came from behind on the road to defeat Byram Hills, 21-20, on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon.
For a photo gallery of the game, check out this .
started out shaky in this one and could not find a way to slow down the Bobcats’ running game.
Byram Hills ran the ball as they pleased early in the game and led 13-0 with only 2:09 left in the first half.
After working the ball to mid-field, Rams’ quarterback Kyle Drummond threw a deep pass just beyond the reach of a wide-open Mike Thorgersen. Every Port Chester supporter gasped and put their hands on their heads in disbelief.
“We were going against the wind in the beginning and then we were going with it. It was hard to get a handle on that” said Drummond. “I saw [Thorgersen] running down the field wide open. It’s hard to miss him, he’s a big target.”
This was a key moment in the game. Port Chester would have to put it behind them or they would be going into halftime trailing by two touchdowns.
Drummond responded. The missed opportunity exposed the weakness of Byrum Hills defense, which was the ability to cover the deep pass.
Drummond and Thorgersen hooked up for a pair of completions in the next few minutes, one of which was a 25-yard touchdown pass with only 0:18 left in the first half.
“I’ve been playing with [Drummond] since we were 5 years old,” said Thorgersen. “We’ve had a great connection ever since. I work my hardest to get open for him and he always delivers it to me. It’s a good relationship we have.”
had the momentum going into the half despite trailing 13-7.
That momentum was crushed early in the second half when Byram Hills went on a long touchdown drive to pull ahead 20-7.
“The only time we had momentum all day was just before the half,” said Port Chester Head Coach . “That was gone right away because they drove right down the field on us to start the second half.”
On the ensuing kick-off, senior captain Jason Ippolito sped straight up the middle and returned the kick to the house.
“That play was all about my blockers,” said Ippolito. “I just run my hardest and they did a great job clearing the way for me.”
After another long drive by Byram Hills, the Rams had their backs against the wall. The Bobcats had a first down in the red zone and any score would have been big trouble for the Rams.
For the first time all day Port Chester’s defense came up big and Byram Hills turned the ball over on downs at the Rams’ 10 yard-line.
Port Chester took a big gamble on the next play by putting the ball in the hands of running back Trevor Chambless, not to run but to throw.
Drummond pitched the ball right and Chambless sold the run. C.J. Falk was flying down the field and Chambless pulled up to throw the ball. The running back dropped a gorgeous pass over the shoulder of Falk and there was no stopping him. Ninety yards later the Rams were in the end zone. George Leyva drilled the extra point that would put Port Chester ahead for good.
“That was a really exciting moment,” said Chambless. “I was both excited and nervous when the coach put the ball in my hands but I saw he had a step on his man and I just let it go.”
It was late in the fourth quarter and Port Chester still couldn’t stop the run. The Bobcats plugged away downfield as the clock ticked away and found themselves in a fourth and long situation.
Byram Hills lined up for a 32-yard field goal attempt down by one with only a few seconds left. The kick sailed outside the left upright and Port Chester stole victory from the hands of defeat to start their season 2-0.
“We only have 23 kids dress every week so we are always going to be out manned,” said Coach Domestico. “They scratch, the claw and they do whatever they need to do to win a football game. I just can’t say enough.”
