OSSINING, N.Y. The Ossining High School football team will try to rebound from its season opening loss with a tough match up against Yorktown on Friday at 7 p.m.
Ossining lost, 28-14, to Nyack in the season opener despite 246 rushing yards and a touchdown from senior running back Stephen Candelaria. The Pride led by a touchdown at halftime but gave up 21 unanswered points in the second half.
Candelaria injured his hand last year and missed most of the season. Yorktown will likely have its hands full with him on Friday.
Candelaria must set the tone for Ossining and wear down the Yorktown defense so quarterback Justin Davidov can do his work. Candelaria also fumbled in the second half against Nyack, something the Pride must avoid against Yorktown.
The Pride should also be fired up as it seeks to avoid an 0-2 start, but it will be facing a contender in Yorktown.
Yorktown lost, 28-6, to rival Somers in its season opener thanks in large part to a 48-yard interception return by Somers' Joe Lombardo in the beginning of the fourth quarter. Yorktown was moving down the field and trailed just 14-6, but Lombardos interception made it 21-6 Somers.
The Yorktown defense showed it is capable of making big plays of its own when the going gets tough. Somers was mere yards from the end zone twice in the first half last week, but Yorktown snagged two acrobatic, one-handed interceptions to stop the Tuskers drives.
However, each teams defense gave up 21 unanswered points in the second half of their respective games and must avoid similar collapses on Friday.
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
