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OSSINING, N.Y. Harrison linemen Kevin Doyle and Charlie Credendino stood on the sideline late in the fourth quarter after having led the visiting Huskies to a 31-0 victory over Ossining to keep playoff hopes alive.
Defense is the key to winning football games, said Doyle, who was in the Pride backfield all evening. We had to get this win, be aggressive and give the offense room to work. We had to stop their offense.
Harrison (3-2) recovered from a tough loss to John Jay last week and needed a victory to remain in the Class A playoff hunt. Ossining (3-2), which played without its lead running back Steve Candaleria, struggled to move the ball on the ground and with the pass.
Playing on the defensive line is tougher than offense for me, said Credendino, who also plays on the offensive line. You have to be focused, play off blocks, then make a tackle. We didnt make very many mistakes. Defense has set the tone.
While Doyle, Credendino and the defense were stopping the Pride, Huskies quarterback Vinnie Nicita and running back Will Hilliard were making big plays on offense as the Huskies tolled to a 17-0 halftime lead. Nicita threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Robert Waldman for a 6-0 lead and Hilliard raced 77 yards to make it 13-0. Roberto Bruno kicked four extra points and added a 40-yard field goal that made it 17-0.
Nicita also ran in from three yards out for a score in the third quarter and Cory Calcigni closed out the scoring with a five-year run in the fourth quarter.
Marc Clancy rushed for 72 yards on 14 carries and Brian Connolly completed 3 of 10 passes for 20 yards as the Huskies defense held the Pride to 178 total yards of offense.
Harrison will face longtime rival Rye next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in a game that is always competitive no matter what the team records are.
Ossining looks to rebound next week when it hosts Horace Greeley Friday at 7 p.m.
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