Panthers overwhelm Red Storm

Sports

Related Photos

Saranac Lake's Lukas Atkinson (64) and Joe Fiorile (72) pave the way for Matt Phelan (7) while Hoosick Falls' Brandon Hodges (55) goes for the tackle. Staff Photo / Ryan Hayner

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.

comments powered by Disqus

November 13, 2011

RYAN HAYNER Sports Editor The Press Republican Sun Nov 13, 2011, 02:23 AM EST

STILLWATER — The Hoosick Falls football team is ranked No. 1 in Class C.

Saranac Lake learned why Friday night.

Brad Burns rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns, and Tanner Williams added 125 and two scores as Hoosick Falls ran over Saranac Lake, 47-13, in the NYSPHSAA Class C regional championship at Stillwater High School.

The explosive Panthers (11-0) racked up 403 yards on the ground against the Red Storm, averaging 9.6 yards per carry. They avenged a 15-12 overtime loss to Saranac Lake in the regional championship last year.

Hoosick Falls scored on its opening drive with ease and led 19-0 after the first quarter.

Trailing 34-7 late in the second quarter, the Red Storm scored on a 9-yard run by Matt Phelan to cut the deficit to 34-13.

But too many fruitless trips into Hoosick Falls' territory and the red zone proved too much to overcome.

The Panthers fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Saranac Lake recovered. Phelan drove the Red Storm down to the 14, but his throw as time expired was picked off in the end zone.

Saranac Lake took the opening drive of the second half into the red zone, reaching the 10-yard line with a fresh set of downs. But the Red Storm got no closer than the 3 before being stopped for no gain on fourth down.

After forcing a punt, the Red Storm turned the ball over when Hoosick Falls' Harry Tutunjian stripped it away. The Panthers marched down the field and made it 41-13 on a 14-yard quarterback keeper by Billy Pine, who added 66 yards on the ground.

"We just clearly made too many mistakes today to compete with a team like Hoosick Falls," Saranac Lake coach Eric Bennett said. "They are every bit as advertised. They fly to the ball and when you make mistakes — and I'm talking coaches as much as players — you're not going to come out on top against the No. 1 team in the state."

Saranac Lake's first two possessions of the game ended in Hoosick Falls territory, the second drive reaching the 28.

After Saranac Lake finally broke through on the scoreboard, a 1-yard run by Lance Ackerson, the Panthers needed just two plays to cover 63 yards. Williams rushed 28 yards to the end zone following a 35-yard catch-and-run. After a successful 2-point conversion, Hoosick Falls went up 27-7 early in the second quarter.

"We had our chances, we had our opportunities and we didn't execute," Bennett said. "In other days you can get away with not executing and comeback, but not today. Hats off to Hoosick Falls."

Bennett was especially impressed with the Panthers' backfield of Williams and Burns, as well as Pine, who also completed all four of his attempted passes for 64 yards.

"We haven't seen anything like them all year," Bennett said. "That's a talented group and a dynamic trio, I guess. They're outstanding competitors, they're fast. What else can I say? They make you miss."

Phelan led the Red Storm (8-2) with 129 yards on the ground and a touchdown, but he had trouble completing passes against an exceptional Hoosick Falls secondary. The junior signal caller completed 10-of-22 passes for 84 yards while being intercepted three times.

Josh Mulready turned one of those interceptions into a 35-yard touchdown in the first quarter for the Panthers.

Hoosick Falls held Mike Burpoe, Saranac Lake's leading receiver, to one catch for three yards. Devin Darrah, injured after being upended in the end zone, fought through the pain and finished with four catches for 53 yards in his last game for the Red Storm.

"We're hoping this game doesn't define our season," Bennett said. "I think we had a great season for a young group of kids to come out and rattle off eight straight after a difficult first loss. Obviously it hurts to lose like this, but it's certainly something we can build off of moving forward."

—

Hoosick Falls 47, Saranac Lake 13

Saranac Lake 0 13 0 0 — 13

Hoosick Falls 19 15 7 6 — 47

First quarter

HF- Burns 24 run (kick missed), 2:06.

HF- Williams 33 run (run failed), 9:43.

HF- Mulready 35 interception return (Dubois kick), 10:03.

Second quarter

SL- Ackerson 1 run (Dora kick), 0:43.

HF- Williams 28 run (Williams pass from Tutunjian), 1:22.

HF- Burns 5 run (Dubois kick), 7:38.