by Steve Bradley
The Hoosick Falls Central School Panthers’ football team season came to an abrupt end last Saturday when they were defeated by the Rye Neck Panthers. Hoosick Falls did everything they could, but the breaks just wouldn’t fall their way.
For every break that our Panthers got, something happened to negate it. On Rye Neck’s first possession of the game, Austin Pitt ripped the ball out of the Rye Neck’s running back hands, then Pitt jumped on the ball, giving HF a quick break and getting the HF fans into the game. On the ensuing HF drive, Hoosick Falls gave the ball right back. A Rye Neck defender picked a fumbled ball out of the air and dashed 55 yards for a touchdown.
The HF Panther defense played a spectacular game. Facing a bigger opponent at almost every position, the HF defense bent the entire game and only broke once, late in the first quarter when Rye Neck scored after a twelve play, 41 yard drive, topped off by an eight yard TD run.
The only scores of the game were in the first quarter. The HF defense held Rye Neck scoreless for the rest of the game. Rye Neck moved the ball, but the HF defense stiffened when Rye Neck moved into the red zone. The problem was that the Rye Neck defense played a great game also.
In the second quarter, after holding Rye Neck to a short drive and making them punt, Rye Neck downed the punted ball at the one yard line. It was impossible for the HF returner to see the ball in the air due to the noontime sun in the southern sky. The ball bounced and rolled its way to the one yard line like it knew where it was going. This is how it went for the entire afternoon.
Every yard Rye Neck gained, they gained on the ground. Rye Neck attempted only two passes, and both of those were incomplete. Rye Neck gained 308 yards on 60 rushing attempts. Hoosick Falls gained 211 yards, 78 on the ground and 133 through the air. Rye Neck played ball control football, and they played it well. Rye Neck had possession of the ball for 32:58, compared to HF’s 15:02, with Rye Neck running 62 plays to HF’s 38. Hoosick Falls had no penalties.
The HF offense struggled to move the ball, but there were moments. Just before the half, HF went to a hurry up offense and moved the ball down the field. This would have been a great time to put some points on the board and take something positive into the locker room, but with HF at the Rye Neck 16 yard line and six seconds left on the clock, a pass was intercepted at the goal line. It was that kind of a day.
Mark Hackett had 15 tackles, with Austin Pitt and Dave Hardesty each recording ten. Levi Brewster had 63 receiving yards.
For the Hoosick Falls Panthers, Garrett Wright received the Offensive Player of the Game and Mark Hackett received the Defensive Player of the Game.
The seniors who played their last high school game had a great run. Most high school players never get to experience anywhere near the things of which this group was part. With the exception of one loss at Ausable High School in a regional game, the only field these players ever lost a game on was Dietz Stadium in Kingston, one game away from a State championship game. Many of them were starters on a State championship team, something none of them will ever forget. How many high school football players get to say they were part of a State championship game? How many get to say the only game they lost in any season they played was the last game of the year? How many get to say they are State champions? The coaches these players played for through their football careers, Ed Wright, Charlie Costantino in PeeWee’s to Ron Jones, Chris Fleming, Eamonn DeGraaf and all the assistant coaches along the way were great to, and for, these young men.
At the end of last year, the Panthers lost Co-NYS Class C Players of the Year Bill Pine and Brad Burns. The Panthers came back this season and played their way back to the State semi-finals.
It was a great year.