The wacky finish to Washingtonville’s 23-20 win over Monroe-Woodbury Saturday got even wackier after a review of the game video by coach Anthony Finochio.
Washingtonville clinched a berth in the playoffs when Eddie Fennessy’s 22-yard field goal sailed with left with six seconds left. Monroe-Woodbury shouldn’t have been attempted because it was “fifth” down, contends Finochio.
There was a 10-minute delay before the kick as Monroe-Woodbury coaches contested with officials the down, spot of the ball and if quarterback Anthony Campione picked up a first down on a sneak from the 2-yard line. Video shows the marker reading fourth down on Campione’s spike,” Finochio says.
“It’s (the finish) taken five years off of my life,” Finochio said. “My kids were saying the same thing (about it being fifth down). They ran a quarterback sneak and the down marker says third down. After that, he gets hit for a half-yard loss and then they spike it. It’s kind of crazy. I don’t know.”
Regardless, Washingtonville (4-4), the third seed, advance to Saturday’s Section 9 Class AA semifinal against No. 2 Pine Bush at 7 p.m. Saturday at Middletown High.
“That’s all that matter,” Finochio said. “At this point, I have to figure out how to beat Pine Bush