Yorktown overcame a rash of untimely penalties, avenged an exasperating 34-33 OT loss from 2013 , and received the across-the-boards team contributions that's become emblematic of the Senior Night Spirit.
The end result was a thorough 42-14 trouncing of Tappan Zee at home Friday Night.
One of five remaining Section 1 teams with an unblemished record, the 6-0 Huskers were again catalyzed by an imposing ground game.
Junior halfback Nick Santavicca cut, zipped, and bounced around a bevy of tacklers aching to knock him off his path.
The Section's leading rusher, Santavicca churned out 185 yards on 17 touches.
Also mashing and moving was senior Ryan Brandt, who hit the ground for 45 yards, hauled in a 35-yard pass from Ryan Baker and provided a two-yard TD plunge which fattened Yorktown's lead to 35-7 with 3:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Senior defensive back Ryan Cegielski, bouncing back from a nagging injury, had a commendable performance with three solos, five assisted tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.
While Ciegelski's defensive fortitude punctuated the Senior Night slaying, Yorktown's youth movement broke out with flashes of promise.
Sophomore wide receiver Max Costello inhaled a 44-yard touchdown pass from Baker and classmate Jose Boyer ripped off a 35-yard touchdown jaunt, padding the insurmountable lead to 42-7 with 10:43 to go in the fourth quarter.
Baker's fleet of foot sparked Yorktown's quick-paced attack. The elusive senior broke a pair of touchdown runs and was flinging the rock through the Dutchmen's secondary. He passed for a game-best 103 yards, showcasing the arm he spent much of the summer refining.
Yorktown arrived at the doorstep of 2014 without the high expectations and hearsay.
Now the Huskers are demanding a measure of respect that's resonated around the Northern County.
Traditional blood rival John Jay, waiting in the wings for a scintillating Week 7 matchup, surely hears the footsteps.
"I think you'll be in for a show," said Huskers head coach Mike "House" Rescigno.
"This will be the week that we work the hardest, so far. The coaching staff has the same philosophy as our kids. We can rev it up even more each week. I know what John Jay's capable of. I know Jimmy Clark very well. He's a real good coach. He's going to be prepared, his kids are going to be prepared as I know our kids are going to be prepared.
Yorktown's secondary was ready to play from the jump Friday night. After Cegielski picked off Liam Donahue's first pass of the night, Nick Golio levitated in front of the intended receiver and plucked a pass from the sky.
Buoyed by effective blocking, the senior motored back to the house for what appeared as a pick-six.
Much to the chagrin of a full throttled CROP crowd, which instantly serenaded the referee crew with a "Nuts and Bolts" chant, the play was nullified due to penalty.
Penalties, which halted action in the Week 4 win against Brewster, again reared their hated head.
"We've been saying it all year, we have to try and play more perfect all the time," Rescigno said.
"There were some flags. That seems to be the theme this year for Yorktown. Like it or not, we have to take care of it."
Improving on a week-to-week basis has been pivotal for the Huskers, which ran into Dutchmen team piecing together the rebar of a thorough rebuilding project.
Tappan Zee sliced the deficit to 14-7 when John Daly motored 17 yards down the right sideline. Yorktown answered in bang-quick fashion.
With the line providing the necessary push and warding off trench traffic, the Huskers worked the chains through-surprise, surprise--Santavicca.
Baker, who spent much of the off-season polishing up his arm and adding on range, hit a streaking Costello to extend the lead to two touchdowns.
"Our line does a great job of protecting Ryan, that gives Ryan a ton of time to throw us the ball every day," said Costello, who took advantage of the most significant playing time of his young career.
The dramatics swirling around the ensuing John Jay/Yorktown game cuts right into the heart of this rivalry.
Both teams have been staunch rivals for as long back as they can remember. The Crop v.s. The Tribe has all the explosive elements of an entertaining sideshow.
Due to the upper-crust lacrosse and volleyball programs possessed by both programs, Yorktown and Jay are frequently on a collision course en route to championship territory.
Jay handed Beacon its lone loss of the season with a statement 44-22 Week 5 win.
Due to the intense nature that's defined this storied rivalry, it is only right this one is saved for the tail end of the season.
The Indians have a Super 11 selection in Ryan Lee, who will play lacrosse for Richmond next season.
Lee wears several helmets for Clark's team. He can sling it. He can scamper. He can line up as a receiver and haul in passes.
Lee racked up 271 total yards in the Indians' 41-20 drubbing of Brewster earlier this season. He aired it out for 145 yards on a 9-for-9 clip in a 46-7 mauling of Tappan Zee, handling double duty with 107 yards on 10 touches. He does everything but hand out tickets and sell hot dogs at halftime.
Buckle up.