Kevin Garabitos was so upset about losing the local rivalry game against Bronxville earlier this season that he paced the sidelines imploring his Tigers teammates not to let the Broncos score in the game's final minutes.
"We don't want to lose another game this season," the senior quarterback said following the loss. "We wanted to be perfect, so now we are looking forward to the state playoffs."
That 33-19 loss to neighboring Bronxville would be the Tigers lone setback of what turned out to be a championship season.
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Garabitos and the Tuckahoe football team fulfilled a year-long dream today by winning the New York State Class D Football Championship in a decisive 27-0 victory over Section 5 representative Caledonia-Mumford at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse as Garabitos ran for two touchdowns and pass for a third in the win.
The Tigers, who had 17 seniors on a team that was knocked out of the playoffs in the state regionals last year, finished their dream season with a record of 10-1 and won their second state title–the first came in 2006. Cal-Mum finished at 10-2.
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The title game took on a defensive feel for most of the first half--with Garabitos' 1-yard blast into the end zone in the first quarter the only score of the half. Tuckahoe led 6-0 at halftime. Luis Esquilin scored early in the third quarter and the two-point conversion run by Garabitos made the score 14-0. Garabitos who was named the game's Most Valuable Back.
The Tigers' defense took over from there -- proving to quick and powerful for the Cal-Mum offense, intercepting three passes, three by senior defensive back Ryan Mitchell and another by defensive back and running back Jarett Sommer. The Tigers held Cal-Mum to just 185 yards of total offense. Jonathan jubilee and Gary moss each had a sack for the new state champions.
Another unsung senior hero this season, Jason Feuer, took the game's Most Valuable Player honors making 13 tackles from his linebacker spot and catching a touchdown pass from Garabitos.
Tuckahoe's running game ended the season the way it had played all year, using several backs and totaling 234 yards, led by Esquilin with 81 and Sommer with 65. Garabitos rushed for 40 yards and completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards, including a 12-yard scoring strike to Feuer with just under seven minutes remaining in the game. Garabitos closed out the scoring with a 4-yard in the game's final minute to close it out.
Notes
Kevin Chen anchored the offensive line at center and added eight tackles – matching Jubilee -- for the defense.
The shutout was the fifth of the season for Tuckahoe and second in the state playoff run. The other came in a 43-0 victory over Chester in the state regional final.
The following were the Class D championship game awards: Sportsmanship: Brad Broncati, Tuckahoe; Chris Riggi, Cal-Mum; Most valuable offensive lineman: Kevin Chen, Tuckahoe; Most valuable offensive back: Kevin Garabitos, Tuckahoe; Most valuable defensive lineman: Trevor Haut, Cal-Mum; Most valuable defensive back: Ryan Mitchell, Tuckahoe; Most valuable player: Jason Feuer, Tuckahoe.
