Stepinac completes perfect 12-0 season; beats White Plains 42-14

I watched a replay Wednesday of their 41-6 victory last Saturday to win the AA championship (there's now a cable station devoted to only local high school sports!). They are really a dominating team.

Stepinac has been playing White Plains in the "Turkey Bowl" probably since the school opened in the 50's. With four times the number of male students, you'd think White Plains would always win; but Stepinac has won four out of five of the last years.

Afterward, coach Mike O'Donnell stopped short of calling this team the best he ever coached. But he acknowledged that with a 12-0 record, it instantly climbs near the top of the list.

White Plains (6-3) hung tough for the first 24 minutes and went into the locker room at halftime trailing 14-7. The Tigers maintained possession and managed to keep Stepinac's dynamic offense mostly on the sideline.

Eventually, Goodman simply took over. He rushed for 172 yards on 18 carries and finished 7-of-10 passing for 77 yards, demonstrating why he is considered perhaps the area's best player. Goodman looked unstoppable at times, running around — and sometimes through — many potential White Plains tacklers.

Stepinac will probably be decent next year. Goodman is graduating, but the 6'2", 242 pound fullback, Caleb Gilligan-Evans, is only a junior.