White Beeches professional Jim McGovern survived a six-hole playoff to win the MGA Senior Open Championship on Tuesday at Brooklawn C.C. in Connecticut.

Jim McGovern was five shots off the lead when the final round got under way, but the White Beeches Golf and Country Club professional caught Bill Van Orman with a 3-under 68 then survived a six-hole playoff to win the MGA Senior Open Championship on Tuesday at Brooklawn Country Club.

He was 9-under over his last 27 holes.

“It was a strange couple days,” said McGovern, who spent time on the PGA Tour and won the Shell Houston Open in 1993. “I was really bad for about nine holes the first day and then everything started to click. I came in today and played beautiful most of the day. I hit a couple of squirrelly shots early, but got away with them, then pieced it all together.”

Van Orman closed with a 73 to finish with a 4-under total of 138. He lost on a bogey at the par-4 18.

Ed Whitman (Knickerbocker) and Brent Studer (Metedeconk National) tied for third at 2-under. Dennis Lynch (Nassau Players) closed with a 69 and moved up to fifth in his senior debut, finishing with a 141 total. Charles Bolling (Glen Cove), Carl Alexander (Purchase)  and  reigning MGA Senior Amateur champion George Zahringer III (Deepdale) tied for sixth at even-par.

Each year, The Journal News/lohud.com reveals its Super 11. This is a list of the best of the best, the top football players in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties. Many of the past honorees have gone on to have success at the high school, college and even professional levels.

All day today, Josh Thomson will unveil this year’s selections for the 2016 Super 11, lohud.com’s top preseason honor. Stay tuned on the website, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat to hear the honorees in their own words as well as analysis of what makes them super.

DeVante Reid, a wide receiver and defensive back with the Archbishop Stepinac High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

DeVante Reid

School: Stepinac

Year: Senior

Positions: WR/OLB

Height: 5-9

Weight: 185

Fast facts: Beginning with a touchdown on the first possession in his varsity debut against Newburgh, Reid was a major contributor on both sides of the ball for the CHSFL and Catholic state champs. He caught 35 passes for 425 yards and four scores and returned a punt for another touchdown. Reid’s vast improvement this offseason has drawn interest from Rhode Island, Bucknell and Stonehill.

Stepinac’s DeVante Reid looks for some running room in the Newburgh defense during football game at Newburgh Free Academy on Sept. 11, 2015. He is one of 25 finalists for The Journal News/lohud 2016 Super 11.

The other 2016 lohud Super 11 Selections:

Somers’ Messiah Horne

Spring Valley’s Devan Lawson

Stepinac’s Antonio Giannico

Brewster’s Jack Guida

Rye’s Mat Bruno

Rye Country Day’s Hannes Boehning

Iona Prep’s Rodney Samson Jr.

Spring Valley’s Ori Jean-Charles

Hackley’s Winston Britton

New Rochelle’s Jared Baron

Mat Bruno, linebacker, wide receiver and a quarterback with Rye High School, photographed Aug. 24, 2016.

Rodney Samson Jr., a running back and outside linebacker with the Iona Prep football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Mat Bruno, linebacker, wide receiver and a quarterback with Rye High School, photographed Aug. 24, 2016.

Jack Guida, quarterback at Brewster High School, photographed Aug. 24, 2016.

Messiah Horne, a running back and strong safety with Somers High School, photographed Aug. 24, 2016.

Jack Guida, quarterback at Brewster High School, photographed Aug. 24, 2016.

Messiah Horne, a running back and strong safety with Somers High School, photographed Aug. 24, 2016.

Rodney Samson Jr., a running back and outside linebacker with the Iona Prep football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

DeVante Reid, a wide receiver and defensive back with the Archbishop Stepinac High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

DeVante Reid, a wide receiver and defensive back with the Archbishop Stepinac High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Devan Lawson, a tight end and defensive end with the Spring Valley High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Devan Lawson, a tight end and defensive end with the Spring Valley High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Ori Jean-Charles, the quarterback for the Spring Valley High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Ori Jean-Charles, the quarterback for the Spring Valley High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Antonio Giannico, a running back and linebacker with the Archbishop Stepinac High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Antonio Giannico, a running back and linebacker with the Archbishop Stepinac High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Hannes Boehning, a inside linebacker and fullback with the Rye Country Day School, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Winston Britton, a wide receiver for The Hackley School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Jared Baron, a running back and inside linebacker with the New Rochelle High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Hannes Boehning, a inside linebacker and fullback with the Rye Country Day School, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Winston Britton, a wide receiver for The Hackley School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

Jared Baron, a running back and inside linebacker with the New Rochelle High School football team, photographed Aug. 19, 2016.

2016 Super 11

(Kneeling, from left to right: Rodney Samson Jr., Antonio Giannico, Devan Lawson. Standing, from left to right: Messiah Horne, Winston Britton, Jared Baron, Hannes Boehning, Jack Guida, DeVante Reid, Mat Bruno, Ori Jean-Charles. Photos by Mark Vergari, photo illustration by Chris Brown)

Each year’s Super 11 has traits that make it unique and this year’s list is no different. The honorees include no true linemen and just one player whose primary position was quarterback prior to 2016. So don’t blink: This is a group predicated on speed and skill.

Stepinac and Spring Valley were the only schools to land two players on this year’s Super 11. The honor is nothing new for Stepinac, which had three players selected in both 2014 and 2015 as well. Antonio Giannico and DeVante Reid have joined that growing group of Crusaders named Super 11 during their reign as CHSFL champions.

Though Spring Valley hasn’t been known for producing Super 11 standouts, the duo of Devan Lawson and Ori Jean-Charles certainly have the credentials. After posting gaudy stats as juniors, they now have 11 Division I offers combined.

PREVIOUSLY: 2016 Super 11 finalists revealed

RELATED : What goes into naming the Super 11?

Standouts on the field and in the classroom also populate this year’s Super 11, including players coveted by Ivy League, Patriot League and high-academic Division III programs. They include: Brewster’s Jack Guida, Hackley’s Winston Britton, Rye’s Mat Bruno and Rye Country Day’s Hannes Boehning.

Iona Prep’s Rodney Samson Jr. and New Rochelle’s Jared Baron — the only junior honored — have something else in common: They are two of the area’s best two-way players. Somers’ Messiah Horne has made his name mostly at running back, but expect him to become even more familiar with the Tuskers planning to tweak their offense to feature his talents.

Jared Baron

School: New Rochelle

Year: Junior

Positions: RB/LB

Height: 5-7

Weight: 190

Fast facts: Baron, the only junior on this year’s Super 11, is already in his third year on the varsity. He started on both sides of scrimmage as a sophomore and helped the Huguenots win the Section 1 Class AA championship by rushing for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Hannes Boehning

School: Rye Country Day

Year: Senior

Positions: FB/MLB

Height: 6-1

Weight: 212

Fast facts: Boehning’s size and skill and off-field exploits have earned him serious attention from Ivy League schools. That includes offers from Columbia and Cornell and interest from the likes of Harvard and Penn. He also became the school’s first state wrestling champion since 2012 when he won the NYSAIS tournament at 222 pounds last winter.

Winston Britton

School: Hackley

Year: Senior

Positions: WR/CB

Height: 5-10

Weight: 168

Fast facts: Britton has been an all-America sprinter on the track and now holds four Division I-FCS football offers, including Yale, Cornell, Columbia and Navy. As a junior, he caught 35 passes for 677 yards and 11 touchdowns, had 36 tackles and three interceptions and returned two punts for touchdowns.

