State-ranked Greene, Chenango Forks meet tonight
If you’re a fan of football without any particular allegiance, tonight’s Class C clash between two state-ranked teams, number 12-ranked Chenango Forks at number six Greene is the game to attend.
Outside of Maine-Endwell, no teams in Section IV have thoroughly dominated the opposition as much as the Trojans and Blue Devils. Forks, always a contender, and Greene, a program among the best in Class C the past seven years, meet tonight in what could be a preview of the Section IV finals six weeks down the road.
On offense, the Blue Devils are averaging over 40 points per game and have scored exactly two more points than Greene. On the flip side, the Trojans have allowed just 16 points in three games, again two points south of the Devils’ total. Neither club has had much trouble scoring, while their respective defenses are nearly impenetrable to this point. Something has got to give, don’t you think?
“We laid out all the facts to our team: This is what they’ve done, and this is what we’ve done,” said Greene coach Tim Paske, whose club beat Chenango Forks, 21-0, a season ago. It was the first win for Greene over the Blue Devils since 1983. “It will come down to the trenches, and who does a better job with that.”
Chenango Forks has a formidable front line led by Jack Barnett, who tips the scales in the 275-pound range. Across the line, the Blue Devils have nearly the equivalent size of Greene, who have overwhelmed opposing fronts so far.
“Chenango Forks has definitely looked good so far, and they’ve already rushed for over 1,000 yards as a team,” Paske said. “They know what to do with the football.”
Typically, Forks spreads the ball out to a number of ballcarriers. From what we’ve pinpointed, fullback Isaiah Zimmer will get a fair share of the carries early on, and quarterback D.J. Sweeney is coming off a rushing 100-yard game. Sweeney is another signal-caller in a long line at Chenango Forks to effectively run the option-based attack. Jacob Green, one of last year’s key runners, also returns to the backfield.
Greene, itself, is coming off its best game running the ball. At rain-soaked Dryden, the Trojans gained nearly 400 yards rushing with Mike Beckwith and Dan Treadwell each topping 100 yards. Paske is at least four or five deep in the backfield, and to emphasize that point, backup Joel Roselle has a team-high four touchdown runs in spot duty.
“I think we’re starting to get there on offense,” Paske said. “Each week we want to get better, and the first three weeks were our preseason leading up to our division game. It just so happens that our first division game is a big one. We’re happy it’s at our place, and we know it will be a heck of a challenge.”
Elsewhere, there are five games involving Chenango County teams. Here is a brief look at each one:
Norwich (2-1) at Windsor (2-1), Friday 7 p.m.
Windsor is not the same team as a year ago. The Black Knights went 0-8 a year ago with one of those defeats a 36-14 loss at Norwich. Three games into this season, Windsor is 2-1 – just like Norwich – and thinking playoffs. “It really is going to be a great matchup,” said Norwich coach John Martinson. “They have an old-school approach on offense. It’s a scheme that has worked so far.” Ismail Griffin, a speedy, tough runner, had 239 yard rushing in a victory over Susquehanna Valley last week. Griffin was one of the bright spots for Windsor last year returning a kickoff for a touchdown against Norwich. “They’re a team that is very confident right now, and we’re expecting them to be really good,” Martinson said. “For us, field position and turnovers will be big keys.” While the Norwich defense has held tough the past two weeks, the Tornado offense is still searching for some consistency. In the win over Owego two weeks ago, turnovers conspired against that consistency, and last week against Sidney, it was the special teams play more than anything else that keyed the offense. “A focal point for us this week is our offensive line,” Martinson said. “We’ve had a good week of practice, and they’re starting to understand the schemes more. Hopefully it will be a good night for us on offense. We’re waiting for everything to click.”
Oxford (1-2) at Groton (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Groton, in recent years, has become one of the top Class D teams in Section IV. On the western side of the section, Oxford coach Ray Dayton says that Groton, Tioga, and Elmira Notre Dame are the big three right now. And Groton already has a win over Elmira this season. “They’re state-ranked, and they have a pretty good tradition over there,” Dayton said. “They have some good skill people all around and they’re physical. They play a physical brand of football, similar to the teams on the eastern side of the section. That is why they have been successful.” Oxford did not have much trouble moving the ball or scoring points the first two weeks. Against Newark Valley a week ago, mistake after mistake led to a shutout loss. Still, Dayton has not lost faith in his players at all, and believes he has talent aplenty. “Honestly, I think we have the athletic ability and skill on this team to beat anyone we play,” Dayton. “Our kids just need to believe in that ability and trust the coaching staff that what we’re telling them is the best way to play football.” Of note, Paul Wonka needs 23 rushing yards tonight to reach 3,000 for his career. The fourth-year back would be the second Oxford player on record to reach 3,000 rushing yards joining Mike Chrystie.
