Marauders put unbeaten record on the line in Section III playoff clash
Sherburne-Earlville entered uncharted territory last season when it qualified for the Section III playoffs for the first time. Perhaps the Marauders were just happy to be there a season ago, and were dismissed from postseason contention in their opening game. A year later, S-E is certainly pleased by the return to the playoffs, but nothing less than a victory will be acceptable.
“The team realizes what is out there, and we won’t face anything but good teams from here on out,” said Marauders head coach Mike Jasper.
Visiting S-E country tonight at 7 p.m. is the Thousand Islands Vikings, who reside near the northern tip of the section’s boundaries. The Vikings lost three of four to start the season including defeats to Section III Class C playoff teams Watertown IHC and General Brown. But, they have won three straight, and clinched a postseason berth last week defeating Lowville, 32-18. Tavis Anderson ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns in Thousand Islands’ victory. Vikings running back Collin Bourcy also eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark and added a touchdown run.
“They are a decent team and they were put in a situation where they had to win against Lowville, who is also a quality team,” Jasper said. “They showed they can perform, and did what they needed to do to win that game pretty solidly.”
Anderson is just a sophomore and has over 800 yards rushing this season to lead the Vikings, while also posting three straight 100-yard rushing performances. Bourcy is a nice complement with over 600 yards rushing and over eight yards per tote.
Running the Vikings offense is quarterback Tyler Gilfus, who has completed 62 percent of his passes. He throws for better than 100 yards per game and has five TD passes. “They like to use their passing game in play-action and running the boot passes,” Jasper said. “We’ll have to be disciplined up front and not just go hell-bent.”
Defensively, Jasper expects Thousand Islands to stack the line of scrimmage to stuff an S-E ground game that averages 280 yards a game. That ploy may be foolhardy with the emergence of S-E junior quarterback Cody Marango. Marango already has 15 touchdown passes – seven to Austin Jasper, five to Ben Khoury, and three to Gavin Giroux – and is on pace to record the highest TD pass total among Chenango County quarterbacks in 16 years.
“We’re adding things and tweaking things each week based on what we see, but I don’t think we will move too far from our identity,” Jasper said. “It all starts up front, and we have to be physical.”
The winner of tonight’s game will play either Watertown IHC or Skaneateles at a neutral site next weekend.
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Norwich (4-3) at Johnson City (4-3), Friday, 7 p.m. at Binghamton Alumni Stadium
Norwich will enter tonight’s game missing its starting and backup quarterbacks as it hopes to earn a home playoff game. Starting signalcaller Mike Sutton is nursing an injury suffered last week, while backup Tristan Rifanburg – a four-time Section IV wrestling champion – is competing in a prestigious high school wrestling tournament in Las Vegas. Stepping in to take the reins is JV promotee Jordan Vinal, while senior all-purpose player Matt Burke will also see time at QB in Norwich’s pistol formation.
“Regardless of who we have healthy - or not – we’ll go forward with who we have, and the expectations remain the same,” said Norwich coach Mike Chrystie. “We want to host a playoff game next week – that (mindset) doesn’t change at all.”
Norwich will face a JC team that has won three straight games since a 39-3 drubbing to Maine-Endwell in week four. Speedy tailback Anthony Johns is coming off a big game in a win over Oneonta last week, and quarterback Rick Balles is a dual threat. Balles ran and threw for over 100 yards in the 63-32 victory over the Yellowjackets. In addition to those two, the Wildcats have durable veteran fullback Reggie Williams, who may not have Johns’ speed and quickness, but is a “load,” Chrystie said.
“Balles and Johns are a pretty dynamic duo,” Chrystie said. “Johns may be the quickest back we’ve seen, and Balles, more than any quarterback we’ve faced, wants to run the ball. If we take the ball out of Balles’ hands and contain Johns, I think we’ll do a good job on defense.”
Regardless of tonight’s outcome at Binghamton Alumni Stadium, these two clubs will face each other again next week with the winner earning the spoils of a home playoff game.
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Elsewhere this week: Oxford (1-6) plays at Unadilla Valley (0-7) tonight at 7 in a local matchup of clubs looking to build momentum for next season; Bainbridge-Guilford (1-6) makes the long trip to Watkins Glen (3-4) tonight. Watkins Glen has alternated losses and wins each week this season. Greene (2-5), losers of five straight games, entertains Trumansburg (1-6), who ended a season-long winless skid last week against Thomas A. Edison.
