Dukes fall to Pirates

On a crisp fall night, the Dukes football team traveled to the south to renew the old rivalry with the Pirates of Black River. The Pirates sank the Dukes with a final score of 23-21. Wellington now has a 1-6 series record.

Black River won the toss and Wellington's Steve Simonson kicked off in the absence of Anthony Erminio, the regular kicker. On the first series Black River moved the ball on a good run to the 45-yard line of Wellington and was stopped by Gregg Knapp. The ensuing play was stopped for no gain by Austen Gray. Now second and 11, Anthony O'Conner went back and completed a pass to his younger brother Jake O'Conner for a Black River touchdown with 9:18 left to play in the first quarter. The PAT was good.

The Dukes took over after an onside kick covered by Jon Willis but were forced to punt after 3 and out. The Pirates took over on their 24-yard line. With good runs and completed passes they moved the ball to the Wellington 22-yard line where Jake O'Conner kicked a field goal and made the score 10-0.

The ensuing onside kick off was again covered by Willis. The Dukes proceeded to move the ball down field with a short pass to Jerry Herman and a run by Gray. With 4th down and a long 1, Gray again carried the ball and gave the Dukes a first down when the first quarter ended with the score Black River 10, Dukes 0.

The second quarter saw good runs by Simonson and Gray and a pass from Simonson to Charlie Coleman to score the first Dukes touchdown, a drive of 55 yards. The PAT was good. With 9:27 on the clock the score was Black River 10, Dukes 7.

The Dukes kicked off to the 18-yard line where O'Conner received the ball and ran to the 32, fumbling, but Black River was able to recover. They went 3 and out on this series and punted to the 25-yard line. The Dukes were unable to move the ball, then on third down Black River's Neil Jones intercepted a Simonson pass. A pass from O'Conner to O'Conner resulted in a first down with the tackle made by Austin Fullen. On the next play Joppeck fumbled and it was recovered by Wellington's Matt Flynn. The Dukes drove down the field with a series of good runs capped by a touchdown pass from Simonson to Coleman. The PAT was good. At 3:54 on the clock score was Wellington 14, Black River 10.

The Dukes kicked off to the 33. On the following possession Black River moved the ball to the 50 but stalled and punted, putting the ball on the 4 yard line where the first half ended.

Black River kicked off to begin the second half to the 15-yard line where it was received by Fullen and brought it out to the 44. Unable to move the ball on the second series of downs, the Dukes punted to the 26. Black River took over and they moved the ball with three first downs. Then the Dukes made three good defensive plays.

Gray tackled the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage, Coleman, Walker and Ramage stopped a run for a 1-yard gain, then O'Conner was sacked in the back field by Gregg Knapp causing Black River to punt.

The Dukes moved the ball well only to have a Simonson pass intercepted by Black River's Jones who returned to the 6-yard line. On the second play from scrimmage Anthony O'Conner ran for the touchdown. The PAT kick was good. With 56 seconds left in the third quarter the score was Black River 17, Wellington 14.

On the ensuing kick off Fullen took the ball on the 10 and brought it out to the 32. On the first play from scrimmage, the Dukes' fumble was recovered by Black River 's Jake Wright. Black River ran a couple plays for little gain ending the third quarter of play. Unable to move the ball Black River punted to Coleman who returned to the 30.

The Dukes were unable to move the ball. Black River took over on downs. Black River had the same result on the next series and had to punt. The ball went into the end zone and Wellington took over on the 20. The Dukes put together an 80-yard drive with Gray scoring with 4:36 on the clock; PAT was good. The score was Wellington 20, Black River 17.

The Dukes kicked off and then it was Black River 's turn to drive 60 yards for a touchdown with 3:10 on the clock. The PAT failed. The score was now Black River 23-Dukes 21. Black River kicked off and the Dukes were unable to move the ball. Black River took over on downs allowing them to run out the clock. The final score was Black River 23, Wellington 21.

This Friday is Wellington's Homecoming game and they host the Keystone Wildcats.