Mat Bruno

School: Rye

Year: Senior

Positions: OLB/QB/WR

Height: 6-1

Weight: 190

Fast facts: Bruno led the Garnets to a third straight Section 1 Class A final last season. He recorded 12 sacks at linebacker and played several key roles on offense and special teams, including significant time as a change-of-pace quarterback. He has attracted interest from FCS and Division III schools.

Antonio Giannico

School: Stepinac

Year: Senior

Positions: RB/ILB

Height: 5-11

Weight: 200

Fast facts: Giannico held a Division I-FCS offer from Bryant before ever playing a varsity game, but the Mahopac resident lived up to the hype last season. He led the CHSFL and Catholic Class AA state champs with 110 carries and 863 yards rushing and scored nine touchdowns. He currently also has offers from Stetson and Kentucky Christian, as well as heavy interest from Army and Navy.

Jack Guida

School: Brewster

Year: Senior

Positions: QB/RB/S

Height: 6-0

Weight: 180

Fast facts: Guida will convert from running back to quarterback for the Bears after running for 911 yards and 15 touchdowns and catching 14 passes for 266 yards and a score last season. The Ivy League recruit, who also has interest from Fordham, Holy Cross and Villanova, should have the aptitude to handle the switch: He’s ranked third in Brewster High School’s Class of 2017.

Messiah Horne

School: Somers

Year: Senior

Positions: RB/S

Height: 5-10

Weight: 180

Fast facts: Horne is ready to shoulder an increased workload after rushing for a team-high 634 yards and eight scores in just seven games as a junior. Somers is expected to adjust its traditional Wing-T formations to feature the explosive back more on offense.

Ori Jean-Charles

School: Spring Valley

Year: Senior

Positions: QB/OLB

Height: 6-4

Weight: 220

Fast facts: After transferring back from Don Bosco Prep, where he made the varsity as a sophomore, Jean-Charles eclipsed 1,000 yards passing and rushing as a junior. He also threw for 20 touchdowns and rushed for five more. He holds offers from Albany, Stony Brook, UMass and Florida A&M and has received interest from FBS schools.

Devan Lawson

School: Spring Valley

Year: Senior

Positions: TE/WR/DE

Height: 6-4

Weight: 245

Fast facts: Lawson has been a two-sport star since returning from St. Joe’s of Montvale his sophomore year. The former Section 1 Class A basketball champ has developed into a highly coveted receiver and pass rusher who caught 38 passes for 522 yards and recorded 10 sacks and two forced fumbles as a junior. He committed to Boston College (then decommitted) and currently holds offers from BC, Buffalo, Army, William & Mary, Albany, Idaho and Stony Brook.

DeVante Reid

School: Stepinac

Year: Senior

Positions: WR/OLB

Height: 5-9

Weight: 185

Fast facts: Beginning with a touchdown on the first possession in his varsity debut against Newburgh, Reid was a major contributor on both sides of the ball for the CHSFL and Catholic state champs. He caught 35 passes for 425 yards and four scores and returned a punt for another touchdown. Reid’s vast improvement this offseason has drawn interest from Rhode Island, Bucknell and Stonehill.

Rodney Samson Jr.

School: Iona Prep

Year: Senior

Positions: RB/OLB

Height: 6-2

Weight: 206

Fast facts: After converting from wide receiver, Samson Jr. led the Gaels in rushing with 509 yards and had 15 catches for 128 yards and scored six touchdowns. He is just one of two Iona Prep players expected to start on both sides of scrimmage and has garnered interest from FBS and Division II schools.

LOOKING BACK: The 2014 Super 11

LOOKING BACK: The 2015 Super 11

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Senior defensive back Devonte Myles (left) is one of several returning starters for Stepinac, the two-time defending CHSFL champion.

Preseason lohud football rankings

1. Stepinac — The two-time defending CHSFL “AAA” champ has some question marks at quarterback and on the offensive line, but they are all relative. The Crusaders not only have the most talent in the area, they should also contend for another league title. They are especially loaded at the skill positions. If Stepinac develops someone to get those players the ball and block for them, it will be scary once again.

2015 rankings: Defending champs open atop preseason football rankings

2. New Rochelle — Although the defending Class AA champs graduated key players, a strong junior class should carry the Huguenots into contention once again. Jared Baron, Jonathan Saddler, Romeo Holden and Lloyd King are all two-way players who made a key impact as sophomores. They should be ready to make another leap and will be bolstered by key newcomers, including junior Myles Taylor.

2015 Class AA championship: New Rochelle makes an emotional return to the top

3. John Jay-East Fishkill — The Patriots will miss star quarterback Ryan Schumacher, but last year’s Class AA runners-up have established themselves as a perennial power in Section 1. John Jay’s size and depth will help account for its losses to graduation. Big tackle John Ryan and running backs Danny Diedrich and Jaivon Reynolds could be the next emerging stars.

4. Iona Prep — Although the roster is thin and relatively young, the Gaels gained plenty of experience last year due to injuries and have a strong core of returning players. Iona Prep has dropped down to the CHSFL’s ”AA” division and should be a serious contender for the league title in the head-coaching debut of alumnus Joe Spagnolo, the former Stepinac offensive coordinator.

5. Rye — Although the Garnets lost several key linemen, the bulk of their skill talent has returned from last year’s Class A runner-up. That group includes seniors Mat Bruno, Brett Egan and T.J. Lavelle, who all helped Rye reach a third straight Section 1 final last fall. The team also has an early test: the annual rivalry game with Harrison is scheduled for Sept. 10.

2015 Class A championship: Turnovers cost Rye a chance to repeat

6. Somers — With a deep roster and key returning pieces, like the backfield of Messiah Horne and quarterback Kevin Olifiers, Somers should contend after last season was disrupted due to injuries. But Tony DeMatteo will begin his 48th season coaching with plenty of talent elsewhere, including star lineman Nick Gargiulo.

7. Scarsdale — The Raiders have reached the playoffs seven straight years, but they hope this is the one where they can break through and contend. Last year’s team reached the semifinals and lost to eventual champ New Rochelle. Scarsdale has a strong contingent of linemen returning and believe new quarterback Barry Klein can help replace the production of two-way star Michael Rolfe.

8. Clarkstown South — The Vikings should feature one of the section’s top backfields, with quarterback Matt Jung and running backs Kyle Samuels, Sam Mistretta and Ryan Thomas all back. The team will need to replace all-section linemen Jack Spreckman and Vince Maraia, but South’s overall experience could make it a Class AA challenger.

9. Yorktown — Led by electric quarterback Jose Boyer and a deep roster, the Huskers should contend again in Class A. They’ll need to replace the production of all-time leading rusher Nick Santavicca, but a strong offensive line will certainly help. Seniors Steven Veteri and Justin Cavallo lead a strong group up front.

10. Lourdes — The Warriors lost several stars that steered last year’s run to the Class A state final, including record-setting quarterback Dean Rotger. Running back Joe Scaglione and receiver Corey Mullaly emerged during the team’s run to a Section 1 title and could help turn this rebuilding project into a quick reload.

On the bubble: Ketcham, Brewster, Arlington.

Class AA — 1. New Rochelle, 2. John Jay-East Fishkill, 3. Scarsdale, 4. Clarkstown South, 5. Ketcham, 6. Arlington, 7. North Rockland, 8. Spring Valley, 9. Carmel, 10. Clarkstown North.

