FALLSBURG — For the second season in a row, the Fallsburg Comets started their season by making a statement and putting the league on notice. Last year, a shutout win over Onteora set the tone, and this year it was a season-opening league matchup against Ellenville.

Ellenville has traditional been a tall task for the 8-man array, keeping games close and always finding their way into the playoffs. That being said, until Friday night, Fallsburg had never managed to get a win against the Blue Devils.

From the start of the game, Fallsburg’s confidence was on full display. On their opening drive, the Comets marched down the field and scored on an 85-yard touchdown pass on a 3rd and 7, and they never looked back as they put up an additional 42 points throughout the game.

Fallsburg’s defense earned a stop on Ellenville’s first drive and got the ball bakc and scored quickly to make it 14-0.

Ellenville answered with a long touchdown drive of their own, converting on the 2-point attempt to cut the lead to 14-8, but that was the closest it would get as the Comets rattled off 34 straight points to put the game out of reach.

After another touchdown, and in the red zone just before half, a botched field goal attempt by the Comets turned into an Ellenville interception. However, an inadvertant whistle by the referees caused the down to be replayed, and Fallsburg found the endzone at the half to take a 28-8 lead after the successful 2-point conversion.

The rain started to pick up just after halftime, and Ellenville struggled to adjust offensively. After receiving the ball to start the second half, the Blue Devils fumbled the first snap of the second half, which led to another Fallsburg touchdown to make it 34-8.

The same thing happened on the ensuing Ellenville drive, with Fallsburg recovering a fumble and driving down for a score to make it 42-8 after the 2-point conversion.

For a third time in the third quarter, Fallsburg recovered a fumble and set their offense up for another score, putting the game well out of reach at 48-8.

Ellenville’s offense managed to break through twice late in the game for long running touchdowns, but the mountain was too much to climb and the Comets won 48-24 to open their season.

“I’m so proud of them. All the praise goes to the kids for working hard,” Coach Dom Scanna said. “We have a lot to improve on, but we’re here now and we have to be prepared. A lot of credit to the players and the coaches.”