Game of the Week: Newburgh Wins NYS Semis in OT [VIDEO]

By Charlie Cornacchio

KINGSTON – The Newburgh Goldbacks, once again, were going to have to rely on half of the best tandem backfield in Section 9.  Aaron Forbes and Anthony Dubose have been a killer one-two punch since last season.  This season they are bigger, faster, and stronger, but Dubose was also absent.  Earlier in the season Dubose was suspended for one game for what was a questionable illegal hit against Washingtonville. This week he was suspended from school for disobeying a school policy. So Aaron Forbes was asked to carry the load, and he did.

Playing Shenendahowa in the Class AA State Semi Finals, Forbes scored a clutch  20-yard touchdown run on the first play of overtime, and the Goldbacks defense then stopped Shenendehowa’s two-point try after the Plainsmen scored, earning Newburgh a berth in the New York State Class AA championship game with a 20-19 victory Saturday night at Dietz Stadium in Kingston.

It was the second overtime game in a row for Newburgh.  Separated by a bye week, theGoldbacks battled Monroe-Woodbury in overtime for the ClassAA Section 9 title, two weeks ago.

Newburgh led at halftime 10-7, but Shenedahowa scored making it 13-10 after missing the extra point. The Goldbacks kicker,Pete Matthews tied the game with a 21-yard field goal with 1:20 seconds left in regulation, pushing the game into overtime.

Newburgh scored on its first play of the overtime period when Forbes ran the 20 yarder for the score.  Matthews hit the extra point making it 20-13.  Shen came back and also scored on its overtime possession, but decided to go for the two-point conversion.  Newburgh defensive end, Oliver Janvier tracked down the Shen quarterback in the backfield and sealed Newburgh's appearance in the State Championship game.

The Goldbacks will play Jamestown on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse for the state title.