Marc My Words!

Cardinals click as Kern ignites game-winning drive

          Luke Kern of Stony Point was North Rockland High School’s loss and a big gain for Albertus Magnus HS in Bardonia, where the combination quarterback-cornerback was a four-year standout and all-county performer.

Kern is now a sophomore cornerback at Division III Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and he is already helping the Cardinals on the gridiron.

The Cardinals opened their season in Westminster, Md., on Labor Day weekend, meeting the McDaniel Green Terror at Gill Stadium.

          CUA trailed by as many as 16 points and was down by five with 13 seconds left, but Kern recovered a key fumble on a punt return that ignited the game-winning drive – the Cardinals pulling out a spectacular 34-33 victory.

In another game on the gridiron that ended on the final play, freshman Donny Davis of New City entered the game in the second half and ran for 56 yards on 10 carries as SUNY Cortland outlasted Heidelberg University, 26-24.

On the scholastic front, the North Rockland Red Raiders received two rushing touchdowns from Cameron Lewis, but were stunned by visiting Arlington, 20-13, in the game’s final seconds.

The annual Supervisor’s Cup pitting the two schools in Clarkstown went to the North this year as senior quarterback Jack Abrams ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter, while Brian Garchitorena and Michael Porco also scored touchdowns to spark a 26-8 triumph.

Kyle Samuels scored for Clarkstown South.

The Pirates of Pearl River proved too much for visiting Pelham Memorial, posting a 63-7 win as Kyle Murphy, Matt Patrone and Troy Travaligno sparked the rout, and Albertus Magnus defeated visiting Croton-Harmon, 21-12, as Albie Argenio scored two touchdowns.

In cross country action, the New Paltz women’s team finished fourth in a field of 11 teams at the annual Vassar Invitational in Poughkeepsie.

The Hawks averaged 20:18 for the 5-kilometer course, collecting 114 points. Stevens Institute of Technology took the top spot with 28 points while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute finished second with 34 points. Vassar rounded out the top three with 82 points.

Senior Robyn Schaefer of Sayville paced the Hawks, finishing in a time of 19:51.9 while senior teammate Danielle Halikias of Budd Lake, N.J., had the second-fastest time of the day with a time of 19:59.7.

The third New Paltz runner to cross the line was junior Rebecca Verrone  of Maspeth, locking down a time of 20:23.0.

Junior  Taryn Colon of Suffern followed behind in a time of 20:33.2 while sophomore Katie Hempfling of Holbrook clocked in at 20:41.3, earning the fifth-fastest New Paltz time.

In men’s soccer, Clarkstown North HS alum Edel Fernandez of New City is a senior defender at Purchase College, which opened its season at home with a 2-1 victory over The College of Staten Island.

STARS IN THEIR EYES: The two-time regular-season champion Rockland Boulders placed five players on the Can-Am League all-star team, and veteran skipper Jamie Keefe repeated as manager of the year, winning the honor for a third time. Rockland has already set franchise records in wins (61), home wins (35), winning streak (11), and games above .500 (28), while also breaking numerous league marks. The offense has broken the Can-Am League record for doubles, runs scored, and RBI in a single season, while all-star selections Junior Arrojo, a shortstop, outfielders Stephen Cardullo and Joe Maloney, catcher Marcus Nidiffer, and Jared McDonald have all broken, or are on pace to break, multiple league records of their own. First baseman Charlie Law is the fifth Rockland played named to the all-star team. Keefe was also named manager of the year in 2011 with the Pittsfield Colonials after leading them to a playoff appearance. The Boulders went 62-34 in the regular season, setting a franchise record with 27 wins on the road. For this reason perhaps, the Boulders opted to play the first two games of a best-of-five playoff series on the road against Trois-Rivieres Aigles before returning to Provident Bank Park in Pomona. The third game is scheduled September 11 at 7 p.m. Rockland will also host Games 4 and 5, if necessary. Playoff tickets can be purchased at www.RocklandBoulders.com or at the Provident Bank Park box office.

RIP MR. DAWSON: Alvin ‘Albie’ Dawson, 73, who played softball for the legendary Modern Auto Body and Andy’s Men’s Wear softball teams in the ’60s and ’70s, died on September 2 while in Hospice care in Port Richey, Fla. Dawson, a native of Pearl River, suited up for other teams of his era and also umpired. He is survived by his wife of three years Kim (Stover) Dawson of Port Richey; a son Brian Dawson and his wife Denise of Bradenton, Fla.; two daughters, Robyn Dawson of Bradenton and Eileen Dawson-Snyder of New York, as well as numerous nieces and nephews in Ohio and New Jersey, along with his lifelong best friend Jeff Cole of Port Richey, Fla.

COLLEGIATE CLIPS: The Nyack College women’s soccer team, including senior midfielder and team captain Brittany Cruz of Suffern, lost its season and home opener to Albany-based College of Saint Rose, 6-1, at Moseley Field. The Warriors, who travel to Philadelphia on September 12 to challenge Holy Family University (1-1), return home for back-to-back games on September 15 and September 17 to meet Caldwell College (0-2) at 4 p.m. and Queens College (1-1) at 3:30 p.m., respectively. … Clarkstown South HS alumna Angelica Figueroa of New City is a member of the women’s volleyball team at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry. The Clippers, coming off two defeats at the Georgian Court Invitational in Lakeland Township, N.J., visit Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, Del., on September 12 to meet the host school and Cheyney University. … The New Paltz women’s tennis team, top-seeded in the East Division, will face the No. 4 seed from the West Division at the SUNYAC Tournament, scheduled Oct. 9-11 in Binghamton. Helping the Hawks are sophomores Brittany Grandville of Tappan and Albertus Magnus HS graduate Taylor Mormile of Orangeburg. …

THIS & THAT: The Rockland County sports community, always willing to help at the drop of a hat, can lend a hand for longtime Albertus Magnus HS athletic director Joe McGuinness, who has been in a serious, prolonged battle with his health. The Dan Sullivan Foundation and the Pearl River Ridge Street Wiffle Ball Classic combined to raise funds over the weekend. Anyone willing to help might send a check to: Dan Sullivan Foundation, 12 Lombardi Road, Pearl River, NY 10965. Indicated “Joe McGuinness” in the memo line.Thank you. (Editorial admission: Joe was AD at Tappan Zee HS while my three sons ran track and cross country.)