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The new Section 1 champions move on to the state regional playoffs with a bye in the first round. The Panthers (8-1) will play in the state quarterfinals.on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Mahopac High School in a noon start.
It's Pleasantville's first sectional championship since 1991, when the Panthers, led by tight end/defensive end Otis Hill, beat Dobbs Ferry 7-0 in the title game. Hill went on to a successful basketball career at Syracuse University.
The Panthers' defense had not allowed a touchdown in the team's last 11 quarters before Lourdes scored with three minutes left in the game.
Pleasantville scored the first points of the game when Patick Bathon recovered a Lourdes fumble in the end zone for 7-0 lead late in the first half.
Defensive back Greg Drillock, who had an interception in the first half, caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Anthony Godino for the 14-0 lead in the third quarter.
The Panthers played without standout linebacker, tight end and placekicker James Leyden, who suffered a broken ankle last week and did not play.
Enrico Ruotolo anchored the offense, gaining 135 yards in the game for the winners. Josh Della Puca closed out the scoring for Pleasantville with a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter.
* You can check out class-by-class brackets for the Section 1 football playoffs here.
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