Pioneers Run Over Huskies in Playoff Rematch

Kenneth Charter shredded at least three tackles during his 34-yard touchdown run through the left side of an exhausted Harrison defense, extending Poughkeepsie's lead to 27-7 with only minutes left in the third quarter.

At the conclusion of the play, three dejected Harrison players laid on the field and a Harrison coach spiked his headset.

It was that type of day the maroon and white.

Harrison struggled to contain Poughkeepsie quarterback D'Andre Smith from beginning to end Saturday, as the Pioneers scored 20 unanswered points to open the game and another seven immediately after Harrison's first score en route to a 27-14 victory.

The game was a rematch of last year's Section I playoff game between the two schools. Harrison topped the Pioneers last year, but that wouldn't be the case on Saturday.

Offensively, the Huskies committed almost 100 yards of penalties in the first half and never could find any consistency with their power running game.

Charter started the scoring for Poughkeepsie in the second quarter with a nine-yard touchdown run at about the seven minute mark. Harrison fumbled a snap offensively and Poughkeepsie was in the end zone again less than two minutes later following a 14-yard Oliver touchdown run, they led 13-0 at halftime.

Things got worse for Harrison in the second half, as Oliver orchestrated a three-minute, 80-yard, touchdown drive in Poughkeepsie's first possession as the Pioneers jumped ahead 20-0.

The Huskies opened things up in their first possession after intermission. Harrison quarterback Vinnie Nicita Jr. got the offense moving with a 25-yard completion to Charlie Drago. Nicita followed that up with an 11-yard touchdown pass on fourth and one to draw the Huskies within 13.

But Poughkeepsie put the game away with another 80-yard drive, highlighted by Charter's 34-yard run.

Nicita rallied the troops again on Harrison's next possession, but Harrison's luck would run dry when a fourth down pass sailed out the back of the end zone with 10 minutes remaining.

Harrison added a late touchdown, but it wouldn't be enough as Poughkeepsie held on for the 27-14 victory.