Class A — 1. Rye, 2. Somers, 3. Yorktown, 4. Lourdes, 5. Brewster, 6. John Jay, 7. Harrison, 8. Panas, 9. Pearl River, 10. Sleepy Hollow.

Class B — 1. Westlake, 2. Nanuet, 3. Pleasantville, 4. Ardsley, 5. Putnam Valley.

Class C/D — 1. Woodlands, 2. Rye Neck, 3. Dobbs Ferry, 4. Bronxville, 5. Tuckahoe.

Catholic/Private — 1. Stepinac, 2. Iona Prep, 3. Rye Country Day, 4. Hackley, 5. Kennedy.

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Soccer ball on grass

2016 Fox Lane Foxes
Coach — JR Pouncey
Seventh season as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? 7-7-2; Lost in the first round of the Class AA playoffs to Mamaroneck.

Who are your key returning players? 
Miles Levy- Soph. Forward
Kristian Shkreli- Senior Forward (took junior year off)

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation? Dillon Medd, Keeper.

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? Kristian Shkreli returning from taking junior year off.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? Miles Levy and Kristian Shkreli.

The best defender? New back line this year. Several new faces competing for the starting job at this point.

The fastest? Long distance Max Levy; sprints Kristian Shkreli.

The biggest hustler? Jeff Discua- Senior midfielder.

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? A lot of new additions to the team. Coming together and getting into a rhythm and having players read off of each other.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? Being the toughest, most hard-working and fittest team in the section.

Up next: Panas

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

Soccer ball on grass

2016 Walter Panas Panthers
Coach — Jamie Stroffolino
Second year as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? 7-9; lost to Keio in the Class A outbracket round.

Who are your key returning players? 
Jonathan West GK 12
Michael Cavigliano D 12
Nikolas Velez D 12
Myles Nigro D 12
Dylan Shabman D 12
Joey O’Connor MF 11
Robert Rohan MF 12
Christopher Sheehan MF 12
Hunter Mastromonaco F 12
Top Newcomer: Kristian Prenkaj MF 12

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation? We lost one of our key forwards, Hassan Muhammad.

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? No gains or losses this year.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? Joey O’Connor – junior MF.

The best defender? Michael Cavigliano.

The biggest hustler? Michael Cavigliano and Christopher Sheehan

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? Our league has changed this year, and we are up against some very skilled opponents. Keeping the ball moving and maintaining good fitness will help to propel us to victories this season.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? One team, one mission, we are Panas. We hope to have one of the best seasons Panas has ever had this year.

Up next: Lohud boys soccer preview in Thursday’s paper, including the Elite 11 selections

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

Stepinac senior defender Domenico Procopio is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Hackley senior forward Sam Rinzler is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Lakeland senior midfielder Matias Prando is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Suffern senior forward Zac Lloyd is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Pleasantville senior forward Jonathan Kyriakidis is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Rye Neck senior forward Luis Galeano is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Pearl River senior midfielder Kevin Doorley is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Hastings junior defender Alex Bourgeois (center) is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Byram Hills senior midfielder Jack Beer is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Peekskill senior midfielder Oswald Annang is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

Mamaroneck senior midfielder Alex Alma is a lohud boys soccer 2016 Elite 11 selection.

The process of narrowing down a list of the top returning high school soccer players in the Lower Hudson Valley is always a grueling task, with many more deserving candidates than there are available slots. The final cuts require some tough decisions, and we try to do our best to balance all factors.

Of course, highly-regarded club players and well-known college recruits are going to draw our attention, but it’s also important to consider which players will have the most significant impacts for their high school teams this fall. Results and performance certainly matter.

The 2016 Elite 11 is heavy on versatility, with a large portion of the list comprised of players who have proven that they can contribute in all facets of the game. As always, there are some forwards with lofty goal totals from last season, but there are also plenty of midfielders who defend well and defenders who can chip in offensively. No goalkeepers made the top 11 this year, but you’ll find three who landed on our Next 11.

PRESEASON: Boys soccer: 2016 rankings 
COLUMN: 2016 boys soccer schedule has pros, cons
FOOTBALL: Introducing the lohud 2016 Super 11

You’ll find players who have committed to notable Division I college programs, but there are also some who are going to lesser-known schools, or have yet to decide. Either way, all of these players are crucial to their teams’ chances in 2016 and promise to leave lasting legacies.

Elite 11

Alex Alma, Mamaroneck — A breakout star in 2015 when the Tigers were supposed to be rebuilding, the midfielder led them to a successful campaign with a team-high 17 goals. Now a senior, he remains the most dangerous playmaker on a Class AA title contender.

Oswald Annang, Peekskill — On a team which has struggled to find success in Class A, the senior midfielder is a true standout. He’s the top returning scorer in Section 1 after posting 29 goals last season and has garnered interest from SUNY schools such as Binghamton and Buffalo.

Jack Beer, Byram Hills — Considered the most dynamic player in the area, the preseason All-USA selection rejoined the Bobcats last season after playing in the U.S. Academy system and posted 12 goals and 10 assists. A highlight waiting to happen every game, the senior midfielder is committed to Georgetown.

Alex Bourgeois, Hastings — The only junior to make this year’s list has an ideal skill set with his 6-foot-3 frame, speed, defensive prowess and accuracy on set pieces. The center back emerged as a Division I-type talent during the Yellow Jackets’ run to Class B sectional and regional titles last season.

Kevin Doorley, Pearl River — The senior midfielder may have been overshadowed on a senior-laden state finalist team last season, but he was a quiet assassin, finishing second for the Pirates with 15 goals. A four-year varsity player, now it’s Doorley’s time to shine.

Luis Galeano, Rye Neck — Following a brilliant sophomore season, in which Galeano scored 21 goals and led the Panthers to a Class B title, his junior season was somewhat substandard. Opponents focused on taking him out of the game, but a move from forward to the midfield helped him compile 12 assists.

Jonathan Kyriakidis, Pleasantville — The senior forward has been the go-to scorer for the Panthers since he got there, leading the team with 16 goals as a sophomore and 21 as a junior. He’s considering a list of colleges which includes Siena, Manhattanville, New Paltz and Oneonta.

Zac Lloyd, Suffern — Once the senior forward started rolling last season, the Mounties began to show major improvements. He’s the top returning scorer in Rockland County after leading Suffern with 17 goals and six assists as a junior.

Matias Prando, Lakeland — Last season ended in frightening fashion for the senior midfielder, who was one of three Hornets’ players involved in a car accident which forced them to miss playoff time. He’s highly-motivated after finishing with eight goals and 10 assists, and has garnered interest from Seton Hall and Iona.

Domenico Procopio, Stepinac — A recent selection for the Super Y League in the 2016 National Player Pool, the senior defender is an up-and-comer to remember. He can also contribute offensively, as evidenced by his four goals and 11 assists last season, and has been recruited by St. John’s, Boston College, UConn and Fairfield.

Sam Rinzler, Hackley — An absolute workhorse at the forward position, the Middlebury-bound senior has eclipsed 20 goals in each of the past two seasons. He also chipped in nine assists last season and possesses a great combination of speed and finishing ability.

