The PMHS varsity football team’s season came to an end on Saturday in Pearl River, where the Pelicans fell to the Pirates 21-14 in a first-round playoff matchup.
The Pelicans fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter, when Pearl River punched the ball in on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 yard line. The Pirates expanded their lead in the third quarter, with an 82-yard pass and run score that put the home team up 14-0.
Pelham responded with a touchdown of its own, but another long pass-and-run TD put the Pirates up 21-7 going into the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans fought gamely in the final quarter, with QB Frankie Reese rushing for a touchdown, and Nico Polenzani of the special teams unit recovering an onside kick at midfield late in the game, giving the offense the ball at midfield.
But the Pirates defense–which picked off five passes in the game–stymied the Pelicans, who turned the ball over on downs.
The PMHS varsity football team concluded its 2025 regular season with a strong win on the road versus the John Jay Cross-River High School Wolves on October 24, by a score of 35-20. That win, combined with a big homecoming victory of Rye Neck on October 17, brought the Pelicans’ record to 6-2, its best since 2022.
After falling behind early against the Wolves, the Pelicans responded with a rushing touchdown by senior running back Nick Rodriguez to even the score at 7-7. With under two minutes remaining in the half, the Pelican offense marched down the field, paced by a 29-yard, trick-play pass by RB Sean Grupert to WR Vincent Stamp. The drive culminated in a 15-yard rushing touchdown from Grupert to give Pelham a 14-7 lead.
Throughout the third quarter, the Pelicans maintained their momentum, and increased their lead to 21-7 with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by QB Frankie Reese. John Jay struck back in the fourth quarter with a touchdown, cutting the lead to 21-13. Pelham responded with a deep touchdown pass by Reese to Stamp, and sealed the win when Reese hit WR Daniel Middleton with a pass that resulted in a 69-yard score. Reese passed for a total of 270 yards in the victory.
The performance against John Jay followed the Pelicans’ strongest outing of the season in their homecoming/senior night match-up against Rye Neck High School on October 17. In that game, the Pelicans rolled over the Panthers in a 42-6 win. Special teams miscues by Rye Neck, including two muffed kickoffs recovered by the Pelicans and converted into touchdowns, put the visitors in a deep hole. Running back Tristan Paganuzzi continued his success on the ground, with a long rushing touchdown on Pelham’s first possession, and a goal-line plunge that increased the Pelicans’ lead to 28-6 in the second quarter.
With their victory over John Jay, the Pelicans closed out their 2025 campaign with a record of 6-2, the team’s best since the 2022 season. In the Section One Class B standings, the team will finish the regular season in third place, behind Sleepy Hollow High School (7-1), and Westlake High School (5-1).
The team’s successful regular season ended Saturday with the 21-14 loss in Pearl River.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Oct. 30. It has been updated to include a summary of Saturday’s playoff game at Pearl River.
