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Minisink Valley defeats Middletown 27-0 to remain undefeated

Joe Myhren returned the opening kickoff 80-yards to give the Minisink Valley Warriors an early lead in a crossover match-up with the  Middletown Middie Bears. Myhren broke a tackle and veered left and outran the defenders to register his sixth touchdown of the season for Minisink. 
Chris Daubert's extra point gave the Warriors a 7-0 lead.
The Warriors put together another drive on their next possession but were stalled by a turnover. Josh Tice had a 15 yard run and also a 16 yard pass reception on the drive.
The quarter ended with the Warriors ahead 7-0.
A Middletown possession at the start of the second quarter was stopped when a fumble recovery gave Minisink the ball on their own 47 but that drive stalled and the Warriors were forced to punt. Nick Iannuzzi launched a tremendous punt that left the Middie Bears buried deep in their own end at the five yard line. The vaunted Warrior defense, led by interior linemen Rob Doller, 7 tackles, and Adam Ismaeil, 8 tackles, made short work of the Middie possession and the Warriors got the ball back quickly..
Minisink went to work again but were stopped again this time by an interception in the end zone.
On the ensuing Middletown possession Warrior Matt Hannon made a touchdown saving tackle when he ran down the Middletown receiver on a long pass completion.
The two teams battled it out the rest of the second quarter and the half ended following a Nick Iannuzzi 15 yard run. The Warriors hold a 7-0 lead heading into the second half.
The second half started with Middletown receiving the kickoff. The tough Warrior defense, paced by a Jerred Littles sack, held strong and Middletown was forced to punt.
The Warriors got the ball on the Middletown 42 and following a Joe Myhren 8 yard gain, Warrior QB Nick Iannuzzi took it to the air, and I don't mean by passing the ball. On an end around, Iannuzzi faked a pitch and cut into through Middletown defense. As a would-be tackler approached, Iannuzzi leaped into the air. avoiding the tackle to pick up a 8 yards and a first down. Myhren brought the Warriors four yards closer on the next play before Iannuzzi went to the air for real, this time finding tight end Grant Bollinger all alone in the end-zone for the third Warrior touchdown of the evening.
The Minisink defense got even tougher the next time out as Doller and Justin Diesel made some big-time plays and defensive end Nick Emanuele delivered a bone crunching tackle on Middie QB Pezzullo forcing an errant pass that was nearly picked off.
Warrior fullback Josh Tice brought the Warrior fans to their feet on the next drive as, on a second and 14, he galloped around right end and rambled 27 yards to the Middletown 16 before a swarm of tacklers could bring him down. I'm not sure but I think I counted 14 tacklers on the back of the fierce Warrior before he went down.
With the ball well inside the 'Red Zone' and the goal line well in sight, Minisink went to work. Tice gained another four and then Myhren added five more putting the ball on the seven. Iannuzzi then took matters into his own hands once again finishing the drive with a seven yard run to paydirt.
The extra point made the score 21-0 and the Warriors seemed to be well on their way to another victory.
The teams traded non-productive drives to start the fourth quarter but on the second Middletown possession, Warrior outside linebacker Tom Catabay picked off a Pezzullo toss and raced 24 yards for the fourth and final score of the game.
The Minisink Valley second team closed the game out bringing the ball down to the two before time ran out.
I spoke with Minisink Valley head coach Kevin Gallagher after the game and asked him what he was pleased with most following the game. "Middletown caught us a bit off guard early on with the hurry-up offense but our guys made adjustments and played very well following the first Middletown possession."
"The field conditions were bad but I was really please how our guys came through especially in the second half," continued Gallagher. "We have a great team here," said Gallagher, "I give a lot of credit to my staff. I have some great coaches. I am extremely happy to have Coach Duczeminski in the Warrior fold. Middeltown's loss is definitely our gain. He has so much experience and adds so much to our program that is it incredible." Duczeminski coached at Midletown for seven years before resigning after last season. Gallagher, Duczeminski, Offensive Coordinator Don Brain and Special Teams Coach Scott Hendershot are all Minisink Valley graduates as well as former football standouts.
Minisink takes their undefeated record into action this coming Thursday when they host their first home game of the season against Pine Bush.  
The game has extra special meaning as it will be a night when the Warriors will honor long time former Head Coach John Bell with a memorial service.
Come on out and join us as we honor one of the greats to ever grace the sidelines. Coach Bell may be gone but he will never be forgotten.
Game time is 7:30pm, hope to see you there.

Warrior game stats:
Rushing:
Josh Tice 11 carries - 81 yards
Joe Myhren 14 carries - 75 yards
Nick Iannuzzi 8 carries - 32 yards 1 touchdown
Nick Ospino 1 carry - 14 yards
Jay Yovino 1 carry 3 yards

Passing:
Nick Iannuzzi 3-8 45 yards 1 touchdown

Receiving:
Grant Bollinger 1 catch 26 yards 1 touchdown
Josh Tice 1 catch 16 yards
HR Rotolo 1 catch 3 yards

Tackles:
Nick Scarpulla 11 tackles, 1 fumble caused
Tom Catabay 8 tackles, 1 tip, 1 INT (TD)
Adam Ismaeil 8 tackles
Rob Doller 7 tackles
Joe Myhren 5 tackles
Matt Hannon 4 tackles, 1 INT
Nick Emanuele 4 tackles, 1 hurry
Jon Reynolds  4 tackles
Jerred Littles 3 tackles, 1 sack
Josh Tice 3 tackles, 1 hurry, 1 fumble recovery
Travis Thompson 1 fumble recovery
Justin Diesel 2 tackles
HR Rotolo 2 tackles, 1 tip

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• JV

• Modified

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