Next 11

Jack Cohen, Sr. MF, Horace Greeley

Fernando Docters, Sr. D, Hackley

Noah Dunn, Sr. GK, Solomon Schechter

Eliot Hamill, Jr. GK, Edgemont

Matt Groll, Sr. GK, Byram Hills

Danny Lopez, Sr. D, North Rockland

Fayez Merchant, Jr. D, Scarsdale

Enzo Sangiacomo, Sr. MF, Yorktown

Kristian Shkreli, Sr. F, Fox Lane

Jack Spiridellis, Sr. D, Mamaroneck

Joe Stahl, Jr. D, Tappan Zee

LOOKING BACK: The lohud boys soccer 2015 Elite 11

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Arlington graduated 17 seniors, but has won three of the last four Class AA titles and will start the 2016 season ranked No. 1.

Preseason lohud boys soccer

1. Arlington — There’s no way around the fact that the Admirals graduated 17 crucial players, most notably All-State midfielder Vinny Colantuono and the 2015 Section 1 large school player of the year in goalkeeper Ryan Wilson. But as winners of three of the last four Class AA titles, and with a deep development system in place to sustain the program, they remain the class of Section 1 until proven otherwise.

2. Yorktown — Don’t remind the Huskers of the manner in which the 2015 season ended, because they felt that they were neck-and-neck with Arlington in the Class AA final. Goalkeeper Giuliano Santucci was the catalyst of last year’s playoff run, and his return to the U.S. Academy system for the 2016 season is a big blow. But coach Ed Polchinski feels he has a replacement who is ready in junior Mauricio Arango, and he has key returners at every other position.

BOYS SOCCER: Introducing the lohud 2016 Elite 11
COLUMN: 2016 boys soccer schedule has pros, cons

3. Mamaroneck — On the surface, there appears to be three leading contenders for the Class AA crown heading into the new season. Arlington in the defending champ and Yorktown is hungry after coming excruciatingly close two years in a row, but you could argue that Mamaroneck has the most returning talent. The Tigers bring back 10 of 11 starters from last season’s semifinalist team, including the players who accounted for 39 of their 44 goals.

4. Pearl River — Coming off of the best season in school history, in which they came up one win short of a state title, the Pirates have risen as one of the most dependable teams in Section 1. They’ve been to two of the last three Class A finals, and in between they produced an undefeated regular season. The next challenge will be replacing a stellar senior class from last year, but current seniors Kevin Doorley and Craig MacDonald are a great place to start.

5. Byram Hills — There’s a lot to like about the Bobcats. They have the most dynamic player in Section 1 in Georgetown-bound midfielder Jack Beer. They have the most freakish goalie in 6-foot-7 senior Matt Groll. And they have a great supporting case in place, including a couple of newcomers. The talent appears to be in place, but coach Matty Allen wants to see more grit.

6. Scarsdale — If not for a standout performance from Yorktown goalie Giuliano Santucci in last year’s Class AA semis, it may have been the Raiders who faced Arlington in the section title game. Scarsdale won 15 games in 2015, and despite the loss of All-State midfielder Fazl Shaikh to graduation, should remain a strong threat in 2016.

7. Tappan Zee — The Dutchmen have seriously upper their game in recent seasons under coach Jon Jacobs, and they’re coming off of the first Class A final appearance in program history. They have a lot of offense to replace, but the defense remains a strength and they’ve clearly established themselves as an annual contender.

8. Lakeland — After a car accident injured three top players right before the playoffs began last season, the Hornets went into the offseason feeling as if they had been robbed of an opportunity. With eight of 11 starters returning, including three captains with a new perspective on life, they may have an even greater chance to climb the mountain in Class A in 2016.

9. Horace Greeley — The Quakers have a lot of questions to answer with former assistant Camp Shropshire ascending to the head coaching role to replace Bobby Herodes, as well as the loss of an outstanding senior class from last season. But if the transition is smooth, enough talent remains to compete in Class AA.

10. Hackley — It’s difficult to gauge a private school against the best from Section 1, but the Hornets look like they have the firepower to compete. They’re focused on an NYSAIS title after going 13-3-3 last season and returning two of the top players in the area in seniors Sam Rinzler and Fernando Docters.

On the bubble: Hastings, Port Chester, Rye, Stepinac, Suffern

Class AA — 1. Arlington; 2. Yorktown; 3. Mamaroneck; 4. Scarsdale; 5. Horace Greeley; 6. Port Chester ; 7. Suffern; 8. New Rochelle; 9. John Jay-EF; 10. North Rockland

Class A — 1. Pearl River; 2. Byram Hills; 3. Tappan Zee; 4. Lakeland; 5. Rye; 6. Eastchester; 7. Pelham; 8. Somers; 9. Beacon; 10. Riverside

Class B — 1. Hastings; 2. Rye Neck; 3. Bronxville; 4. Blind Brook; 5. Edgemont; 6. Pleasantville; 7. Valhalla; 8. Briarcliff; 9. Putnam Valley; 10. Albertus Magnus

Class C — 1. Solomon Schechter; 2. North Salem; 3. Hamilton; 4. Haldane; 5. Tuckahoe

LOOKING BACK: The final lohud boys soccer rankings from 2015

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Clarkstown North celebrates a 26-8 win over Clarkstown South and winning Supervisor’s Cup at Clarktown South High School in West Nyack Sept. 4, 2015.

Each week, Josh Thomson will give his predictions on every high school football game in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties. That will include highlighting the five games of the week. Leave your thoughts on this week’s games in the comments, e-mail Josh at jthomson@lohud.com, or reach Josh on Twitter @lohudinsider.

Lohud’s 2016 High School Football Preview —

MOTIVATION: Messiah Horne and Ray Rice

INTRODUCING: The 2016 Super 11

PRESEASON RANKINGS: Stepinac begins where it ended — No. 1

PREVIOUSLY: 2016 Super 11 finalists revealed

RELATED : What goes into naming the Super 11?

Week 1 Games of the Week —

Friday, Sept. 2

Clarkstown South at Clarkstown North, 1:30 p.m. —Clarkstown North won its first Supervisor’s Cup since 2010 to open last season, then beat South again in the Class AA quarterfinals. North’s margin of victory in the two games was 47-8, but that was a very different team. The Rams graduated a deep and talented senior class. South has the bulk of its skill talent back on offense and defense, so it will have a decided edge in experience. Expect that to be a significant factor considering it is opening week. The pick: South 21, North 7.

Yorktown at John Jay, 7 p.m. — These teams have met the last four years. Yorktown has scored 55, 20, 27 and 51 points in those four games, winning three of them. John Jay has vowed to make some strides on defense this year and the Indians can score with anyone. I’m just not sure they’ll be able to slow down Jose Boyer and co. The pick: Yorktown 35, John Jay 20.

Lourdes at Brewster, 7 p.m. — This is an interesting game. The Dean Rotger era is over at Lourdes, the defending Section 1 Class A champ, but Brian Walsh appears to have built a program that has lasting power above and beyond any one player. And speaking of one player, Brewster has an excellent one in Jack Guida, who will move from running back to quarterback this year, but is expected to be a run-first threat. Guida has some very good linemen around him in Nick Leahy and Connor Dignan, but will the Bears have the overall depth to beat Lourdes? The Warriors might be less dynamic without Rotger, but they will still be very solid top to bottom. The pick: Lourdes 28, Brewster 20.

Saturday, Sept. 3

Harrison at Eastchester, 1:30 p.m. — This is an organic rivalry, one intensified over the years by some really good games played between the teams. Eastchester will bring a much different team into Week 1 this season with John Arcidiacono, Andrew Schultz and Antonio Rogliano all gone. Harrison appears poised to have its best season in Dom Zanot’s three years as the head coach. If so, showing it can handle an inexperienced Eastchester team on the road would be a good place to start. The pick: Harrison 28, Eastchester 7.

