Panthers Outduel O’Neill Raiders And Go To State Title Game In Syracuse
by Steve Bradley
To say the Hoosick Falls Panthers played poorly in the first quarter of last Saturday’s semi-final game would be an understatement. To say they kicked some butt for the final two and one-half quarters would be the same.
The O’Neill Raiders kicked off to the Panthers to start the game. The Panthers ran three plays, losing 7 yards, then punted the ball to the Raiders. With the ball at their 37 yard line, the Raider offense came on the field and took over, literally. On their first play from scrimmage their star running back ran through the Panther defense for a 63 yard TD. Some Panthers got in a wave to him as he ran by, but for the most part he was unchallenged. The PAT was good, and O’Neill was up by 7 less than a minute into the game.
[private]The Panther offense wasn’t exactly clicking to make up for it – missed passes, short gains and punts. The Panthers did manage to get 7 on the board on a Brad Burns 2 yard run. Otherwise, nothing went well in the first quarter. O’Neill was leading 21 – 7. Their star running back, along with their passing game, was gaining yards at an alarming clip. The Panther defense was staggering. O’Neill never scored anther point.
In the second quarter, the Panthers started to put some things together. With just over 9 minutes left, Brad Burns scored on a 3 yard run that put the score at O’N 21 – HF 14.
Then the whole complexion of the game changed on two plays.
With just over 5 minutes to go in the half, O’Neill had once again driven down near the Panther goal line. With a chance to take a 28 – 14 lead, a Raider fumbled, and Panther Mark Hackett recovered the ball at the 4 yard line. The Panthers and their fans suddenly came to life. This was the beginning of the end for O’Neill. After the Panther offense took to the field, quarterback Billy Pine came roaring out of the backfield and took off for a 69 yard gain. Burns ended this 96 yard drive with a 16 yard run. This sequence of events seemed to suck the wind out of the Raiders sails. Suddenly things were going so well that even a botched PAT kick attempt turned into a two point conversion on smart play by placeholder turned quarterback Randy Tutunjian and snapper turned receiver Brad Burns. This miscue turned to good fortune gave the Panthers a 22 – 21 lead.
At this point the defense became downright mean. Forward progress became difficult for O’Neill. What was so easy for the Raiders to do in the first quarter became impossible. When their star running back ran into the line now, instead of seeing confused defenders waving him by, there were six or seven black jerseys full of mean Panthers clawing at him. After a Levi Brewster interception, the Panthers moved up the field and took a 29 – 21 lead into halftime
On the second half kickoff, Damon Dubois blasted a kick intended to reach the goal line right into the Raider front line blocker, standing about 12 yards away. The Raider, who was lucky his kneecap wasn’t shattered, was unable to handle it, and the Panthers pounced on the loose ball. A quick 55 yard drive, which included a 22 yard Billy Pine run and 20 yard TD scamper by Burns put the Panthers out of reach for the Raiders. The Panthers scored one more TD in the fourth quarter on a 7 yard Burns run.
After the first quarter, the Panther defense was a force. The Raiders star running back rushed for 131 yards and three TDs in the first quarter. Then the
Panther defense regrouped and adjusted, making him a non-factor for the remainder of the contest. In an interview after the game, the O’Neill quarterback said the Panthers figured out what they were doing, adjusted to it, then “took advantage” of the Raiders. That was the truth. The Panthers had three interceptions, one each by Brewster, Josh Brogue and Tutunjian. They recovered three fumbles. Pine ran for 176 game changing yards and passed for 81 more. Burns rushed for 181.
Although the names you see are very important pieces, make no mistake, this is a team effort. Brad Burns is the undisputed leader, and deservedly so. Billy Pine and Randy Tutunjian are great athletes and stand-outs. The three make up the heart of the team. But there are others, the players in the middle of everything who never get their name in the papers or make the TV highlights. The players out in front clearing the way for Brad and Billy. The players on defense chasing the opposing quarterback so he throws an interception or stopping the opposing running back for no gain. Bryan Sherman, almost always smaller than his opponent, uses his wrestling skills, balance and leverage to make his plays. Brandon Hodges, a running back who stepped up to fill a need, has done everything
asked of him and done it well. Derek Bird ties up the middle ground and harasses opposing quarterbacks. There’s Grady Beck, who starts almost every offensive play with his snap, making sure his blocks are made. Grady also excels at his defensive linebacker spot. Mark Hackett, another running back converted to fill a need in the line, does a great job. Last, but not least, Lance Rice-Wilder. Lance fills the defensive holes, leads the running backs through the line and keeps opponents from harassing Billy Pine when he’s trying to find a receiver. He just does what he needs to do. These are the players who hit, or get hit, on every play, on both sides of the ball. They are the soul of the team. Without them, there would be no championships.
Next Saturday, November 24, at high noon, the Panthers (12 – 0) will take on the Hornell Raiders (12 – 0) in the Syracuse Dome for the NYS Class C Championship. In the NYS Sportwriters Poll, the Raiders and the Panthers have been ranked #1 (Hornell) and #2 (Hoosick Falls) throughout the season. Hornell boasts Class B State championships from 2009 – 2011. The Raiders will be a formidable opponent; however the Panthers are a formidable opponent in their own right. The game has possibilities of being a classic for the ages. Hop in the car, take the bus, take a taxi, walk or drive out on the lawn tractor and come on out to The Dome and cheer ’em on.
