Energy, anticipation build around football rivalry that dates to 1897
Fernand Vera-Torres has played in three Erie Bell games. This time around, the Middletown lineman will look to keep the Bell in the Middies' hands. And the excitement around the highly-anticipated annual rivalry, which began in 1897, never dims.
"And I can say that I’m looking forward to being 2-1 with the Bell," Vera-Torres said. "I’m excited. The crowd is going to give us the energy and motivate the guys to continue to fight. I can’t wait to keep that Bell home where it belongs ‒ in Middletown, New York.”
After playing last year at Glennette Field in Port Jervis, Middletown will host this year's Erie Bell matchup against Port Jervis on Friday at 7 p.m. at Faller Field Complex at Middletown High School. The Middies edged Port Jervis in a thrilling 34-33 victory last year after they stopped the Raiders' two-point conversion with 12.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
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"The game has been going on for as long as I can remember, since I was born," Middletown running back and linebacker TayeIn McKinney said. "So it means a lot not just for us, but for the school and for the town in general. We’ve been honestly seeing it as any other game. It’s a big deal, but you just want to go into it with the same mindset.”
Each year, the teams have a new look. The Middies dropped their first two games of the season on the road, against Averill Park and then Cornwall. But they are looking forward to being back on home turf.
“We’re really excited for this game coming up," Middletown coach Tim Strenfel said. "Yes, a lot of people did graduate and we have a young group. We’ve learned a lot from our last two games and I think that you’re going to see a different team on the field on Friday.”
Middletown returns most of its linemen, but the majority of the team's key players at the skill positions graduated.
"We have TayeIn McKinney and Idris Daniels in the backfield," Strenfel said. "They’re our two seniors in the backfield. Julani Graham is our freshman fullback who is doing a good job. We have a few new receivers with Markell Thompson, Kaden Blackman, Gio Bauernfeind and Michael Culver. Then we have our line doing our best to open the holes for these guys. On defense, we have Christian Cordova, Stephan Monchery as our nose tackle, anchoring that defense line of ours. Then we have a multitude of linebackers, safeties and defensive backs that we try to rep in to try and find the best pieces to our puzzle this year.”
Port Jervis is off to a 2-0 start on the season, after wins over Bronxville and Minisink Valley. They also sport a new quarterback this season in Logan Morris, who took over for Brett Fuller who graduated.
In the 20-19 Week 1 win over Minisink Valley, the offensive core of Morris and wide receivers Jacob Balmos and Calvin Crews built chemistry. Carroll Dolshun was strong in the running game. And the team got a few key defensive plays from Anthony Theodore and Ivan Figueroa when it needed it the most.
"We have a lot to build on," Port Jervis coach Damien Striharsky said. "The guys are doing their part to minimize mistakes, and as long as we have a complete game, I think things are going to look good for us.”
And Port Jervis will strive to keep the momentum going.
"This game just showed how strong we are, and it’s just getting us stronger, so when we go and work hard Monday through Thursday, it’s just going to prove that we are the top dogs in the league," Crews said after his team beat Minisink Valley. "We can do it against any team, anywhere, we’ll be there and we’ll put up a fight.”
The Middies had possession of the Erie Bell trophy from 2015 until Port Jervis reclaimed it in April 2021. Now that Middletown reclaimed the trophy, it will attempt to repeat.
“I’m ready to just play," Middletown quarterback Idris Daniels said. "I’m not really worried about the crowd or how many people are going to be watching, I’m just here to play football and just win the game and keep the Bell.”
MKramer1@th-record.com
Twitter: @MKramerTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Port Jervis, Middletown Erie Bell football rivalry 2022 preview