North Rockland at New Rochelle, 1:30 p.m. — Although these are two of Section 1’s best programs, regular-season games between North Rockland and New Rochelle are never beauty contests. That’s fine with them usually, but I think North Rockland will have a very difficult time scoring at all against the Huguenots. They have a chance to have an excellent defense because of great team speed and versatility. New Rochelle’s offense might have some hiccups so early in the year — it often does — but the defense should be game-ready. The pick: New Rochelle 21, North Rockland 0.

White Plains High School players work on drills during the first day of practice at White Plains High School Aug. 15, 2016.

Other Week 1 games:

Friday, Sept. 2

Mamaroneck at White Plains, 6 p.m. — Mamaroneck 27, White Plains 14

Hastings at Valhalla, 7 p.m. — Valhalla 20, Hastings 6

Somers at Lakeland, 7 p.m. — Somers 35, Lakeland 14

Nyack at Tappan Zee, 7 p.m. — Tappan Zee 22, Nyack 13

Palisade Prep at Pelham, 7 p.m. — Pelham 13, Palisade Prep 6

John Jay-East Fishkill at Ossining, 7 p.m. — John Jay-East Fishkill 27, Ossining 13

Arlington at Carmel, 7 p.m. — Arlington 17, Carmel 14

Greeley at Spring Valley at Torne Valley Field, 7 p.m. — Spring Valley 34, Greeley 21

Ramapo at Suffern at Suffern Middle School, 7 p.m. — Suffern 18, Ramapo 13

Saturday, Sept. 3

Ardsley at Nanuet, 1:30 p.m. — Nanuet 14, Ardsley 7

Albertus Magnus at Pleasantville, 1:30 p.m. — Pleasantville 26, Albertus Magnus 13

Putnam Valley at Westlake, 1:30 p.m. — Westlake 22, Putnam Valley 7

Croton-Harmon at Irvington, 1:30 p.m. — Irvington 27, Croton-Harmon 7

Blind Brook at Yonkers Montessori, 1:30 p.m. — Blind Brook 34, YMA 6

Edgemont at Briarcliff/Hamilton, 1:30 p.m. — Briarcliff/Hamilton 21, Edgemont 13

Rye at Beacon, 1:30 p.m. — Rye 35, Beacon 14

Hen Hud at Byram Hills, 1:30 p.m. — Hen Hud 27, Byram Hills 7

Peekskill at Lincoln, 1:30 p.m. — Lincoln 33, Peekskill 19

Sleepy Hollow at Long Island Lutheran, 1:30 p.m. — Sleepy Hollow 26, Long Island Lutheran 21

Panas at Pearl River, 1:30 p.m. — Pearl River 28, Panas 20

Roosevelt vs. Riverside at Saunders HS, 1:30 p.m. — Riverside 18, Roosevelt 12

Saunders at Gorton, 1:30 p.m. — Gorton 33, Saunders 20

Mahopac at Ketcham, 1:30 p.m. — Ketcham 21, Mahopac 10

Fox Lane at Port Chester, 1:30 p.m. — Fox Lane 27, Port Chester 22

Scarsdale at Mount Vernon, 1:30 p.m. — Scarsdale 40, Mount Vernon 6

Pine Plains at Pawling, 1:30 p.m. — Pawling 12, Pine Plains 6

Twitter:@lohudinsider

Seniors Lily Rezai, Maya Watt and Katie Melly of the Somers girls cross-country team

With 35 kids, the Somers girls cross-country program has fewer athletes than the boys but is still the biggest team John Vegliante has seen during his several years as girls head coach.

Its goals aren’t as lofty as the boys squad, which is looking for a section championship, but Vegliante expects solid results.

The goal is a fifth-place finish in the Section 1 Class B meet, up one spot from last year when John Jay-Cross River won the title, but higher, of course, is fine.

“We’re going to try to battle as high as we can get,” Vegliante said.

Among his top runners are seniors Danielle Ericson, Maya Watt, Lily Rezai and Katie Melly, junior Anjali Kapur and sophomores Danielle Ericson and Lucy Cliff, who just joined the team.

“She’s new to running. I just saw her for the first time last week but she already looks good,” Vegliante said.

Rezai, Watt and Melly were among a group of kids who ran during the summer. The three have run for Somers since their freshman year.

“Running is almost like an addicting sport,” Melly said.

Rezai said the goal is to get everyone on the team to run sub-22-minute races.

Watt said they would motivate new members of the team through their work ethic at practice.

“I think it’s important for the upperclassmen to show they want to be there,” she said.

Melly doesn’t have a specific time goal for herself but said she intends to finish the last mile of races faster than she has in the past.

So far, Vegliante is pleased with what he sees from them and the team as a whole.

“I like the numbers and the attitude,” he said. “All are close and really into it.”

Twitter: @HaggertyNancy

SOMERS – Mike Lacko remembers how great it was to be a part of Somers’ first ever cross-country championship.

It was 2004 and Lacko was on that Class B state championship team.

That was Somers’ first and, as of now, only state cross-country championship.

But Lacko, the current boys head cross-country coach, is intent on changing that.

“I want to bring that back,” he said Wednesday as his team worked out at Primrose School.

That may not be this year, but Somers is expected to have one of the best teams overall in Section 1, not just in Class B.

Lacko has coached in the program since 2009, and this is his third year at the helm. But he has never seen as large a team as the Somers boys boast this season – 56 kids, including 16 freshmen.

They’ll be divided into multiple squads – varsity, JV and a couple of freshmen teams – so all can compete.

But the story this year is the varsity.

Junior Greg Fusco’s 16 minutes, 13 seconds at the Westchester County Championships was the ninth-fastest time posted by a Section 1 boy all season in cross-country. His twin brother, Matt, had the 23rd-fastest time, also recorded in that race.

“The Fusco brothers are exceptional,” said Fox Lane head coach Chris Dossena, whose Class A team, at 18th, is currently ranked two notches above Somers in the MileSplit statewide, all-classes ranking.

But Somers is deep beyond just numbers.

Members of the Somers boys cross-country team work out at Primrose School Wednesday.

While senior Nico Papalia, who was sixth at the Section 1 Championships, isn’t expected to be a big factor early in the season as he still rebounds from a broken femur, the Tuskers have senior captains Mark Worsley and Thomas Hannon vying for top spots in the starting seven. Somers also has track standout Michael Panzarino, a senior who’s making his debut in cross-country. Panzarino clocked a winning 4:20.64 1,500 at last spring’s Section 1 State Qualifier.

Other strong runners include Greg Siemers and Michael Gordon.

The Fuscos like what they see.

They attended cross-country camp with many of their teammates (becoming friends, as it happens, with runners from Fox Lane and other rivals) and also were among about 15 kids who ran at least five days a week together from July 5 onward.

“We all worked hard together. There’s just this whole feeling,” Matt said, explaining their team is close.

Greg said the kids all push each other and, “The motivation to get better individually is for the team.”

The team goal, his brother added, is to finish “as close to the top as possible.”

“I think they’re a lot stronger, a lot more experienced,” Lacko said of his team.

That experience included the disappointment of missing the Section 1 Class B title by a single point to Pearl River.

