ELDRED – The storybook season continues, but is quickly reaching its climax.

Austin Hartman and the Tri-Valley Bears have dominated the division thus far, getting past Ellenville, Eldred, Roscoe, and Fallsburg with just Sullivan West left on the schedule. In their most recent outing, the Bears put together a gritty 22-8 win against the improving Eldred squad.

Tri-Valley received the opening kickoff to start the game, and a healthy dose of rushing gaines pushed the Bears up the field and into the end zone. Austin Hartman scampered in for his first score of the day. and the Bears quickly took an 8-0 lead.

Eldred returned fire with a few first downs of their own before the drive stalled, and they had to punt the ball back to Tri-Valley. Hartman continued running downhill, getting the Bears into the end zone for the second time of the half and pushing the lead to 16-0 after the conversion.

After an Eldred turnover on downs, Tri-Valley began marching again, but a lost fumble gave Eldred the ball back with 2:40 to play in the half.

Hartman made his presence known again as he intercepted an Eldred pass with 1:25 left in the second quarter. The Bears were unable to score again before the break, however, and the 16-0 lead held at halftime.

After Eldred recognized their Homecoming Court during halftime, the teams returned to the field re-energized for the third quarter.

Eldred received the kickoff and needed just three plays from scrimmage before Frankie Whitmore took a qb keep to the house for 60 yards with 10:16 left in the third quarter.

Tri-Valley found the end zone for the third time, this time a rush by Ian Mullen after a TD run by Austin Hartman was called back by a holding penalty. With just 1:24 left in the third quarter, Tri-Valley extended their lead to 22-8.

Eldred’s next drive was stalled by a bad snap in Bears territory, but a perfect punt pinned the Bears at their one yard line. Hoping for a safety, Eldred lined up on the ball but Hartman was able to break away for a big 20-yard gain.

The Bears, who managed the clock well the entire game, continued in the fourth quarter. They gave the ball back to Eldred twice in the final minutes of the game, but back-to-back 4th down stops by the Tri-Valley defense kept Eldred from scoring again.

The final turnover on downs came with 27 seconds left, and the Bears were able to kneel out the win.

“We knew it would be a hard fought game,” Coach Kevin Crudele said after the win. “The field conditions came into play but we did our job and just moved straight ahead. We’re taking it one week at a time.”

And fortunately for fans of the 8-man football in the County, the next week for Tri-valley features a premier matchup between the undefeated Bears and Sullivan West Bulldogs with first place on the line.

“We started slow, and Tri-Valley came out and punched us in the mouth,” Coach Sean McAveney said. “It took us two quarters to figure everything out, but we played a good second half and we were right in that game in the 4th.”

Eldred, now 2-3 (1-3), will be on the road facing Fallsburg next week in another division matchup.

TV Stats

Austin Hartman 149 yards, 2 TD’s, 6 tackles, 1 interception

Ian Mullen 105 Yards, 1 TD, 6 tackles, 1 sack

Dylan Poley 56 yards, 6 tackles

Josh Carmody 5.5 tackles

Talan Scanna 4.5 tackles