-Woodbury, the Tigers found themselves with their backs against the wall, trailing the Crusaders 24-19 with just seconds remaining when Henry Kelly lofted a pass deep in
to the end zone into the waiting hands of Zach Alperowitz. Pandemonium ensued, as the Tigers rushed the field to celebrate a 25-24 victory and the fact that they were now one step closer to the state title game.
Alperowitz said things slowed down as the ball arced through the air, allowing the senior wideout to lock in on executing on the game-winner.
“It was basically silence in my head as I saw the ball go up in the air, but I knew Henry would give me a chance to get to the ball and I just had to go get it,” said Alperowitz after the game. “I just had to concentrate on getting my foot down at the last second.”
And while the final play of the game may have been a wild one, it would have meant little if not for the pluck and grit the Tigers showed throughout the game. Trailing 24-9 in the fourth quarter, the Tigers scored their first touchdown of the game when Kelly found Brady Smith in the back corner of the end zone with 10:37 left to play to make it an eight-point game.
The Tigers had a chance to tie things up late after a muffed Monroe punt put Mamaroneck deep in the end zone but they were turned over on downs, giving the Crusaders the ball back with 1:41 left on the clock. But the Tiger defense did its job, getting three quick stops to force a fourth-down punt with 44 seconds left to play.
Instead of punting, the Crusaders elected to take a safety, giving the Tigers the ball back trailing by five points with just 34 seconds left to play.
It would be just enough time for the Section 1 champs to author an unforgettable win.
“I’m kind of in shock; all season you keep fighting, it’s a bend-don’t-break mentality,” said Kelly. “We were down, we had to come back; you keep fighting no matter how many mistakes you’ve made. Just to have one more week with this group of guys, it means everything.”
In addition to the fourth quarter touchdown connections from Kelly to Brady and Alperowitz, the Tigers also got a big boost from the special teams unit, particularly kicker Leonard Mackensen-Paton, who booted three field goals earlier in the game to help Mamaroneck keep pace with an explosive Crusaders team.
“Leonard has been a beast this year,” said Alperowtiz. “I don’t event know how far those kicks were, but that’s what kept us in the game.”
At 10-1 on the year, the Tigers are now just one win away from a berth in their first-ever state title game. They will be back in action against Section 2 champ Saratoga Springs on Saturday at Middletown High School.
“Going into next week, we know we’re never out of a game, even if we’re down by multiple scores,” said Alperowitz. “ We’re always going to believe that we are in it, and I think being in a bunch of close games got us ready for moments like tonight.”
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