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OSSINING, N.Y. Ossining High School football had plenty of promise coming into the season, but late collapses and an inability to stop big plays led to a disappointing 2-5 record for the Pride.
Ossining faced a brutal schedule, particularly in the final three games against Somers, Poughkeepsie and Sleepy Hollow. Still, the Pride had a chance to win almost all of its games this season, but could not get it done.
Head coach Dan Ricci alluded to that fact after Ossinings 34-21 loss to rival Sleepy Hollow in the final game of the regular season.
This has been our season. Were 2-5 and every game were winning, Ricci said. Were right there against Somers, against Poughkeepsie, against Sleepy. Were just as good as all of these teams. We just dont finish. Thats what its been all year. We just havent been able to put teams away.
Injuries hurt, particularly in the latter part of the season. Junior quarterback Justin Davidov, who had generated much of the Prides offense throughout the year, fractured his ankle in the second-to-last game of the season and was out against Sleepy Hollow.
Ricci said after the loss to the Horsemen that he thought Ossining was the better team, when healthy. The Pride was near the goal line and threatening to score in the fourth quarter but could not get the ball in the end zone. Ricci said that if Davidov were in the game that theyre not stopping us.
Ossining had a chance to win several more games. The Pride erased a 22-0 deficit but missed an extra point that resulted in a 35-34 overtime loss to Yorktown in week two. Ossining also cut an early 19-point deficit versus Somers to just three points in week five, but lost, 33-22, after giving up two big touchdown runs.
Ricci pointed to mistakes at the worst times as the main factor that doomed his team throughout the season.
Making plays at the right time when the game is on the line, Ricci said. Were there all the time. Here, with [Sleepy Hollow], same thing. We would sustain drives and go 80 yards grinding it out and then give up a one-play touchdown. So just consistency and making plays at the right time.
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