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EASTCHESTER, N.Y. - The Somers football team did not play a perfect game against Eastchester Saturday but the Tuskers did manage to work through mistakes to earn a 34-21 victory over the hometown Eagles and finish the regular season with a perfect 7-0 record.
"We were horrible," Somers coach Tony DeMatteo said. "I can't explain why, but we didn't play well and we have to be much better next week. We made too many mistakes and lost focus at times."
The victory was the 299th in DeMatteo's career that began with Roosevelt of Yonkers where he won more than 200 games before taking over at Somers in 2000. He is the winningest coach in Section 1 football history.
Somers earned one of the top spots in the Section 1 Class A playoffs, which include eight teams and begin with opening round games at the four higher seeds Thursday. The Tuskers will likely host either Hendrick Hudson or Walter Panas.
Somers opened the scoring an led 6-0 late in the first quarter with a 54-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Decker to wide receiver Joe Festo before Eastchester went ahead 7-6 eight minutes later.
Trailing 7-6, Somers scored the next 22 points to open a 28-7 lead and held on for the win despite some missed tackles, several penalties and inconsistent play on defense and on special teams.
Tuskers lineman Steven Jennings said the team was happy with an unbeaten regular season but determined to be better in the upcoming playoffs.
"It's about being strong in practice and playing well for a whole game," Jennings said. "We consider the season halfway done. We want to win a Section 1 title and go on further (state playoffs. I know we can be a better team than we played today."
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