Football: Adebola, Fay lead Ketcham in rout of Yonkers Brave for best start since 2013

WAPPINGERS FALLS - The players were implored to not dwell on the defeats, to look ahead and focus only on improvement. But, Dylan Fay can admit now, it was almost impossible to remain hopeful and to not get fixated on their shortcomings. Understandably, optimism becomes a challenge when losing is consistent.

That's why the feeling now is so fulfilling, because this group remembers well what those days were like and how dejected they often were.

Teammates on Thursday evening passed around a necklace, which has become a celebratory ornament, and even involved their coaches in the postgame frolic. The mirthful smiles remained on their faces well after the energetic cheers and chants had ended, indicating a genuine joy ― one that was long-awaited.

"It's something I've never felt before," Raheem Adebola said of the success his Roy C. Ketcham football team is enjoying this fall. "This is my third year on varsity, and we've gotten used to struggling. So us playing well, having fun and being excited after games, that's new to us and it's an amazing feeling."

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Fay scored two touchdowns and Adebola starred defensively, leading the Storm in a 31-0 win over Yonkers Force before a home crowd that was warmed by its enthusiasm on a cold night.

Ketcham dominated on both ends of the field, overwhelming Yonkers with a relentless running game and a defensive front seven that seemingly was lounging in the opposing backfield. The Storm (4-1) recorded a second consecutive shutout and have themselves off to their best start since 2013.

"The change began in the offseason, and it accelerated in the summer," coach Bryan Hogan said of his players, whom he believes approached their workouts and film study with greater zeal and diligence. "Having success on the field is fueling them to want more and to keep getting better."

For a group unaccustomed to winning, the coach said, there is an emphasis on focus and keeping proper perspective. They can't afford to get carried away after a five-game run. In essence, he said, "we're teaching them how to be successful and stay humble and hungry."

Adebola had three tackles for loss, 1½ sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another in the end zone for a touchdown.

"It's the greatest day of my football life," the defensive lineman said with a grin. "These are the kind of days linemen dream about."

Really, these are the kind of days every Ketcham football player has yearned for. There is such an appreciation now because with this fourth victory, the team surpassed its combined win total of the previous two seasons.

"We'd always say to each other, 'Next game, next game,' trying to get our minds off a loss," said Fay, a senior. "But it'd be in our heads... Now, when we say 'next game,' we're feeling confident and really expecting to win the next one."

The Storm wasted little time setting a tone as Fay broke a 36-yard touchdown run that got them on the board with 8:21 left in the first quarter. He later put them up 14-0, turning the corner around right tackle and shaking a defender for a 9-yard touchdown in the second quarter. That run capped a 35-yard drive that was set up by Dylan Timmons' recovery of a fumble during a punt return.

"That's him every week," Adebola said of Fay. "All season, he's been a dog and just keeps producing, breaking big runs and doing whatever the team needs."

Gracen Perez recovered a fumble at the 39 with 3:47 remaining in the first half and Ketcham again capitalized two minutes later, taking a 21-0 lead on Aiden Forbes' 8-yard touchdown run.

DiMarco had two tackles for loss, Dom Bodarky recovered a fumble and Fay had a ½ sack at linebacker, contributing to a defense that forced four turnovers and managed a turnover on downs in the second quarter.

"That's a credit to our teamwork and everybody getting after it," Fay said. "It's also a credit to our coaches because they had us really prepared for this team with a great game plan."

Another strength of theirs has been the offensive line, which has enabled the Storm average 31 points per game and control time of possession with a run-heavy offense.

That line has flourished with Dom Best at center, Adebola and Hunter Fodera at the guards and Michael Avery at left tackle. Chris Schetter on Thursday returned from injury after three weeks and was solid at right tackle. Nick DiMarco had performed "brilliantly" in his absence, Hogan said.

"We struggled the (previous) two years on the offensive line," Adebola said, "but we've put the right pieces together, we're communicating well and working together well. We like being able to have these long drives where we're moving it on the ground."

Adebola's fumble recovery in the end zone ― following a botched snap inside the 10 ― gave the Storm a 28-0 lead with 10:30 left in the third quarter. His strip sack on Yonkers' ensuing possession eventually set up Jacob Weickel's 32-yard field goal that created the margin.

"What's amazing is we've lost some kids to injury and others have stepped up," Hogan said. "We've been interchanging parts, but everyone is executing and playing the right way."

Among those lost was senior Anthony Alonso, who got hurt in their second game. His dad, as a consolatory gesture, placed around his neck a gold chain with a Superman pendant. Alonso told his teammates that whoever "has a crazy game" will get to rock the jewelry.

"We all had crazy games tonight," Adebola said of the performance, "so we passed the chain around to a bunch of teammates and coaches. Everyone deserved it."

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Football: Adebola, Fay lead Ketcham in rout of Yonkers Brave for best start since 2013