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Spartans defense stiffened in second half
Sparta rallied to a 16-7 victory over Wallkill Valley in a battle of winless
SCIL teams on Saturday in Hardyston. The Spartan defense rose the occasion in the second half, limiting the Rangers
to 19 yards of total offense over the final 24 minutes.
Wallkill Valley put the first points on the board with 6 minutes, 8 seconds remaining on the first quarter clock.
Quarterback Mike Murphy flipped a 10-yard TD strike to Kevin Lukich coming out of the backfield and T.J. Killacky
booted the extra point.
Sparta rebounded in the second quarter when junior Tony Mauriello broke loose and raced 47-yards to paydirt to
conclude the Spartans fourth possession of the game. The PAT was no good and Sparta trailed by one at the halftime
break.
In the third quarter, Jeff Babb split the uprights from 35-yards out to propel the Spartans into a 9-7 lead.
Sparta iced the decision with less than a minute remaining when quarterback Eric Reese raced off tackle seven yards
into the end zone and Babb booted the extra point conversion.
Mauriello surpassed the century mark in rushing for the first time in his career as he toted the pigskin seven
times for 106 yards. Reese hit on 7 of 17 aerial attempts for 70 yards, four of which were hauled in by Curtis
Taylor for 29 yards.
Lukich, who was third in rushing in the SCIL as a junior, picked up 58 yards on 17 carries while Murphy hit of
6 of 17 passing attempts for 64 yards, three of which Lukich caught for 41 yards.
Sparta hosts cross-town rival Pope John on Saturday and the Spartans will need to upset the undefeated Lions if
they wish to remain in the race for the SCIL crown.
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