By RYAN HAYNER
Staff Writer
TUPPER LAKE — Potsdam coach Jim Kirka wasn't sure what to expect from his team against the Lumberjacks despite scrimmaging them week ago.
The Sandstoners made him pleasantly surprised with a commanding 38-14 win over Tupper Lake at Frank Tice Field Friday in the first week of Northern Football Conference action.
Zac Linsky rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns, Jesse Bradish added 81 yards and three scores as Potsdam's ground game churned up 347 yards on 44 carries.
"It's something we pride ourselves on," Kirka said. "We can run the football against just about everybody. The linemen take pride in it."
The Sandstoners dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball, limiting Tupper Lake's offense to 179 yards, with 71 coming in the fourth quarter. The Lumberjacks only offensive score came in the final five minutes of the game.
"These guys, they put the most time in (and) they will see the most rewards," Kirka said of his linemen. "They are big and strong and they know we are going to win and lose games on their back."
Potsdam (1-0) dictated the pace on its first possession, rushing 10 times for 68 yards, capped by a 1-yard scoring plunge by Linsky.
By halftime, the Sandstoners led 24-0 while tallying 198 yards and three touchdowns on the ground on just 24 carries.
"I'm proud of our D-line, we're a pretty tough team there, but this was a big line coming at us and they just manhandled us," Tupper Lake coach Dennis Klossner said.
Potsdam passed just once, a 17-yard completion from John Coleman to Josh Adams on a 4th-and-14 play in the third quarter.
Tupper Lake hurt itself with two turnovers in the first half, including an interception on the Sandstoners' 25-yard line in the second quarter.
The Lumberjacks ended their scoring drought when Jordan Garrow returned a kickoff 77 yards following a Potsdam touchdown that opened up the third quarter.
The Sandstoners responded with an eight-play, 63-yard drive — including Coleman's 4th-down throw — that finished with Linsky's second touchdown of the night to make it 38-7.
Tupper Lake (0-1) added another touchdown when freshman quarterback Morgan Stevens connected with Kyle Keniston for an 8-yard score late in the fourth.
Josh Facteau led the Lumberjacks with 74 yards on 13 carries, while Garrow finished with 97 all-purpose yards.
"We finished well, but we got to get a better start against anybody — we have to have a better start," Klossner said.
E-mail Ryan Hayner at: rhayner@pressrepublican.com
