Norwich hosts three-time state champion M-E tonight
For many area schools, the preliminaries are over, and it's now time to get down the business of division games.
One school that has yet to play a division game is Norwich. The Tornado (0-2), though, will likely get a sense of where they stand amongst the Class B pool when they host three-time Section IV and three-time defending state champion Maine-Endwell tonight at 7 p.m.
The Spartans (2-0) have played Norwich three times over the past two seasons, and not one of the contests – all M-E wins – was decided by less than five touchdowns.
"From what they've built the last three years, they won't go away soon," said Norwich coach Mike Chrystie of the Spartans. "The kids replacing the kids that graduated, many have gone through the championships, and have bought in to what they are doing. (Maine-Endwell) is the standard for Section IV Class B until someone knocks them off."
Unlike its usual blowout wins, Maine-Endwell has won its first two games by "relatively comfortable" margins. A much-improved Susquehanna Valley team pushed the Spartans deep into the fourth quarter until a fourth-quarter touchdown sealed the Spartans' 27-14 win.
Norwich, meanwhile, has struggled at producing consistent offense. It was good for two quarters in the opening game against Binghamton, and good for two quarters against Owego last week.
"We've struggled with consistency on offense, and Owego was much more physical than we thought they would be," Chrystie said. ""We're trying to get more people involved in the offense so we can take the pressure off of our defense."
When it comes to game planning for Maine-Endwell, Chrystie said he has his team focusing on itself first. "We wanted to improve each week, and we didn't improve last week," Chrystie said. "Win or lose this week, we're looking to become a better football team as we go into division play."
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Oxford (1-1) at Whitney Point (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Whitney Point is hauling in portable lights for a rare Friday night home game. The Golden Eagles evened their record a week ago beating Delhi, 21-8, and feature a straight-ahead power rushing attack.
Unlike Oxford's most recent opponent, Dryden, who also favored a power running attack, head coach Jeff Newton said that Whitney Point does not have the same type of running backs as Dryden. "It's power football (the way Whitney Point plays), but Dryden was a really physical team that dominated us up front," Newton said. "We've shored things up and moved people around. We're putting kids in the positions they need to be."
Newton also shuffled his offense and has some skill position players in different spots this week. About his offense, he feels equally comfortable running or throwing the ball. "We'll take what their defense gives us, and we have to take away their smash-mouth football right from the start," he said.
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Sauquoit Valley (1-1) at Sherburne-Earlville (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Marauders entered the Class C state rankings at the number 13 spot this week on the strength of their 40-21 win over General Brown a week ago. The Marauders are one of four teams in their division with a state ranking along with Utica Notre Dame, Frankfort-Schuyler, and Herkimer. While that win last week was nice, S-E head coach Mike Jasper knows his team has a tough road ahead.
"This is our first division game, and we want to come out and set the tone for the division," Jasper said. "Last week's victory didn't buy us anything other than it was a great win."
In Sauquoit Valley, S-E faces a club that has had an extra day off after playing a week ago last Thursday, SV sports a pair of speedy running backs and an offense that spreads the field. "We faced a team last week that was like us, and now we're getting into the part of the schedule where we'll face teams that will try to make us defend the whole field," Jasper said.
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Bainbridge-Guilford (0-2) vs. Delhi (0-2), at Bainbridge, Friday, 7 p.m.
It's a rare sight when two Class D teams traditionally in the playoff mix find themselves still looking for their first win in week three. That is the case this week at B-G, and head coach Tim Mattingly believes Delhi is much better than its record shows. "They have some big kids up front and some fast kids," Mattingly said. "I hope we will be ready for them."
Tonight's game is also a reunion of sorts. New B-G defensive coordinator, Dave Kelly, served as head coach at Delhi for 48 seasons, and retired from that post last winter. "Dave's a competitor, and he's excited about the game and certainly wants us to do well," Mattingly said.
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Unadilla Valley (0-2) vs. Walton (2-0), Friday at Unadilla Valley, 7 p.m.
As is its wont, Walton is churning out the yards in its running game, and playing stingy defense. The Warriors have allowed just 12 points in two games, while the Storm have given up 74 including 50 last week against Deposit-Hancock.
What the Storm have shown this year, as opposed to last year, is big-play ability. All three of its scores in week one were over 45 yards, and two of its four scores last week were 57 yards or longer. "Walton is Walton, and they are going to come out and be physical, play fast, and go to the echo of the whistle," said UV coach Mark Segina. "The keys this week, I think, will be to get both our passing game and our run game working on all cylinders."
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Newark Valley (1-1) at Greene (0-2) Friday, 7 p.m.
Newark Valley ran roughshod over Elmira Notre Dame last week picking up its first win, 62-6. In recent seasons, the Cardinals have had the upper hand over the Trojans, something Greene coach Dave Gorton hopes to rectify.
"Last year, we had a 10-minute, 18-second drive against (Newark Valley), but failed to score because of a penalty," Gorton said. "Our offense moved the ball better against Unatego (last week), but we must eliminate penalties and turnovers this week to have success."
NV has an excellent quarterback who will run at any time," Gorton said. The Cardinals' QB leads the team in rushing, and had a 60-yard TD run on the first play of the game against defending Class D champion Tioga. "We'll have to contain their running game and establish one of our own this week," Gorton said.
