By NICK ST. DENIS
Staff Writer
PLATTSBURGH — Not having a backup quarterback can be a problem.
Having two starting-caliber quarterbacks, however, is a problem most teams would kill for.
Ken Stay set up shop behind center Saturday night in the Plattsburgh North Stars' Empire Football League bout against previously unbeaten Watertown, filling in for injured quarterback J.D. Moore.
Stay certainly proved he had every right to be the guy calling signals, as he tossed three touchdown passes and no interceptions for 176 yards in the Stars' 21-7 victory over the Red and Black.
"He picked them apart tonight," said Stars offensive line captain Nick Moore. "That's the best game I've seen him play in the last two years."
Stay was the starting quarterback for last year's championship-bound North Stars, so he had plenty of experience to carry onto the field Saturday.
Regardless, Watertown is not the easiest team to go up against in a player's first start of the year. The Red and Black have a vicious front seven, but Plattsburgh was ready.
"The guys did a great job preparing," Stay said. "The offensive line was great."
Stay hit Trevor St. Clair in the end zone for a 31-yard scoring strike at the end of a 70-yard, 7-play drive to open the game.
St. Clair was also the recipient of Stay's last touchdown pass, a 7-yard strike that all but put the game away in the fourth quarter.
"Anything you throw his way, he'll get it," Stay said. "As a quarterback, having guys like that gives you lots of confidence."
Stay's other touchdown came on a perfect seam pass to Jordon Keleher late in the second quarter, which Keleher took 86 yards for the score.
"The corners were definitely playing soft the entire game," Stay said. "We recognized that. Jordan ran a slant down the middle and just took off with it."
Plattsburgh's offense was impressive, but it was the defense that kept Watertown from getting any momentum.
The Stars (5-1) made three crucial red-zone takeaways — two fumble recoveries inside their own 5-yard line and a Shane Racette interception on a play that started on Plattsburgh's 20. Joey Painter also grabbed a pick in the fourth quarter after letting a few slip through his hands earlier in the game.
Watertown (5-1) had a few long drives that got them into scoring territory, but Plattsburgh held tough on everything inside the 30-yard line.
"We're tough to do short-yardage stuff on because we're big and physical," Keleher said. "That's a team that averages 300 yards rushing a game.
"The only time they really got anything was to the outside when they were able to get their athletes involved, but we contained them in the option for the most part."
Watertown got its only points on a late fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Brian Williams to Earnie Wash.
Stars kicker Mitch Ryder was 3-for-3 on extra points.
Plattsburgh is slated to face the New York Stallions in Oneonta next weekend. With a victory over New York and a home-win the following week against Vermont, Plattsburgh is home for the playoffs.
"Destiny was in our hands to a degree entering the game," Keleher said. "Now, it is in our hands."
