If you got a late start on your way to the Ellenville-Spackenkill football game last Friday night, you probably missed some early fireworks. Those in the late-arriving crowd were pleasantly surprised as they looked to the Robert Woodhouse Memorial Scoreboard at the northern end of the Ellenville field. With 8:05 still left in the first quarter, the Blue Devils were already up 21-0 and never looked back on their way to a 55-0 shutout.

The Blue Devils kicked off to start the game and Spackenkill ran the ball back out to their own 22-yard line. That may have been the only positive thing to happen to the Spackenkill football team all night. Three offensive plays lost 6 yards and after a Spackenkill punt, Ellenville took over on the Spackenkill 35-yard line. Quarterback Brian Burns handed the ball off to Donald Exner, who ran left behind the excellent blocking of the Devils' offensive line. Thirty-five yards later, Exner crossed the goal line. Burns' PAT made the score 7-0 before many of the Blue Devil faithful had found their seats.

On Spackenkill's second possession, defensive back Andrew Hyatt picked off his fourth interception of the year and returned the ball to the Spackenkill 19-yard line. On the Blue Devils' first play from scrimmage, Burns handed the ball off to Exner who again went untouched into the end zone. Burns' PAT made it 14-0.

Things went from bad to worse for Spackenkill when they fumbled the kickoff and the Blue Devils' offense went to work from the visitor's 6-yard line. Two plays later Burns scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak and his PAT kick made it 21-0.

Spackenkill, which came into the game with a 0-4 record, was having a rough week. Sources revealed that the football team had lost several key players to suspension due to unspecified violations of team/school rules. Whatever the cause, Spackenkill was overmatched and undermanned.

Joe Logan added to Spackenkill's angst when he returned a punt for a 47-yard touchdown with 4:54 left in the first quarter. Burns kicked the PAT and Ellenville was up 28-0.

Senior RB Jason Lutz scored on the first play of the second quarter, capping a seven-play Ellenville drive, when he bullied his way in from three yards out. The PAT by Burns made it 35-0. After another Spackenkill drive stalled, Ellenville produced a five play drive which was highlighted by a 48-yard Logan scamper. The drive ended when Burns hit Lutz for a six-yard gain on third-and-11. Foregoing an attempt at a short punt, Coach Tony Borriello sent Burns out to attempt a 44-yard field goal. In what was certainly a moral victory for the Spackenkill defense, Burns' field goal attempt had the distance but sailed right.

Exner added his third touchdown of the day when he scored on a 14-yard run with just 57 seconds left in the half. The PAT was no good and the Blue Devils went to the locker room up 41-0.

It has been a long time since the Blue Devils have scored 41 points in a half. Coach Tony Borriello was hoping to have his team play a tune-up game in preparation for the remaining conference games against Highland and Liberty. A blowout victory against Spackenkill did not allow Borriello to accurately evaluate his team.

"It's tough. Spackenkill played hard. I know what they're going through. I've been on the other side of that score."

Borriello and Assistant Coach Merrill Conner made certain that all of their players saw time in the second half. Junior Sebastian Constable, who looked good in his half of football, replaced Brian Burns at quarterback. Constable led the Blue Devils to two scoring drives, the first coming when RB Tom Maerling scored from two yards out with 5:19 to go in the third quarter. Burns' PAT extended the Ellenville lead to 48-0.

Constable threw only one pass during the second half but it found the mark when he found TE Sam Pozorski with a 38-yard strike. One play later RB Eric Thayer scored from a yard out and Burns' PAT made the final 55-0.

Blue Devil Bits: Ellenville returns to action this Friday night when the Blue Devils host Chester. With upcoming divisional games on the horizon, Coaches Borriello and Conner will make certain the Blue Devils do not look past the Hambletonians. Chester edged Eldred in a controversial 14-13 game last week….At 2-0 in Class B, Division II, the Blue Devils will need a win against Highland or Liberty to make the sectional playoffs.

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