Hornets fall to underdog Warriors in Class D semifinals
ENDICOTT – The previously, state ranked 7-1 Hornets of Harpursville-Afton were overcome by a stellar passing attack from the Sidney Warriors, as Sidney claimed the right to advance one round further after defeating the Hornets 34-28.
"At no point this season, did those kids ever quit. There are not many teams that can say that. I've never been prouder of a group of kids," said Harpursville-Afton head coach Tim Petras.
The Hornets were hot off controversy to continue their postseason run, as they were put on hold Thursday, Oct. 27, due to eligibility issues of a player.
However, the Hornets did win their appeal with the Section IV board regarding the issue of an ineligible athlete, and therefore we permitted to advance to the semifinals of the Section IV Class D tournament for high school football, where the sixth seeded Sidney Warriors awaited.
The Hornets and Warriors battled on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Ty Cobb Stadium in Endicott, in a back and forth game featuring one of the best rushing attacks in the area coming from Harpursville-Afton, while the high-flying Warriors looked to the sky for their play. Harpursville-Afton finished with a team total of 251 rushing yards, while Sidney would pass for 480 yards.
With 7.3 seconds left in the third quarter of play, the Hornets – a heavy favorite in the matchup – the Hornets and Warriors held a stalemated 28-28 tie in the game. That is when Sidney's Ethan Finch returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards all the way to the house to take the 34-28 lead into the fourth quarter.
Leading, then eight in NYS ranked Harpursville-Afton, Sidney made one final statement. With 8.2 seconds left, the Hornets strung together a 93 yard drive down inside the Sidney red-zone. However, a stout goal-line stand from the Warriors turned away the Hornets. In a game of inches, the once mighty Hapursville-Afton Hornets fell mere feet short of a potential tying or winning touchdown.
Madison Hoover of the Hornets was subsequently the last back to carry the ball, as he was dragged to a stop by Sidney's Will Moore and Lucas Tanner. Hoover, and the hopes of advancing to the Section IV Class D finals for the Hornets came to a rest on the three yard line.
And so ended the magical season of Harpursville-Afton (7-2 overall in 2016). Sidney (6-3 overall) advances to the finals to face off against Unatego-Franklin at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Ty Cobb Stadium,
Notably, Unatego is coming off a 28-16 win over Groton, earning them a trip to the finals.
S: 0 12 22 0– 34
H-A: 6 7 15 0– 28
Individual statistics:
Rushing — Sidney: Dawson Backus 9-18, Darren Smith 4-12, Lucas Tanner 5-4, Ethan Finch 1-0, Alex Hoskins 1-4, Parker Boice 1-3. Harpursville-Afton: Mitchell Weist 13-63, Josh Wilson 19-116, Tyler King 5-77, Madison Hoover 13-95.
Passing — Sidney: Darren Smith 27-46, 439 yards, 2 ints. H-A: Tyler King 4-11, 36 yards, 2 ints.
Receiving — Sidney: Parker Boice 1-5, Alex Hoskins 12-180, Nate Vibbard 3-43, Ethan Finch 7-118, Dawson Backus 4-93. H-A: Josh Wilson 3-23, Madison Hoover 1-13.
"At no point this season, did those kids ever quit. There are not many teams that can say that. I've never been prouder of a group of kids," said Harpursville-Afton head coach Tim Petras.
The Hornets were hot off controversy to continue their postseason run, as they were put on hold Thursday, Oct. 27, due to eligibility issues of a player.
However, the Hornets did win their appeal with the Section IV board regarding the issue of an ineligible athlete, and therefore we permitted to advance to the semifinals of the Section IV Class D tournament for high school football, where the sixth seeded Sidney Warriors awaited.
The Hornets and Warriors battled on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Ty Cobb Stadium in Endicott, in a back and forth game featuring one of the best rushing attacks in the area coming from Harpursville-Afton, while the high-flying Warriors looked to the sky for their play. Harpursville-Afton finished with a team total of 251 rushing yards, while Sidney would pass for 480 yards.
With 7.3 seconds left in the third quarter of play, the Hornets – a heavy favorite in the matchup – the Hornets and Warriors held a stalemated 28-28 tie in the game. That is when Sidney's Ethan Finch returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards all the way to the house to take the 34-28 lead into the fourth quarter.
Leading, then eight in NYS ranked Harpursville-Afton, Sidney made one final statement. With 8.2 seconds left, the Hornets strung together a 93 yard drive down inside the Sidney red-zone. However, a stout goal-line stand from the Warriors turned away the Hornets. In a game of inches, the once mighty Hapursville-Afton Hornets fell mere feet short of a potential tying or winning touchdown.
Madison Hoover of the Hornets was subsequently the last back to carry the ball, as he was dragged to a stop by Sidney's Will Moore and Lucas Tanner. Hoover, and the hopes of advancing to the Section IV Class D finals for the Hornets came to a rest on the three yard line.
And so ended the magical season of Harpursville-Afton (7-2 overall in 2016). Sidney (6-3 overall) advances to the finals to face off against Unatego-Franklin at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Ty Cobb Stadium,
Notably, Unatego is coming off a 28-16 win over Groton, earning them a trip to the finals.
S: 0 12 22 0– 34
H-A: 6 7 15 0– 28
Individual statistics:
Rushing — Sidney: Dawson Backus 9-18, Darren Smith 4-12, Lucas Tanner 5-4, Ethan Finch 1-0, Alex Hoskins 1-4, Parker Boice 1-3. Harpursville-Afton: Mitchell Weist 13-63, Josh Wilson 19-116, Tyler King 5-77, Madison Hoover 13-95.
Passing — Sidney: Darren Smith 27-46, 439 yards, 2 ints. H-A: Tyler King 4-11, 36 yards, 2 ints.
Receiving — Sidney: Parker Boice 1-5, Alex Hoskins 12-180, Nate Vibbard 3-43, Ethan Finch 7-118, Dawson Backus 4-93. H-A: Josh Wilson 3-23, Madison Hoover 1-13.
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