One school that has yet to play a division game is Norwich. The Tornado (0-2), though, will likely get a sense of where they stand amongst the Class B pool when they host three-time Section IV and three-time defending state champion Maine-Endwell tonight at 7 p.m.
The Spartans (2-0) have played Norwich three times over the past two seasons, and not one of the contests – all M-E wins – was decided by less than five touchdowns.
"From what they've built the last three years, they won't go away soon," said Norwich coach Mike Chrystie of the Spartans. "The kids replacing the kids that graduated, many have gone through the championships, and have bought in to what they are doing. (Maine-Endwell) is the standard for Section IV Class B until someone knocks them off."
Unlike its usual blowout wins, Maine-Endwell has won its first two games by "relatively comfortable" margins. A much-improved Susquehanna Valley team pushed the Spartans deep into the fourth quarter until a fourth-quarter touchdown sealed the Spartans' 27-14 win.
Norwich, meanwhile, has struggled at producing consistent offense. It was good for two quarters in the opening game against Binghamton, and good for two quarters against Owego last week.
"We've struggled with consistency on offense, and Owego was much more physical than we thought they would be," Chrystie said. ""We're trying to get more people involved in the offense so we can take the pressure off of our defense."
When it comes to game planning for Maine-Endwell, Chrystie said he has his team focusing on itself first. "We wanted to improve each week, and we didn't improve last week," Chrystie said. "Win or lose this week, we're looking to become a better football team as we go into division play."
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Oxford (1-1) at Whitney Point (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Whitney Point is hauling in portable lights for a rare Friday night home game. The Golden Eagles evened their record a week ago beating Delhi, 21-8, and feature a straight-ahead power rushing attack.
Unlike Oxford's most recent opponent, Dryden, who also favored a power running attack, head coach Jeff Newton said that Whitney Point does not have the same type of running backs as Dryden. "It's power football (the way Whitney Point plays), but Dryden was a really physical team that dominated us up front," Newton said. "We've shored things up and moved people around. We're putting kids in the positions they need to be."
Newton also shuffled his offense and has some skill position players in different spots this week. About his offense, he feels equally comfortable running or throwing the ball. "We'll take what their defense gives us, and we have to take away their smash-mouth football right from the start," he said.
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Sauquoit Valley (1-1) at Sherburne-Earlville (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Marauders entered the Class C state rankings at the number 13 spot this week on the strength of their 40-21 win over General Brown a week ago. The Marauders are one of four teams in their division with a state ranking along with Utica Notre Dame, Frankfort-Schuyler, and Herkimer. While that win last week was nice, S-E head coach Mike Jasper knows his team has a tough road ahead.
"This is our first division game, and we want to come out and set the tone for the division," Jasper said. "Last week's victory didn't buy us anything other than it was a great win."
In Sauquoit Valley, S-E faces a club that has had an extra day off after playing a week ago last Thursday, SV sports a pair of speedy running backs and an offense that spreads the field. "We faced a team last week that was like us, and now we're getting into the part of the schedule where we'll face teams that will try to make us defend the whole field," Jasper said.
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Bainbridge-Guilford (0-2) vs. Delhi (0-2), at Bainbridge, Friday, 7 p.m.
It's a rare sight when two Class D teams traditionally in the playoff mix find themselves still looking for their first win in week three. That is the case this week at B-G, and head coach Tim Mattingly believes Delhi is much better than its record shows. "They have some big kids up front and some fast kids," Mattingly said. "I hope we will be ready for them."
Tonight's game is also a reunion of sorts. New B-G defensive coordinator, Dave Kelly, served as head coach at Delhi for 48 seasons, and retired from that post last winter. "Dave's a competitor, and he's excited about the game and certainly wants us to do well," Mattingly said.
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Unadilla Valley (0-2) vs. Walton (2-0), Friday at Unadilla Valley, 7 p.m.
As is its wont, Walton is churning out the yards in its running game, and playing stingy defense. The Warriors have allowed just 12 points in two games, while the Storm have given up 74 including 50 last week against Deposit-Hancock.
What the Storm have shown this year, as opposed to last year, is big-play ability. All three of its scores in week one were over 45 yards, and two of its four scores last week were 57 yards or longer. "Walton is Walton, and they are going to come out and be physical, play fast, and go to the echo of the whistle," said UV coach Mark Segina. "The keys this week, I think, will be to get both our passing game and our run game working on all cylinders."
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Newark Valley (1-1) at Greene (0-2) Friday, 7 p.m.
Newark Valley ran roughshod over Elmira Notre Dame last week picking up its first win, 62-6. In recent seasons, the Cardinals have had the upper hand over the Trojans, something Greene coach Dave Gorton hopes to rectify.
"Last year, we had a 10-minute, 18-second drive against (Newark Valley), but failed to score because of a penalty," Gorton said. "Our offense moved the ball better against Unatego (last week), but we must eliminate penalties and turnovers this week to have success."
NV has an excellent quarterback who will run at any time," Gorton said. The Cardinals' QB leads the team in rushing, and had a 60-yard TD run on the first play of the game against defending Class D champion Tioga. "We'll have to contain their running game and establish one of our own this week," Gorton said.
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