Unatego (2-1) at Bainbridge-Guilford (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
After an opening-game drubbing to Class C Chenango Forks, Unatego has looked much more comfortable in the Class D confines scoring 99 total points in routs of Seton Catholic Central and Walton. Yes, Walton. The Spartans’ athleticism, spearheaded by veteran quarterback Tyler Butler, led to several big plays in the victory over the Warriors last week. B-G coach Tim Mattingly is also wary of speedy tailback David VanAlstine, who already has several long touchdowns this season either by running the ball or catching passes. “I’ve seen Unatego play a couple of times, and they have the potential to score every time they touch the ball,” Mattingly said. “We’re going to need to limit their big plays, and when we’re on offense, move the ball and chew up some clock.” The Bobcats may have just the person to run time of the clock. Senior Jake Mazzarella is rushing for over 200 yards per game and has eight rushing touchdowns. He’s not the only weapon B-G has, either. Quarterback Corbin Palmer, running back Justin Cirigliano, and tight end Austin Bauerle are also big-play threats. “We’ve been successful moving the ball against some pretty decent defenses,” Mattingly said. “We need to continue to do that, and make adjustments when necessary.”
Lafayette (0-3) at Sherburne-Earlville (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Marauders, impressive in their first two wins, took a step backward a week ago in a shutout loss to Waterville. In Lafayette, S-E faces a potential trap game against a club that is winless, but the record is a bit deceiving. “They haven’t won, but they have played one of the toughest schedules around,” said S-E coach Mike Jasper of Lafayette. “They have played a high level of competition, and have shown to be a decent team at the point of attack.” In addition to the nagging injuries from earlier games, S-E hurt itself last week with turnovers and penalties. Jasper wants to nip those miscues in the bud and move forward toward a playoff run. “We just need to come out mentally prepared, and we can’t afford to play from behind,” Jasper said. “It’s hard to dig yourselves out of a hole against the good teams. We need to play each week like we have a target on our back. We need to be focused and intense from the start, eliminate the turnovers, establish what we want to do offensively, and execute for 48 minutes.”
Unadilla Valley (1-2) at Whitney Point (1-2), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Whitney Point has not scored a touchdown the last two weeks suffering a shutout loss to Sidney and a 21-2 defeat to Lansing a week ago. In both of those games, the Golden Eagles gave up their points in the first half. “We have to watch their big quarterback (Matt Driscoll),” said UV coach Daryl Decker. “He does most of their running and has a good arm. We’ll have to key on him and a couple other guys.”
The Storm, meanwhile, have not had trouble putting points on the board scoring 53 in back-to-back losses. On the flip side, UV’s defense has given up over 40 points in those two defeats. “We’re not making too many adjustments for this game,” Decker said. “We want them to adjust to us.”
Outside of Maine-Endwell, no teams in Section IV have thoroughly dominated the opposition as much as the Trojans and Blue Devils. Forks, always a contender, and Greene, a program among the best in Class C the past seven years, meet tonight in what could be a preview of the Section IV finals six weeks down the road.
On offense, the Blue Devils are averaging over 40 points per game and have scored exactly two more points than Greene. On the flip side, the Trojans have allowed just 16 points in three games, again two points south of the Devils’ total. Neither club has had much trouble scoring, while their respective defenses are nearly impenetrable to this point. Something has got to give, don’t you think?
“We laid out all the facts to our team: This is what they’ve done, and this is what we’ve done,” said Greene coach Tim Paske, whose club beat Chenango Forks, 21-0, a season ago. It was the first win for Greene over the Blue Devils since 1983. “It will come down to the trenches, and who does a better job with that.”
Chenango Forks has a formidable front line led by Jack Barnett, who tips the scales in the 275-pound range. Across the line, the Blue Devils have nearly the equivalent size of Greene, who have overwhelmed opposing fronts so far.
“Chenango Forks has definitely looked good so far, and they’ve already rushed for over 1,000 yards as a team,” Paske said. “They know what to do with the football.”
Typically, Forks spreads the ball out to a number of ballcarriers. From what we’ve pinpointed, fullback Isaiah Zimmer will get a fair share of the carries early on, and quarterback D.J. Sweeney is coming off a rushing 100-yard game. Sweeney is another signal-caller in a long line at Chenango Forks to effectively run the option-based attack. Jacob Green, one of last year’s key runners, also returns to the backfield.
Greene, itself, is coming off its best game running the ball. At rain-soaked Dryden, the Trojans gained nearly 400 yards rushing with Mike Beckwith and Dan Treadwell each topping 100 yards. Paske is at least four or five deep in the backfield, and to emphasize that point, backup Joel Roselle has a team-high four touchdown runs in spot duty.
“I think we’re starting to get there on offense,” Paske said. “Each week we want to get better, and the first three weeks were our preseason leading up to our division game. It just so happens that our first division game is a big one. We’re happy it’s at our place, and we know it will be a heck of a challenge.”
Elsewhere, there are five games involving Chenango County teams. Here is a brief look at each one:
Norwich (2-1) at Windsor (2-1), Friday 7 p.m.