“We had a taste of sectionals,” Lacko said. “We came very close and were the underdogs. We’re building off that.”

“We’re dedicated to keep improving,” assistant coach Jessie Arnett said.

Lacko then listed some of the other Class B teams he expects to challenge for the title – John Jay-Cross River, Tappan Zee, Brewster and Nanuet among them, explaining no team should be considered dominant.

Maybe not. But Lacko intends to make the Tuskers dominant again. What better time to start than now?

“We have multiple goals – win the league, the county, the section – the Triple Crown,” Lacko said. “The plan is to get Somers cross-country back to where it used to be. I want to keep building. When the Fuscos graduate, I want two or three other guys at that level.”

Twitter: @HaggertyNancy

Somers captains Mary Murphy, Melina Couzis, Ciara Ostrander and Jenna Menta were not smiling last November when the Tuskers lost on a playoff game on penalty kicks.

Somebody had to win.

After chasing each other around for 110 minutes with a berth in the state quarterfinals on the line, Somers and Goshen went to penalty kicks to break a 1-1 tie.

Yikes.

It’s probably the absolute worst possible way to lose a soccer game, and the defending Class A state champion Tuskers soon felt the sting of a heartbreaking defeat. An impressive 42-game winning streak was immediately over.

Ouch.

“It was definitely heartbreaking,” Somers midfielder Melina Couzis said this week. “We didn’t expect to go out that way. Losing on penalty kicks was depressing. There’s a lot of pressure. We were trying so hard to repeat what happened the year before, and I think all that pressure broke us down.”

CAMP STOP: Strong Somers puts PK loss and busted streak in rearview mirror

TOP PLAYERS: Coffey, Couzis, Cruz headline the Elite 11

TOP TEAMS: Somers on top of preseason rankings

The memory of that loss may never fade.

“It’s kind of one of those deals where if you miss, you have to shake it off and get ready for the next season,” Tuskers forward Jenna Menta said. “There’s nothing else you can do. It’s over. Even professionals miss them, so you can’t beat yourself up.”

Any mention of that game brings a collective groan from the returning players.

Goshen celebrates after defeating Somers in penalty kicks in the New York State, Class A sub-regional game at Tappan Zee High School on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015.

It’s not like Somers was unprepared. Longtime coach Paul Saia watched a Section 1 title slip away on penalty kicks a number of years ago, so he routinely has the girls practice for a scenario that only comes into play in the postseason.

Finding the net with real consequences in play is a unique experience.

“At that point we had played game time, mandatory overtime, golden goal,” Tuskers forward Ciara Ostrander said. “We were just like, ‘Let’s finish this.’ We practice the penalty kicks all the time. I was comfortable taking them. Melina was comfortable taking them. Under pressure, you never know what’s going to happen.”

And they both missed.

“It’s just a really unfortunate way to lose,” Saia said. “We had shots in that game hit off crossbars and posts. I wish we could get a couple of them back. It’s just a tough way to end a season.”

The idea now is to avoid the situation altogether.

“We tried so hard to keep our composure,” Somers defender Mary Murphy said. “That wasn’t our best game. It’s a great way to win, but for the losing team, it’s pretty rough. I play the game over in my head a lot. It motivates us even more.”

Of course, the best experience is game experience.

Here’s an idea, why not use penalty kicks to decide regular-season games? Ties are not fulfilling. Of course, the change would have to be approved by the NYSPHSAA.

We all know that’s a process.

“Ideally, you want the game to be determined by playing soccer,” Saia added.

So maybe abbreviate the mandatory overtime periods, then go to penalty kicks if the game remains deadlocked. Why not add some excitement and get the contenders ready to deal with an uncomfortable spotlight?

“It might be a good idea,” Ostrander said. “We do practice taking PKs a lot, but there’s no pressure. In a game situation, it’s totally different.”

The players would need some backup, though.

Any mention of taking more penalty kicks over the course of a season inspires a quick response from experienced coaches, especially those who have experienced the bitter end.

“I’m not a fan of the penalty kicks,” Tappan Zee coach Bill Lynch said. “I’ve lost a regional game on penalty kicks and it’s horrible. I’d rather keep playing overtime until somebody manages to score. Penalty kicks are such a tough way to end a season.”

Melina Couzis makes a move during practice Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at Somers High School.

Tappan Zee junior forward Theresa McGovern is a lohud girls soccer Elite 11 selection.

Hackley junior midfielder Francesca Docters (10) is a lohud girls soccer Elite 11 selection.

Somers senior forward Ciara Ostrander is a lohud girls soccer Elite 11 selection.

Masters senior midfielder Samantha Coffey is a lohud girls soccer Elite 11 selection.

Irvington junior forward Zoe Maxwell (4) is a lohud girls soccer Elite 11 selection.

Haldane senior defender Missy Lisikatos (12) is a lohud girls soccer Elite 11 selection.

Albertus Magnus’ Mazie Stiles attempts to handle the ball during the New York State Class B sub-regional game at Tappan Zee High School against Spackenkill on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015. Albertus Magnus won 1-0.

Pearl River’s Shaelynn Guilfoyle (18) and Byram Hills’ Nicole Meyer (21) battle for possession during a sectional semi-final girls soccer game in Orangeburg on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015. Pearl River took the win 2-0.

Clarkstown South’s Danielle Gillespie and Suffern’s Tatiana Cruz battle for the ball during a varsity soccer game at Clarkstown South High School Oct. 6, 2015. Clarkstown South handed Suffern it’s first loss of the season with a 4-1 victory.

North Rockland junior Naya Rivera (3) and Scarsdale freshman Allison Stafford (6) battle for possession of the ball during a game at North Rockland High School on Saturday, September 12th, 2015. North Rockland won by a 2-0 score.

Somers girls’ soccer beat North Rockland 5-2 in overtime at Somers Sept. 23, 2015.

Samantha Coffey, Masters: The senior midfielder has the proverbial extra gear. Coffey is a member of the U.S. women’s national U-18 team and has scored 54 goals for the Panthers over the last two seasons. She has committed to play at Boston College.

Melina Couzis, Somers: The senior midfielder is perhaps the best players in Section 1 this season. Couzis is aggressive by nature and makes things happen with off-the-charts handling skills and a high soccer IQ. She has committed to play at UConn.

Tatiana Cruz, Suffern: The junior forward has already made all-section three times. Cruz is strong with the ball and creates 1-on-1 matchup issues for most defenders. She also sees the field and moves the ball when there is no room to breathe.

Francesca Docters, Hackley: The junior midfielder, who has been capped at the junior level for Argentina, is a tactician who set up a dozen goals for the Hornets last fall. Docters is the player who gets a touch or three every possession and creates scoring chances with or without style points.

Shaelynn Guilfoyle, Pearl River: The senior forward/midfielder has impressive skills on the ground and in the air. Guilfoyle has led the Pirates in scoring each of the last two seasons and despite a lack of stature, is a big threat in the air.

Missy Lisikatos, Haldane: The senior defender is a breakup artist. Lisikatos is normally a step ahead of the attack, but she also has the intuition and quickness needed to break up fast-developing runs.

Zoe Maxwell, Irvington: The junior forward changes speed and changes direction in a hurry. Maxwell has proven to be a handful 1-on-1, but she also sees the field well and prefers to keep the ball moving when the defense begins to congregate.

Theresa McGovern, Tappan Zee: The junior forward missed five games with an injury last season but finished with 11 goals. McGovern is not afraid to challenge defenders in close quarters and will create space with her unselfish play.