“The team realizes what is out there, and we won’t face anything but good teams from here on out,” said Marauders head coach Mike Jasper.
Visiting S-E country tonight at 7 p.m. is the Thousand Islands Vikings, who reside near the northern tip of the section’s boundaries. The Vikings lost three of four to start the season including defeats to Section III Class C playoff teams Watertown IHC and General Brown. But, they have won three straight, and clinched a postseason berth last week defeating Lowville, 32-18. Tavis Anderson ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns in Thousand Islands’ victory. Vikings running back Collin Bourcy also eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark and added a touchdown run.
“They are a decent team and they were put in a situation where they had to win against Lowville, who is also a quality team,” Jasper said. “They showed they can perform, and did what they needed to do to win that game pretty solidly.”
Anderson is just a sophomore and has over 800 yards rushing this season to lead the Vikings, while also posting three straight 100-yard rushing performances. Bourcy is a nice complement with over 600 yards rushing and over eight yards per tote.
Running the Vikings offense is quarterback Tyler Gilfus, who has completed 62 percent of his passes. He throws for better than 100 yards per game and has five TD passes. “They like to use their passing game in play-action and running the boot passes,” Jasper said. “We’ll have to be disciplined up front and not just go hell-bent.”
Defensively, Jasper expects Thousand Islands to stack the line of scrimmage to stuff an S-E ground game that averages 280 yards a game. That ploy may be foolhardy with the emergence of S-E junior quarterback Cody Marango. Marango already has 15 touchdown passes – seven to Austin Jasper, five to Ben Khoury, and three to Gavin Giroux – and is on pace to record the highest TD pass total among Chenango County quarterbacks in 16 years.
“We’re adding things and tweaking things each week based on what we see, but I don’t think we will move too far from our identity,” Jasper said. “It all starts up front, and we have to be physical.”
The winner of tonight’s game will play either Watertown IHC or Skaneateles at a neutral site next weekend.
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Norwich (4-3) at Johnson City (4-3), Friday, 7 p.m. at Binghamton Alumni Stadium
Norwich will enter tonight’s game missing its starting and backup quarterbacks as it hopes to earn a home playoff game. Starting signalcaller Mike Sutton is nursing an injury suffered last week, while backup Tristan Rifanburg – a four-time Section IV wrestling champion – is competing in a prestigious high school wrestling tournament in Las Vegas. Stepping in to take the reins is JV promotee Jordan Vinal, while senior all-purpose player Matt Burke will also see time at QB in Norwich’s pistol formation.
“Regardless of who we have healthy - or not – we’ll go forward with who we have, and the expectations remain the same,” said Norwich coach Mike Chrystie. “We want to host a playoff game next week – that (mindset) doesn’t change at all.”
Norwich will face a JC team that has won three straight games since a 39-3 drubbing to Maine-Endwell in week four. Speedy tailback Anthony Johns is coming off a big game in a win over Oneonta last week, and quarterback Rick Balles is a dual threat. Balles ran and threw for over 100 yards in the 63-32 victory over the Yellowjackets. In addition to those two, the Wildcats have durable veteran fullback Reggie Williams, who may not have Johns’ speed and quickness, but is a “load,” Chrystie said.
“Balles and Johns are a pretty dynamic duo,” Chrystie said. “Johns may be the quickest back we’ve seen, and Balles, more than any quarterback we’ve faced, wants to run the ball. If we take the ball out of Balles’ hands and contain Johns, I think we’ll do a good job on defense.”
Regardless of tonight’s outcome at Binghamton Alumni Stadium, these two clubs will face each other again next week with the winner earning the spoils of a home playoff game.
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Elsewhere this week: Oxford (1-6) plays at Unadilla Valley (0-7) tonight at 7 in a local matchup of clubs looking to build momentum for next season; Bainbridge-Guilford (1-6) makes the long trip to Watkins Glen (3-4) tonight. Watkins Glen has alternated losses and wins each week this season. Greene (2-5), losers of five straight games, entertains Trumansburg (1-6), who ended a season-long winless skid last week against Thomas A. Edison.
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