 GREENWICH -- The difference
between the top of Class C and those fighting for
a playoff berth was evident in Greenwich coach
Brandon Linnett's explanation of Friday night's
47-12 loss to Schuylerville.
"We played our best
defensive half of the season; we were physical all
over the field, we were gang tackling the ball and
they still scored 21 points on us," Linnett
said of the 21-6 halftime score. "My kids
played great, and we still came up short."
Schuyler Thomas returned an
interception 62 yards and Steve Backus turned a
10-yard pass into a 64-yard score in the second
quarter, taking the starch out of the Greenwich
defense.
"We had some success
passing the ball today because the receivers were
running good routes and the line was getting the
job done," Schuylerville quarterback Austin
Bateman said. "The line has been doing a
helluva job and the backs have been doing a
helluva job, and it makes my job easier. Our
attack is that simple -- if the line is doing its
job, we are going to have some success."
The Witches (3-3) prevented
Schuylerville from finding any success early in
the game -- hawking the Horses' ball carriers and
putting pressure on Bateman.
But Schuylerville's defense was
just as staunch -- holding the Witches to minus-12
yards rushing over their first two series.
Schuylerville (5-1) got on track
late in the first quarter, embarking on a 12-play,
64-yard drive that culminated in Shane Larkin's
blast from the 4 on the first play of the second
quarter.
The floodgates opened when
Thomas returned Ethan Bain's pass down the left
sideline for a 14-0 lead.
Bain regrouped on Greenwich's
next possession, hitting Dylan Stout for a 43-yard
gain during a 74-yard drive capped by Stout's
nine-yard TD score.
The momentum was short-lived as
Bateman hooked up with Backus on a 64-yard
catch-and-run.
Schuylerville poured it on in
the third quarter, scoring on its second play, and
on all four of its second-half possessions.
"We wore them down in the
second half, but I've got to give Greenwich credit
because they played a physical game and put a lot
of hats on the ball," Schuylerville coach
Greg O'Connor said. "Playing a neighboring
school, and all the kids know each other, it makes
for a fun game."
Backus caught two touchdown
passes and finished with 116 receiving yards,
Larkin scored two touchdowns on the ground and had
77 yards on nine carries, and Bateman completed
four of five attempts for 155 yards for
Schuylerville, which is in a fight with Corinth
for the second seed and a home game in the Class C
playoffs. The Horses host Stillwater next Friday.
Bain finished with 48 rushing
yards on nine carries, and completed five of 15
passes for 69 more yards to pace Greenwich, which
hosts Hoosick Falls next Friday. Hoosick Falls
beat Granville 36-0 Friday night to pull into a
tie with Greenwich; both at 3-3, in what should be
a win-and-you're into the Class C sectionals.
"That's the way I would
expect that game to go -- the winner's in and the
loser's out -- and that's our homecoming,"
Linnett said. "For the seniors that's the
last chance to make a sectional appearance. So
we've got a lot to play for.
"But there is a difference
in the talent levels of Class C," Linnett
said. "And we saw it tonight -- we played
great, but that's a pretty good team over there
and they showed it."
Schuylerville 0 21 20 6 -- 47
Greenwich 0 6 0 6 -- 12
Second quarter
S --
Larkin 4 run (Patrick kick),
11:54
S --
Thomas 62 interception return
(Patrick kick), 8:12
G --
D.Stout 9 run (pass failed),
4:21
S --
Backus 64 pass from Bateman
(Patrick kick), 1:21
Third quarter
S --
Casimano 14 run (kick failed),
9:26
S --
Larkin 1 run (Casimano pass from
Bateman), 4:52
S --
Backus 52 pass from Bateman
(kick failed), 1:00
Fourth quarter
S --
Lyon 3 run (run failed), :20
G --
D.Stout 96 kickoff return (pass
failed), 0:00
TEAM STATISTICS
Schuy Green
First downs 18 6
Rushes-yards 42-217 24-67
Passing yards 155 69
Comp-Att-Int 4-5-1 6-15-2
Punts-ave 1-35.0 4-24.3
Fumbles-lost 5-2 1-1
Penalties-yards 3-22 3-15
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING --
Schuylerville: Larkin 9-77,
Bateman 12-38, Casimano 8-48, Vasquez 1-(-10),
Lyon 5-36, Ekblom 3-12, Backus 4-16. Greenwich:
C.Stout 5-7, D.Stout 10-12, E.Bain 9-48.
PASSING --
Schuylerville: Bateman 4-5-155,
2 TD, Int. Greenwich: E.Bain 5-15-70, 2 Ints.
RECEIVING --
Schuylerville: Thomas 1-34,
Backus 2-116, Casimano 1-5. Greenwich: D.Stout
4-58, Steinberg 1-11, McCormick 1-0.
MISSED FIELD GOALS --
None.
|