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SOMERS, N.Y. – Somers High School football is 5-0 this season, but the team's latest win was the shakiest of all.
The Tuskers got off to a rough start against Ossining but avoided a letdown and held on for a 33-22 win. Somers had come off an emotional win against Poughkeepsie the week before, and coach Tony Dematteo said the team’s state of mind was not right.
“Our mindset was a little rough coming off the win against Poughkeepsie, and getting up (19-0) so quick, we kind of went to sleep,” Dematteo said.
“You know what, I’ve been doing it 43 years and I don’t have an answer for you,” Dematteo said. “I really don’t know how to do it. I tried my best. I thought we were ready. I think if they scored first it might have been a different game for us. But because we got up so quick, we just kind of went to sleep.”
Despite the rocky game, the Tuskers stayed undefeated, thanks in part to senior running back Stefano Bicknese, who rattled off a 76-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against Ossining. Bicknese said Somers must stay healthy to prevent slowing down in the final leg of the season.
“Peter Mueller took an injury ... Joey [Lombardo] and me are both banged up a little bit,” Bicknese said. “We need to settle down and let the injuries heal a little bit.”
Somers faces a tough test Friday at 7 p.m. (Senior Night) when it hosts Walter Panas (4-1). The Tuskers avoided a letdown against Ossining, but Dematteo knows his team must be sharper if it wants to succeed this season.
“Just knowing every game is going to count and you just can’t ever underestimate anyone,” Dematteo said. “We have two league games left. If we get into the playoffs, which we should, we’re going to play three games in 11 days. So there’s no way that you can do what we did [against Ossining] and go through the playoffs.”
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