MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y. The Roosevelt High School football team suffered its second brutal loss in as many weeks Saturday with a 47-12 drubbing at Westlake.
The Indians lost, 35-0, to Briarcliff in their season opener and followed that up with another rough performance, but Roosevelt coach Samuel Williams told his players after the game not to get down on themselves.
Its a game. Its a game, Williams said. Youve got to love this game. Youve got to have fun when you play. It doesnt matter about the score. Winning or losing sometimes doesnt determine a persons character. If you stay focused, have fun, learn to love the game, youll come and compete. All you want to do is give your best. If you give me the best, then I accept that.
The Wildcats jumped on Roosevelt early, particularly Dan Bassi, who scored the first two Westlake touchdowns and set up the third with a big gain, all of which occurred in the first quarter. Bassi shredded the Indians defense throughout the afternoon, including a 60-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that made it 14-0 in Westlakes favor.
The rest of Westlakes rushing attack did their share, as well. John Ray Policarpio broke free twice in the second quarter for a pair of rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Chris Gorman punched it in from third and inches in the first quarter a few plays after a big run by Bassi. And Jake Carpenter added another rushing score on Westlakes first possession of the second half.
Williams said Roosevelts poor fundamentals helped Westlake run all over the field.
You win the games two ways: blocking and tackling. And we didnt tackle, Williams said. Thats what killed us right there. We didnt tackle well. When we could break down and start tackling, we had plays for loss. But we didnt tackle well.
The second year head coach said his team has some positives on which to build and said the team will make some adjustments going forward.
I think were going to start passing the ball a little bit more, Williams said. It seemed that we had some success at some of those plays. Weve just to got break down and tackle and we kind of stomped ourselves in the foot, thats all.
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