Football

After their Thursday, Oct. 30 matchup was postponed, the Peekskill Red Devils took the field Sunday night, Nov. 2, at Torpy Field to face Walter Panas in a breezy, late-night opener of the Hudson Valley Football Tournament. Riding high from a dominant 30-7 road victory over their crosstown rivals just nine days earlier, Peekskill entered the game determined to secure a spot in the championship final – and they did exactly that. The Red Devils defeated Panas, 31–6, earning their second win over the Panthers in less than two weeks.

Running back Craig Jacobs had 16 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. The 2025 Lohud Football Player of the Week recipient has now totaled 965 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Joseph Walker added 11 carries for 43 yards and a rushing touchdown, while also hauling in five receptions for 113 yards and a receiving score. Darius Smythe returned a punt 20 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Christian Preston completed 8 of 11 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown, while Jaiden Smart contributed a 59-yard reception.

The Red Devils have been cruising through the 2025 season. They were crowned league champions after finishing 7-1 overall and going undefeated in league play – claiming their first league title since 1990. (That 1990 Peekskill squad shared the League II-B championship with Beacon and Somers after defeating Hendrick Hudson, 14–8, in the regular-season finale.)

With Sunday’s win over Panas, Peekskill (now 8-1) advances to host No. 2 seed Tappan Zee in the Hudson Valley Tournament final on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m. The Tappan Zee Dutchmen, 6-3 overall, earned their berth in the final after shutting out Albertus Magnus, 8–0, on Oct. 30.

Peekskill already edged Tappan Zee once this season, pulling off a narrow 22-21 road victory on Oct. 3. Last year, the Dutchmen had the upper hand, defeating Peekskill twice. The two programs last met in the Hudson Valley Tournament final in 2023, when the Red Devils prevailed on the road, 20-14 – a hard-fought win that marked Peekskill’s first championship appearance since 1994.

Leading the Red Devils into Saturday’s title game is head coach Demetric Gardner, now in his fourth season. A victory would mark Gardner’s second championship in four years, further cementing his role in Peekskill’s football resurgence.

Girls Volleyball

No. 11 Peekskill was eliminated from the Class AA sectional tournament by No. 6 Yonkers on the road on Oct. 29. The final score was 3-0, with set scores of 25-16, 25-18, and 25-13.

“Yonkers brought some high flying middles to the contest, and although Peekskill started strong with pointed attacks, our aggressiveness waned and theirs did not,” said head coach Dennis Adams in an email to the Peekskill Herald.

The Red Devils end the 2025 season with an overall record of 4-15. Peekskill will graduate seven seniors from this year’s squad: captains Nina Iljiogbe and Audrina Mendez, along with Dayana Rodriguez, Sofia Martinez, Tatiyanna Gonzalez, Adrienne Copeland, and Jayla Smith. 

10 Questions with Kimberly Alfaro (Girls Soccer)

Peekskill sophomore Kimberly Alfaro has been a key offensive force for the Red Devils’ varsity girls soccer team. A two-year varsity player, Alfaro has led the team in scoring both seasons – netting 14 goals in 2024 and 19 goals with seven assists in 2025, helping Peekskill finish with a 15-2 record.

Her standout moment came on Sept. 22 against Spring Valley, when she recorded a hat trick in an 8-1 victory. Alfaro also scored Peekskill’s lone goal in their sectional first-round matchup against Yorktown on Oct. 25.

Last season, Alfaro earned All-League Honorable Mention honors; this year, she was named All-League. A multi-sport athlete, she also earned All-League recognition in bowling and flag football.

Born in El Salvador, Alfaro moved to the United States at age nine. Back home, she enjoyed playing softball, and she continues to bring that same competitive spirit to every sport she plays. “I’ve always loved encouraging people to do what they love and helping them with anything they need,” she said.

When she’s not on the soccer field, Alfaro competes for Peekskill’s bowling and flag football teams – proving her athletic versatility and determination year-round.

How old were you when you first started playing soccer, and what got you interested in the sport?

I was 12 when I started playing soccer. I started playing because I used to play everyday with my family and I used to see girls play too – and I wanted to play on my school team. 

What’s your favorite thing about being part of the Peekskill varsity girls soccer team?

My favorite part of playing on the team is playing with my friends and making new friends during the season.

You’ve led Peekskill in goals for two straight seasons – what drives you to keep improving and staying consistent?

What keeps me improving in this team is my family and my coaches because they help me get better. I also want to play soccer in college. 

Soccer is such a team sport. How do you and your teammates build chemistry and connection both on and off the field?

Me and my teammates build chemistry and connection by working out together and helping each other with things we don’t know.

How has Coach DiCuio helped you grow as a player, both in skill and mindset?

Coach has helped me in many ways. He has helped me with my shooting and taught me never to give up no matter what the score is. 

You play three different sports – soccer, bowling, and flag football. How do these sports complement each other and shape you as an all-around athlete?

These sports teach me different things. Soccer helped me improve my foot skills. Bowling has helped me get stronger arms, and flag football taught me not to be weak and have a strong mentality.

Who are some of your biggest role models, either in sports or in life, and why?

My biggest role models in life are my parents because they have achieved every goal they’ve made and they teach me to never give up in life no matter how hard it gets.

You wear #7 on the field – is there a special meaning or story behind that number?

I chose #7 because Cristiano Ronaldo wears that number and I’ve watched him play since I was little.

Who’s the funniest person on the team, and what makes them so entertaining during practices or bus rides?

The funniest person on the team is Jacky because she’s always making jokes and laughing. Just hearing her laugh makes us laugh and she always has her speaker for practice. It’s really fun to practice with her.

What are your thoughts on this remarkable 15-1 season, and what moments stand out the most to you? 

I think we really had a great season. We did our best and played our hardest to achieve the 15-1 score and a moment that really stood out for me was our sectional game because no matter what the score was we played our best until the last minute and we left everything we had on the field.

College Watch

Mens Soccer – Division III: SUNY Delhi’s Umaru Conteh (Class of 2025) scored in a 7-0 first round victory over Lesley University in the NAC Men’s Postseason Soccer Tournament. Conteh has scored eight goals and assisted three this season for the Broncos.