Red Storm, Panthers set for Round 2

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Mike Burpoe (44) and the Saranac Lake Red Storm will play Hoosick Falls tonight in the NYSPHSAA Class C football regionals. Staff Photo / Ryan Hayner

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November 11, 2011

RYAN HAYNER Sports Editor The Press Republican Fri Nov 11, 2011, 02:23 AM EST

SARANAC LAKE — Last year, Saranac Lake defeated Hoosick Falls in the NYSPHSAA regionals with an overtime field goal.

Time for Round 2.

The Red Storm will once again face off against the Panthers, Section II's undefeated Class C champion, in the regional round of the state playoffs. The two teams will meet 7 p.m. tonight at Stillwater High School.

Saranac Lake expects Hoosick Falls to come in with a little extra motivation considering how last season's contest turned out. The Red Storm rallied from a 12-0 halftime deficit and blocked a Panthers field-goal attempt with seconds left in regulation.

Forrest Morgan's 34-yard field goal in overtime sent the Red Storm to Kingston and the Panthers home.

"They're looking for revenge, and we're excited," said Saranac Lake lineman Lukas Atkinson, the lone returning starter from 2010. "They got a lot on their shoulders. We're excited to see what we can do with them."

The Red Storm will have their hands full.

The Panthers (10-0) come into tonight's matchup averaging 48.2 points per game while limiting opponents to 9.6.

They advanced to state play by handing previously unbeaten Fonda a 32-7 loss in the Section II Class C title game.

Hoosick Falls, the top-ranked team in the state, has won all 10 of its games by at least 25 points.

"They are as explosive as it gets with very few tendencies," Saranac Lake coach Eric Bennett said. "They're an extremely well-coached team. They execute, they're precise — we got our hands full."

The Panthers have an explosive backfield tandem of Tanner Williams and Brad Burns.

Williams has a team-high 1,123 yards and is averaging 14.8 yards per carry. Burns has 962 yards and a team-best 22 rushing scores.

Junior quarterback Billy Pine has thrown for 1,317 yards, 16 touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 58.7 percent of his passes. He also has 472 rushing yards and four scores.

"It's very clear that they want to establish the run, feed their horses and if they need to they can go to the air," Bennett said.

Saranac Lake, ranked sixth in the state, has put up similarly gaudy numbers as a team. The Red Storm (8-1) average 40.3 points per game while yielding 14.

They defeated AuSable Valley, 57-16, in the Section VII/X title game.

Junior quarterback Matt Phelan has excelled in his first year under center. Phelan, completing 64.2 percent of his passes, has thrown for 1,357 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions.

On the ground, Phelan leads the team with 705 yards and 11 scores.

His top target is fellow junior Mike Burpoe, who has been receiving throws from Phelan dating back to PAL football. Burpoe has 24 receptions for 499 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Devin Darrah has 20 receptions for 467 yards and eight scores.

Burpoe credits the coaching staff for the consistency year-to-year despite personnel changes. The offense has new starters at 10 positions and is averaging just a few points less than 2010.

"I've never met a group of guys like them," Burpoe said. "They really are all on board, every single one of them."

Of course, prolific offenses don't always translate at the state level. Last year's meeting between the two squads ended 15-12.

"We know it's going to be a battle, and our kids are focused. As long as they come ready to play, we hope to give our best effort and come out on top."

—

Saranac Lake Red Storm

Section VII/X Champions

Head coach: Eric Bennett

Record: 8-1

State ranking: 6

How they got here: Defeated AuSable Valley 57-16 in Sec. VII/X Class C championship.

Points for: 363 Points against: 127

Individual statistics

Rushing

Att. Yds. Avg. TD

Matt Phelan 80 705 8.8 11