Windsor is not the same team as a year ago. The Black Knights went 0-8 a year ago with one of those defeats a 36-14 loss at Norwich. Three games into this season, Windsor is 2-1 – just like Norwich – and thinking playoffs. “It really is going to be a great matchup,” said Norwich coach John Martinson. “They have an old-school approach on offense. It’s a scheme that has worked so far.” Ismail Griffin, a speedy, tough runner, had 239 yard rushing in a victory over Susquehanna Valley last week. Griffin was one of the bright spots for Windsor last year returning a kickoff for a touchdown against Norwich. “They’re a team that is very confident right now, and we’re expecting them to be really good,” Martinson said. “For us, field position and turnovers will be big keys.” While the Norwich defense has held tough the past two weeks, the Tornado offense is still searching for some consistency. In the win over Owego two weeks ago, turnovers conspired against that consistency, and last week against Sidney, it was the special teams play more than anything else that keyed the offense. “A focal point for us this week is our offensive line,” Martinson said. “We’ve had a good week of practice, and they’re starting to understand the schemes more. Hopefully it will be a good night for us on offense. We’re waiting for everything to click.”
Oxford (1-2) at Groton (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Groton, in recent years, has become one of the top Class D teams in Section IV. On the western side of the section, Oxford coach Ray Dayton says that Groton, Tioga, and Elmira Notre Dame are the big three right now. And Groton already has a win over Elmira this season. “They’re state-ranked, and they have a pretty good tradition over there,” Dayton said. “They have some good skill people all around and they’re physical. They play a physical brand of football, similar to the teams on the eastern side of the section. That is why they have been successful.” Oxford did not have much trouble moving the ball or scoring points the first two weeks. Against Newark Valley a week ago, mistake after mistake led to a shutout loss. Still, Dayton has not lost faith in his players at all, and believes he has talent aplenty. “Honestly, I think we have the athletic ability and skill on this team to beat anyone we play,” Dayton. “Our kids just need to believe in that ability and trust the coaching staff that what we’re telling them is the best way to play football.” Of note, Paul Wonka needs 23 rushing yards tonight to reach 3,000 for his career. The fourth-year back would be the second Oxford player on record to reach 3,000 rushing yards joining Mike Chrystie.
Unatego (2-1) at Bainbridge-Guilford (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
After an opening-game drubbing to Class C Chenango Forks, Unatego has looked much more comfortable in the Class D confines scoring 99 total points in routs of Seton Catholic Central and Walton. Yes, Walton. The Spartans’ athleticism, spearheaded by veteran quarterback Tyler Butler, led to several big plays in the victory over the Warriors last week. B-G coach Tim Mattingly is also wary of speedy tailback David VanAlstine, who already has several long touchdowns this season either by running the ball or catching passes. “I’ve seen Unatego play a couple of times, and they have the potential to score every time they touch the ball,” Mattingly said. “We’re going to need to limit their big plays, and when we’re on offense, move the ball and chew up some clock.” The Bobcats may have just the person to run time of the clock. Senior Jake Mazzarella is rushing for over 200 yards per game and has eight rushing touchdowns. He’s not the only weapon B-G has, either. Quarterback Corbin Palmer, running back Justin Cirigliano, and tight end Austin Bauerle are also big-play threats. “We’ve been successful moving the ball against some pretty decent defenses,” Mattingly said. “We need to continue to do that, and make adjustments when necessary.”
Lafayette (0-3) at Sherburne-Earlville (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Marauders, impressive in their first two wins, took a step backward a week ago in a shutout loss to Waterville. In Lafayette, S-E faces a potential trap game against a club that is winless, but the record is a bit deceiving. “They haven’t won, but they have played one of the toughest schedules around,” said S-E coach Mike Jasper of Lafayette. “They have played a high level of competition, and have shown to be a decent team at the point of attack.” In addition to the nagging injuries from earlier games, S-E hurt itself last week with turnovers and penalties. Jasper wants to nip those miscues in the bud and move forward toward a playoff run. “We just need to come out mentally prepared, and we can’t afford to play from behind,” Jasper said. “It’s hard to dig yourselves out of a hole against the good teams. We need to play each week like we have a target on our back. We need to be focused and intense from the start, eliminate the turnovers, establish what we want to do offensively, and execute for 48 minutes.”
Unadilla Valley (1-2) at Whitney Point (1-2), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Whitney Point has not scored a touchdown the last two weeks suffering a shutout loss to Sidney and a 21-2 defeat to Lansing a week ago. In both of those games, the Golden Eagles gave up their points in the first half. “We have to watch their big quarterback (Matt Driscoll),” said UV coach Daryl Decker. “He does most of their running and has a good arm. We’ll have to key on him and a couple other guys.”
The Storm, meanwhile, have not had trouble putting points on the board scoring 53 in back-to-back losses. On the flip side, UV’s defense has given up over 40 points in those two defeats. “We’re not making too many adjustments for this game,” Decker said. “We want them to adjust to us.”
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