By Rob Potter
ELDRED — October 31, 2006 — The Eldred Yellowjackets won the Section IX Class D regular season football title for the second straight year on Friday night with a big win against the visiting Webutuck Warriors.
The teams combined for 34 points in the first quarter as Eldred held a 20-14 advantage.
But from that point on, only the Yellowjackets reached the end zone as they posted a 59-14 victory.
Eldred (8-1, 3-0 Class D), will face Chester at 4 p.m. Friday at Dietz Stadium in Kingston in the Class D championship game.
Yellowjacket running back Kevin Prunka scored the game’s first TD on a 1-yard run with 10:19 remaining in the first quarter.
But Webutuck (2-7, 1-2 Class D) answered just 20 seconds later when Marquis Williams scored on a 56-yard touchdown run to even the score at 6-6.
Eldred began its ensuing possession at the 50-yard line. On first down, senior quarterback Nick McCormick completed a TD pass to Tom Compasso.
The Warriors knotted the score when Steve Lounsbury returned the Yellowjacket kickoff 65 yards for a TD. Tiere Spriull then ran for the 2-point conversion to give Webutuck a 14-12 advantage with 9:27 remaining in the frame.
Prunka scored his second touchdown of the quarter nearly two minutes later and McCormick connected with Sean Colley on the 2-point pass as Eldred retook the lead, 20-14.
A steady rain began falling shortly after Prunka’s second TD, causing for some slippery footing on the field. But the Yellowjacket offense had little trouble reaching the end zone a few more times.
In the final three quarters, Prunka had a 1-yard run, Chris Leader added two TD runs of 1 and 5 yards, Hilton Johnson scored on a 8-yard run and Andrew Cole had an 11-yard run.
McCormick also threw another scoring strike to Compasso, this time covering 32 yards.
Prunka finished the evening with 198 yards on 22 carries.
McCormick completed 7-of-8 passes for 195 yards.
Compasso had four receptions for 121 yards.
“We had a great first quarter tonight, but we just couldn’t sustain it,” Webutuck Coach Doug Winslow said.
He praised the Yellowjackets, noting they have a “a good passing game and a good running game.”
For Eldred, this is the second straight season it has captured the Class D regular season crown.
“We have a 17 and 3 record over the past two seasons,” Eldred Coach Frank Kean said. “I’m very proud of all of these kids and this community.
“Our players have worked hard and listened to what [Assistant] Coach [John] LiGreci and I have told them about competing,” Kean added.