Ciara Ostrander, Somers: The senior forward is a playmaker. Ostrander is capable of threading passes through heavy traffic and is capable of scoring from anywhere on the field when defenders sit back. She has committed to play at Yale.

Naya Rivera, North Rockland: The senior forward is coming back from a knee injury. Rivera was a presence with her athleticism and tenacity before she was helped off late in the season. She is very impressive on throw-ins, too.

Mazie Stiles, Albertus Magnus: The senior midfielder is a technical player who beats opponents with finesse. Stiles reads the game very well and is capable of playing all over the field if need be. She is committed to play at Scranton.

TOP 10 TEAMS: Somers on top of preseason rankings

COLUMN: Losing on penalty kicks – worst thing ever?

LAST YEAR: 2015 girls soccer Elite 11 and pre-season rankings

Somers forward Jenna Menta (right) controls the ball in a Sept. 23, 2015 win over North Rockland. Both teams return a strong core of talented players.

We have to start somewhere. Teams looking to unseat the perennially strong teams like Somers and John Jay-East Fishkill need to beat perennially strong teams like Somers and John Jay-East Fishkill. A lot will change in the coming weeks, but here is how the contenders line up heading into the 2016 season:

Lohud Girls Soccer Preseason Rankings

1. Somers: Yes, there are some holes in the lineup. No, there isn’t likely to be much of a dropoff.

2. John Jay-East Fishkill: It’s getting harder and harder to win Class AA titles.

3. North Rockland: Wait until Naya Rivera and Brianna Williams get back on the field.

4. Suffern: A cast of talented youngsters is another year older and wiser.

5, Clarkstown South: Talented enough to compete. Deep enough to contend.

6. Arlington: Always tapped into a deep talent pool.

7. Pearl River: Otherwise known as the biggest threat to beat Somers.

8. Byram Hills: Learning on the fly after welcoming coach Bryan Horn back to the program.

9. Tappan Zee: Unlikely to be under the radar for very long.

10: Bronxville: Feeling the loss of Beth Finley, but the underclassmen are strong.

Suffern and Clarkstown South are both starting the season in the top 10.

Class AA

1.  John Jay-EF

2. North Rockland

3. Clarkstown South

4. Suffern

5. Arlington

Class A

1. Somers

2. Pearl River

3. Byram Hills

4. Tappan Zee

5. Harrison

Class B

1. Bronxville

2. Irvington

3. Albertus Magnus

4. Briarcliff

5. Pleasantville

Class C

1. Haldane

2. North Salem

3. Solomon Schechter

4. Tuckahoe

5. Hamilton

TOP PLAYERS: Coffey, Couzis, Cruz headline the Elite 11

COLUMN: Losing on penalty kicks – worst thing ever?

LAST YEAR: 2015 girls soccer Elite 11 and pre-season rankings

Mamaroneck running back Hector Gatica turned a short pass into big play in the second quarter on Friday, August 2, 2016, and two personal fouls by White Plains resulted in first-and-goal.

WHITE PLAINS – Instinct kicked in right on time.

Zion Powell was more than a little surprised to see a scrambling punter a mere three yards from the end zone with the game on the line. He did not hesitate and quickly dropped Luka Villa in the shadow of the goalpost.

Mamaroneck went ahead for the first time when Shane Smith pushed into the end zone with 3:07 left in the season-opener at White Plains.

It was a stunning development.

One minute, Mamaroneck was ready to launch into desperation mode. The next minute, the visitor was celebrating an unlikely 14-13 win.

“We’re instructed to hit them hard, so that’s all I did,” Powell said. “I was just going after the ball.”

Mistakes ruined the debut of White Plains coach Michael Lindberg.

There has to be some optimism based on two big plays, but the loss was essentially self-inflicted.

Villa returned a first-quarter interception 54 yards for a touchdown, but White Plains took a pair of personal fouls on a second-quarter Mamaroneck drive that Smith capped with a short burst into the end zone.

It was a 7-7 game at the half.

Glenmour Osbourne got loose and ran 62 yards for a touchdown with 7:18 to go in the third quarter. The PAT sailed wide, but White Plains was up 13-7.

A strong defense only had to make one more stand against Mamaroneck to lock down a needed win.

The last mistake, though, proved costly.

“Our credo is finish,” Mamaroneck linebacker Daniel O’Rourke said. “Coach talks about it every day, always capitalize on what the other team gives you.”

Player of the game: Powell. He was in the right place at the right time.

Turning point: White Plains took possession with 5:01 to play in the game, ran three plays and was punting from its own 17-yard line. The snap was a little high, and Villa sprinted away from traffic. He was dropped on the 3-yard line. Smith went into the end zone on the next play.

“It looked to be a Week 1 bobble,” Mamaroneck coach Anthony Vitti said. “It created an opportunity. Our defense played great. We bent a little. We keep them on for punts because we always expect something to happen and they swallowed it up. We got a little break there.”

Stat line: O’Rourke had 81 yards on 19 carries. … Mamaroneck held White Plains to only four first downs. … Osbourne picked up 106 yards on five carries.

Quotable: “It was tough,” Lindberg said. “Our kids battled, they just made some mistakes. If we correct them, we’re OK. If we hadn’t played with effort I would’ve been upset.”

Michael Lindberg was making his head coaching debut for White Plains on Friday.

CROSS RIVER – Outside of a few penalties too many, Yorktown’s season opener almost resembled an effort from late October. The Huskers weren’t just productive offensively, they were stingy on defense and stout on special teams.

Yorktown’s complete effort led to a thorough 44-21 victory at John Jay High School that saw the Huskers unveil several new weapons.

Brett Makar made a smooth transition into the running back role held by Nick Santavicca, the school’s all-time leading rusher. Makar rushed for 210 yards and three scores and recorded three sacks to lead Yorktown to a 23-7 lead.

Yorktown’s Brett Makar finds some running room in the John Jay defense on a first-half run during opening night of the high school football season on Friday at John Jay High School in Cross River.

Makar had help from returning quarterback Jose Boyer and newcomer Brandon Meyreles, who caught a 66-yard pass on third-and-14 on the opening drive to set up Makar’s first touchdown. Meyreles later recovered a fumble and also added a 61-yard kickoff return to spark another scoring drive.

The Huskers (1-0) allowed John Jay (0-1) to move the ball through the air, but their run defense and pass rush more than accounted for that. In addition to Makar’s sacks, they received a pair of first-half sacks from lineman Matt Steigmeier.

Even kicker Giulianno Santucci connected on a 36-yard field goal to give Yorktown a 23-7 lead. The kick responded to John Jay’s first flash of hope, a 1-yard touchdown run by lineman Shahe Katchadurian. The big man’s plunge was set up when Nate Fischer forced a fumble by sacking Boyer and teammate Nils Carlson recovered it at the Yorktown 9.

Player of the game: Brett Makar, Yorktown. The junior not only channeled Santavicca without a hitch, he contributed in all phases, blitzing John Jay quarterbacks Matt Lee and Bryce Ford from outside linebacker to record three sacks. He also rushed for his 210 yards and three scores on just 18 carries.

Stat line: Yorktown compiled 240 yards of offense on just 26 plays in the first half. The Huskers finished with 437 yards. … Boyer finished 5 for 10 for 172 yards and a score. Meyreles had two catches for 80 yards and Dominick Cioffi caught a 65-yard touchdown and rushed for 44 yards and a pair of second-half scores. … Lee went 20 for 37 for 218 yards and a touchdown. Jackson Rieger had seven catches for 76 yards.

