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ARMONK, N.Y. The Port Chester High School football team's defense was exhausted and hurting Saturday, having played the entire second half with the exception of four plays. Still, the Rams had enough left in the tank to stymie a last-minute Byram Hills drive and force a field goal try from 32 yards out.
The kick, with seven seconds remaining on the clock, sailed wide left, allowing Port Chester to hang on for an unlikely 21-20 victory in a Class A football game in Armonk.
Port Chester, now 2-0, rallied from a 13-point deficit despite running just two offensive plays in the second half. The Rams executed a huge special-teams play and halfback pass to score in the second half.
Jason Ippolito had an 81-yard kick-off return for a score in the third quarter after Byram Hills had taken a 20-7 lead. Then, on the Rams first offensive play of the second half three minutes into the fourth quarter halfback Trevor Chambless hit C.J. Falk for a 90-yard touchdown pass.
This is a group of kids and we only have 21 with a lot of heart, Port Chester coach Greg Domestico said. They play hard and are a scrappy group. They knew they had to step up and make plays, and they did when it counted.
After Falks grab gave Port Chester the lead, Byram Hills started at its 25-yard line and methodically marched down to the Port Chester 16. Then Rams' defense stiffened and held Byram Hills to a net one yard gain on three straight running plays, resulting in the 32-yard field-goal attempt.
We just kept fighting and fighting, said defensive lineman George Leyva of Port Chesters final stand. We were all banged up and tired, but we were picking each other up. We knew we had to stay strong and not allow them that last first down or a touchdown.
Byram Hills opened the third quarter with a 68-yard drive, consuming 8:32 and culminating in a Brandon Rosen 4-yard scoring run. On the ensuing kick off, Ippolito fielded the ball at the 19 and burst through a hole at the 30-yard line and took off for the score.
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