PLATTSBURGH — The Plattsburgh North Stars were clicking on all cylinders during their four-game winning streak.
On Saturday, the North Stars bumped that to five straight victories.
Plattsburgh took control of the game early with 24 first-half points and didn’t look back as it knocked off the Watertown Red & Black 31-14 in its Empire Football League regular-season finale.
Plattsburgh is off next week, but a lot can happen for the North Stars as teams jockey for playoff position. One thing is for sure — the Plattsburgh will host a game to start the playoffs.
“Hopefully we are peaking at the right time,” Plattsburgh head coach Scott Aguglia said. “Our offense is clicking full throttle, and our defense is playing tough, hard-nosed football.”
The North Stars’ first play from scrimmage was a handoff to fullback Elijah Parks, who rumbled 42 yards down to the 3-yard line. A pass interference penalty gave Plattsburgh a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
But the Red & Black’s defense stiffened and held the North Stars to an Evan White 20-yard field goal.
The second quarter, however, proved to be much better for Plattsburgh’s offense.
Harry Rascoe capped an 85-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run just 1:06 into the second quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, White found a hole in Watertown’s return unit and the North Stars recovered the live ball at the 25-yard line. Rascoe wasted no time, connecting with Andrew Price, who made an incredible catch, for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
The half would end with Plattsburgh taking a 24-0 lead after Jamil McCray hauled in a Rascoe pass and found running room for a 70-yard touchdown.
“Our receivers are very good at running with the ball after the catch,” Aguglia said. “Harry does a good job at finding the guys in open space and lets them do their thing.”
After it appeared Watertown had begun to make a comeback when Angel Hickman scampered for a 29-yard touchdown, a North Stars’ receiver made another huge play.
Just three plays after the Red & Black touchdown, Price pulled in a pass from Rascoe and took it 66 yards for the score — Plattsburgh’s final score of the game.
Watertown would answer with a four-yard run by quarterback Brian Williams but would get no closer.
Rascoe found plenty of opportunities through the air for the North Stars, completing 10 passes for 308 yards and three scores. McCray finished with 151 yards receiving, while Price also broke the 100-yard plateau with 112.
Parks led the way on the ground with 64 yards.
Watertown was led by Joe Brennan’s 105 yards rushing, while Williams added another 71. Williams also threw for 96 yards, but was picked off twice — by Plattsburgh’s Bryan Stanley and Kenny Stay.
“Our game plan was to contain their running game and keep Williams in the pocket,” Aguglia said. “And I think we did a good job at that.
“Our offense carried over what we have been doing for the past couple of weeks, and the defense played real big.”
Most of the EFL will finish its regular season next . At the conclusion of next week Plattsburgh will know who will be coming to the Plattsburgh Athletic Complex and on which date.
—
Plattsburgh 31, Watertown 14
Watertown 0 0 14 0 — 14
Plattsburgh 3 21 7 0 — 31
First quarter
P- White 20 FG, 3:36.
Second quarter
P- Rascoe 1 run (White kick), 1:06.
P- Price 25 pass from Rascoe (White kick), 1:51.
P- McCray 70 pass from Rascoe (White kick), 11:50.
Third quarter
W- Hickman 29 run (Farah kick), 7:23.
P- Price 66 pass from Rascoe (White kick), 9:36.
W- Williams 4 run (Farah kick), 12:24.
Individual statistics
Rushing
W- Brennan, 24-105; Williams, 13-71, TD; Hickman, 1-29, TD; Noel, 3-8. Totals: 41-213, 2 TD.
P- Parks, 7-64; Karnley, 5-22; McCray, 2-18; Rascoe, 5-8, TD; Nephew, 1-(-1). Totals: 20-111, TD.
Passing
W- Williams, 7-21-2-96.
P- Rascoe, 10-23-0-308, 3 TD.
Receiving
W- Cox, 5-77; Buckingham, 1-14; Noel, 1-5.
P- McCray, 3-151, TD; Price, 3-112, TD; Keleher, 2-60.
Interceptions
P- Stanley, Stay.
Sacks
W- Clark.