Quotable: “I had a conversation before with Brett and said, ‘You know what’s cool about being you right now, you’re not on the football radar,'” Yorktown coach Mike Rescigno said. “I said, ‘They are going to know who you are today,’ and he did it.”

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Soccer ball on grass

RESULTS FROM FRIDAY, SEPT. 2

Eastchester 0, Sleepy Hollow 0, 2 OT: At Eastchester, Andrew Laub made 10 saves for the Horsemen and Lucas Barbieri had five for the Eagles.

Bronxville 6, Tuckahoe 1: At Bronxville, Jeb Burnell had a goal and a three assists, Will Vranka had two goals and an assist and Zack Zucker scored twice.

Tappan Zee 1, Ramapo 0: At TZ, Thomas Shalvey scored with eight minutes remaining on an assist from Colin Moriarty.

Valhalla 2, Croton-Harmon 0: At Croton, Matias Aranda and Ricky Thomas scored.

Pleasantville 1, Blind Brook 1, 2 OT: At Blind Brook, Dan Merritts scored his first varsity goal for the Panthers and Joao Souza scored for the Trojans.

Briarcliff 3, Putnam Valley 1: At Briarcliff, Matt Cohen scored twice and Jack Dineen had two assists.

Rye Neck 2, Harrison 1: At Rye Neck, Reed Peterson had a goal and an assist and Luis Galeano scored. Kevin Aguirre scored for the Huskies.

Hastings 2, Pelham 0: At Glover Field, Ian Charles and Jackson Silverstein scored.

North Rockland 4, Carmel 1: At North Rockland, Danny Lopez had a goal and an assist. TJ Piscopiello, Jair Parra and Kenji Harper also scored for the Red Raiders.

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Clarkstown players celebrate after a game tying touchdown by Sam Mistretta against Clarkstown North at Clarkstown North High School in New City on Friday, September 02, 2016. Clarkstown South won 14-13 taking the supervisors trophy.

Clarkstown South captains Sam Mistretta (7), Patrick Naughton (58), Matthew Jung (6) and Kyle Samuels (4) hold the supervisors trophy after defeating Clarkstown North 14-13 at Clarkstown North High School in New City on Friday, September 02, 2016.

NEW CITY – In a game where no lead was safe and no comeback was inconceivable, Clarkstown South kicker Michael Tagaris made sure one thing was certain on his potential go-ahead extra-point kick: good or bad, it was going to have the distance.

Clarkstown South hoist the supervisors trophy after defeating Clarkstown North 14-13 at Clarkstown North High School in New City on Friday, September 02, 2016. Clarkstown South won 14-13.

Tagaris, a soccer player-turned-football kicker, booted a perfect shot through the uprights and out of the confines of Vincent Festa Field with 38 seconds left in the annual Supervisor’s Cup — a historic Rockland County rivalry between Clarkstown South and Clarkstown North — for what ended up being the difference in a gritty 14-13 win.

“I lose form a little bit when I just do a chip shot or something, so I just figured that if I really want this to go in, I’m just going to blast it,” Tagaris said, running his right hand through his wavy golden locks. “It was the greatest feeling ever.”

The junior started sprinting down the field with his arms raised before the ball landed among a sea of fans.

“Maybe my team was a little upset that I flew away from them, but I had a lot of adrenaline going through me,” Tagaris said.

Clarkstown South special teams coach Bill Kennedy said Tagaris is a “natural” kicker, and that his raw talent could develop into something fans see on their television screens one day in the future.

“He’s got a very special foot,” Kennedy said. “As the year goes on and he gets a little bit more comfortable — not that he’s not comfortable now; he might be the most comfortable kid I’ve ever met in my life — but as the year goes on and he gets more and more chances, he’s going to be special, and I told him that when I first worked with him.”

Clarkstown South put together the game-winning drive with less than a minute and a half left in regulation. Clarkstown North took the lead on a 15-yard rushing touchdown by junior Eric Maurer. Ironically, it was a missed 18-yard field goal by Tagaris that ignited the Rams crowd and helped shift the momentum in the home team’s favor.

When Vikings senior Samuel Mistretta punched in the game-tying touchdown, the Rams bleachers that once shook the press box behind them had gone still and the fans had gone silent.

“We can lose every single game and win this game, and have like a ‘winning’ season,” Clarkstown South senior Kyle Samuels, who scored the first touchdown of the game in the second quarter, said of the annual rendezvous. “This is about everything for us, but we’re going on to bigger and better things this season.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

ORANGEBURG – It took 21 years for Tappan Zee to finally get a win over rival Nyack last season, but the Dutchmen weren’t satisfied with just one.

They opened the 2016 season on Friday by hosting the Indians and new coach Dominick DeMatteo, and they made it clear that last year was no fluke with a 21-7 victory.

“We wanted to come out and show them that we’re not going to give up,” junior tailback Nick Violetto said. “Just because we won last year, it’s not a one-time thing. We’re going to beat them again and again.”

The TZ defense was dominant in the first half, allowing Nyack to gain just 22 total yards without surrendering a single first down. On offense, the Dutchmen showed off an array of talented backs and consistently picked up chunks of yards.

They ran the ball on their first nine plays to get inside the Nyack 20, and then Henry Garrison found Matt McGivney on a 19-yard play-action pass for a touchdown.

“We just ran the ball down their throat that drive,” McGivney said. “They put 11 guys in the box, and it opened up the pass play.”

Tappan Zee’s Nick Violetto evades Nyack’s Percy Downing in the third quarter of a varsity football game at Tappan Zee High School Sept. 2, 2016.

Violetto scored four minutes before halftime to make it 14-0. The Indians finally began to move the ball after the break, but a 9-yard touchdown run from McGivney with 9:54 to play in the fourth quarter ensured a season-opening win for Tappan Zee.

“Tappan Zee is definitely on the rise,” McGivney said. “People can take us as a joke anymore.”

Player of the game: Nick Violetto, Tappan Zee — Eight different ball carriers got at least one attempt for the Dutchmen, but Violetto was the workhouse. He gained 84 yards on 20 carries, including a touchdown in the second quarter. He was also very active as a linebacker on defense.

Turning point: Nyack could not move the ball on Tappan Zee in the first half, but a 74-yard touchdown scamper from Percy Downing cut the deficit to 14-7 with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter. Suddenly, the Indians were back in the game, but TZ responded on the ensuing drive. A 48-yard run from Kevin Dennehy set up McGivney’s second touchdown.

Stat line: Tappan Zee (1-0) — Violetto ran for 84 yards and a touchdown, while McGivney gained 51 yards on eight carries. He scored two touchdowns, including one on a 19-yard catch. Dennehy ran for 80 yards on just four carries. Nyack (0-1) — Downing ran for 91 yards on seven carries with a touchdown. He left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.

Quotable: “We knew our defense is going to be our strong point this year,” McGivney said. “We have a lot of physical guys, and our D-line has played very well. We knew they weren’t going to move the ball a lot.”

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Nyack head coach Dominick DeMatteo coached his first game against Tappan Zee at Tappan Zee High School Sept. 2, 2016.

Tappan Zee’s Nick Violetto deflects a pass by Nyack’s Christian DiSimone during a varsity football game at Tappan Zee High School Sept. 2, 2016.