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It marks the first time Somers has won two straight sectional titles. The Tuskers beat Sleepy Hollow in last year's sectional final. Somers also avenged its only regular-season loss, a 20-13 defeat to Rye (9-1).
Somers (9-1) will meet the Section 9 champion Cornwall at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Dietz Stadium in Kingston in the state quarterfinals.
After a scoreless first half, with both defense making big plays, Somers quarterback Kevin Cousin hit Josh Riger for a 60-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
The Tuskers scored again on a 25-yard run by fullback Marc Fiocco to take a 14-0 lead as time ran out in the third quarter.
Rye responded with a scoring drive with an 80-yard scoring pass from quarterback Andrew Livingston to Chris Santangelo to cut the lead tp 14-7 with 11 minutes to play, but Somers held the Garnets off in the fourth quarter.
Somers coach Tony DeMatteo, the winningest coach in Section 1 history with 311 wins, won his third title with the Tuskers. A Yonkers native, DeMatteo was the longtime coach at Roosevelt before moving on to Somers in 2000, leading the Tuskers to their first-ever sectional title in his first season. Rye coach Dino Garr has 267 wins.
Both defenses controlled the scoreboard in the first half with Somers stopping the only scoring threat by blocking a Rye field foal attempt as time ran out in the first half.
Rye running back Shane O'Malley ran for 179 yards to lead all rushers.
* You can check out class-by-class brackets for the Section 1 football playoffs here.
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