WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. September 25, 2003: Spencer Ridenhour scored three touchdowns, Ike Nduka, Paul Scotman and Mike Lane one each in Thursday Twilight Football at Parker Stadium. White Plains scored on their first seven possessions against a very young, rebuilding Lincoln (Yonkers) team. 

Lincoln has only 21 players: 3 Seniors, 4  Juniors, and the other 14 sophomores or freshman as they rebuild their football program. They played gamely with good sportsmanship but could not contain the bigger, faster, experienced Orange and Black who won their fourth straight game without a loss setting up a showdown with Mount Vernon a week from Saturday.

SPLITTING THE SECONDARY: Ryan Smalls splits the twin safeties after  yanking down a laser  clothesline pass over the middle from Quarterback Mike Devere. Ryan snared it in full stride over his shoulder in the Tigers second possession Thursday. The race was on after “The Prosecutor” caught the ball and Ryan was tackled on the 10 to set up Spencer Ridenhour’s second touchdown run of 10 yards. That made the score 14-0 with 4 minutes to go in the first quarter. The Smalls play covered 42 yards.  Smalls made two catches to set up Tiger touchdowns on their first two possessions. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

For the second straight week, White Plains won the toss and elected to kickoff. The gamble for field position worked again.

Lincoln went four and out, punting to the White Plains 40. After an incomplete pass and run, Spencer Ridenhour lugged it 12 to the Lincoln 48. Devere passed to Ryan Smalls on a screen pass to the near side who shanked 4 tacklers and lit out to the Lancer 20 before he was stopped. Shocked, Lincoln’s line was cleared out by  John Corretti, Mike Della Posta, Jason Indelicato and Gabe Robles and Joe Vitanza opening up a corridor that Ike Nduka rumbled through for a 20 yard touchdown run. Pablo Siaba added the point and White Plains had a 7-0 lead within the first four minutes.

Like Clockwork

On their next series, Lincoln went four and out again and on first down at the White Plains 48, Mike Devere hit Ryan Smalls on a pass right down the middle that Ryan lugged all the way to the 10 yard line. Spencer Ridenhour then rushed for a yard, then ripped off 9 yards for the touchdown to make it 14-0 with the point.

The Grand Offensive Coordinators are getting spoiled with these 5 and 3-play touchdown drives. For a change of pace Lincoln punted from their goal line on the next series only to have  Keith Shaw race in to block the kick and recover it on the five. Next play on first and goal, Devere handed to Spencer  for his third touchdown run. Pablo’s perfect point made it 21-0 as the first quarter ended.

Onslaught continues.

The Lancers could not stop the Tigers. And they could  not move the ball, either. After again being stopped on downs,  Lincoln punted to the White Plains 35. On the second play from scrimmage, Ike Nduka lugged it up the middle, cut to his left getting the angle and down the far sideline he went all the way to the Lincoln 20. A Devere pass to Evan McGuire put the Tigers on the 5 and Paul Scotman got the call, lugging it through the line scoring standing. Siaba kicked the point and it was 28-0 with about 10 minutes left in the first half.

SCOTMAN LOPES INTO THE ENDZONE FOR TIGER TD # 4. The fullback is in black, second from the right, scoring standing up. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

On Lincoln’s next possession, Evan McGuire recovered a fumble on the Lancer 28. On the very first play from scrimmage, Spencer Ridenhour dashed 29 yards around end, got a key block from his quarterback Mike Devere at the 10 and romped into the endzone for his third TD of the day. Pablo pointed and it was 35-0 White Plains with 8 minutes left in the first half.

White Plains wrapped up their scoring when Mike Lane raced 40 yards for the Tigers sixth touchdown in 20 minutes, which with the point  made it 42-0. Coach Santa-Donato  played his understudies in the second half, who moved the ball well between the 20s. We got a glimpse of the runners of the future: Mike Grant carried well for several first downs. Eric Wong complimented him as a running threat and Kevin Avery choreographed the club in workmanlike fashion, making the handoffs efficiently. Jeff Bagley, Jr. so showed power in the backfield.

TIGER PEP BAND PEPPED UP THE AUTUMN AFTERNOON. Photo by WPCNR Sports