Hoosick Falls Football Roster
# Name Grade Offense Defense # Name Grade Offense Defense
2 Brett Bacon 11 WR DB 42 C.J. Yavaniski 9 RB LB
4 Billy Pine 12 QB DB 44 Mike Matatt 11 RB/OL LB
5 Josh Brogue 12 WR DB 51 Jake Bakaitis 10 OL DL
7 Randy Tutunjian 12 WR LB 52 Chris Schielding 10 OL DL
8 Willy Bradley 10 WR DB 53 Mike Matatt 11 OL/RB LB
9 Alex Mendez 9 QB DB 54 Brandon Hodges 11 OL/RB DL
10 Cody Humphrey 9 WR DB 55 Hunter Yavaniski 11 OL DL
12 Troy Costantino 11 QB DB 56 Bryan Sherman 12 OL DL
13 Wyatt Cushman 9 QB DB 58 Mark Hackett 10 OL DL
14 Levi Brewster 11 WR DB 59 Christian Nolet 10 OL DL
15 Austin Pitt 10 WR LB 60 Logan Hoyt 10 OL DL
18 Garrett Wright 10 QB DB 61 Lance Rice-Wilder 12 OL DL
20 Cobly Davendonis 10 WR LB 63 Evan Hand 9 OL DL
21 Brad Foster 11 WR DB 65 Devon Lockrow 9 OL DL
22 Noah LaBarge 9 RB LB 70 Kellan Skott 9 OL DL
24 David Hardesty 11 WR LB 75 Grady Beck 12 OL LB
25 Ryan Perkins 11 WR LB 76 Pascal Wilkins 9 OL DL
27 Matt Sprague 12 WR LB 77 Derek Bird 11 OL DL
28 Mark Hackett 10 OL DL 78 Shane Barss 10 OL DL
31 Shayne Richard 10 WR LB 79 Charles Hodge 11 OL LB
34 Brandon Hodges 11 RB/OL DL 81 Eric Kaufmann 11 WR DB
35 Brad Burns 12 RB LB 82 Josh Wood 10 WR DB
36 Thomas Peabody 11 WR DB 83 Matt Brewster 12 WR DB 38 Cody Longe 10 WR DB 85 Jacob Matte-Yorke 10 WR DB
40 Connor McCart 9 RB LB 87 Damon Dubois 10 WR DB
Get On The Bus Going To The Syracuse Dome For The State Final
Mike Bacon has reserved a 47 passenger bus to take people to the Class C New York State Championship football game at Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Seats are still available. The cost is $35. The bus will be leaving between 6:30 and 7 am Saturday, November 24. Game time is at 12 noon. To reserve a seat call Mike at 686-5996.
Hoosick Falls Victorious Season
08/31 HF vs Mechanicville 43 – 0
09/08 HF@ Granville 42 – 10
09/14 HF vs Taconic Hills 47 – 8
09/21 HF @ Stillwater 40 – 0
09/28 HF @ Schuylerville 43 – 12
10/05 HF vs Corinth 47 – 0
10/12 HF @ Tamarac 44 – 0
10/207: HF vsVoorheesville
@ Stillwater HS 69 – 14
10/27 HF vs Fonda-Fultonville
@ Stillwater HS 47 – 0
11/02 HF vs Chatham 40 – 0
Class C Superbowl @ Stillwater HS
11/10 HF vs Saranac Lake 20 – 12
NYS Class C Regional @ Ausable Valley High School
11/17 HF vs O’Neill 43 – 21
NYS Class C Semifinal @ Dietz Stadium Kingston
11/24 12 pm HF vs Hornell
NYS Class C Championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse
TEAM STATS HOOSICK FALLS OPPONENTS
First Downs 147 104
Rushing Attempts 442 416
Yards Gained Rushing 3403 1247
Yards Lost Rushing 196 0
Net Rushing Yards 3207 1247
Passes Completed 91 105
Passes Attempted 152 230
Passes Had Intercepted 4 21
Completion Percentage 59.9% 45.7%
Passing Yards 1686 1003
Fumbles Lost 6 25
Number of Punts 4 43
Punt Yardage 0 0
Punting Average 0.0 0.0
Punt Ret Yds Allowed 13 244
Punt Ret Avg Allowed 3.3 5.7
Net Punting Avg -3.3 -5.7
Number of Kick Offs 89 23
Kick Off Yardage 0 0
Kick Off Avg 0.0 0.0
K.O.R. Yds Allowed 1200 310
K.O.R Avg Allowed 13.5 13.5
Net Kick Off Avg -13.5 -13.5
Total Return Yardage 554 1217
Number of Penalties 46 41
Yards Penalized 345 343
Total Offense 4893 2250
Penalty Yds/Game 28.8 28.6
Net Rushing/Game 267.3 103.9
Net Passing/Game 140.5 83.6
Total Offense/Game 407.8 187.5
A Friendly Bet
Rensselaer County Legislature Vice Chairman Stan Brownell, who represents the Town of Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls wrote in an email, “I have a call into the Vice Chairman of the Steuben County Legislature, Lawrence Crossett, where Hornell is from. I have offered up a gallon of NY Maple Syrup from Ogden’s Sugar Shack in East Hoosick, and we will see what Larry puts up as a friendly wager for the Class C State Football Championship with Hoosick Falls taking on Hornell at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on Saturday. The friendly wager bet happened in 2003 when Hoosick Falls played Caledonia-Mumford and lost, but the game was so good that both legislators still exchanged gifts. Maple syrup for cheese at the time.[/private]