| BataviasBest.org
Thursday, September 18, 2014
First place is on the line this week with Attica (2-0) and Elba (2-0) each looking to retain their spot atop the standings. One game back on the loss side, Alexander (1-1) and Oakfield (1-1) also enter Week 3 within striking distance while Notre Dame, Pembroke and Holley bring up the rear, each at 0-2.
Two league match ups will begin ‘Rivalry Week’ in the GR as Attica faces-off with Alexander at 7:00 Friday night and Pembroke heads to Oakfield for a 7 o’clock start as well.
In preparation for the Blue Devils this week, the Alexander Trojans have been doing all they can in hopes of knocking off what I believe to be the GR’s top-team. I had a chance to speak with their head coach Tim Sawyer late last night, and he shed some light on where his team is at right now.
“Where do we go from 1-1?,” Sawyer asked, “We will know more after we play Friday night. Attica is a very good team and seem to be very deep with talent. Nobody has stopped them yet but we are excited for the match up.”
Following a tough loss to CG Finney in Week 1 followed by a well-deserved victory a week ago at home versus Notre Dame, Sawyer’s team has shown they are capable of slowing down a vaunted Attica offense when they face one another tomorrow night, but will need to pick up where they left off defensively against the Irish in order to do so; although it will not be easy.
Due in large part to an incredibly strong running game, the Blue Devils have been the definition of unstoppable thus far in 2014. Possessing two great running backs in Jake Strzelec and Nick Shadbolt, Attica has consistently run rough shod over opponents since the second quarter of Week 1 and hope to continue to do so going forward.
“It feels good that the two of them (Strzelec and Shadbolt) continue to run hard and feed off of each other,” said Attica head coach Rob Cusmano about his two horses. He also added, “The outside weapons we have really open it up for them as well.”
In addition to the run game, highlighting the list of weapons on the outside for the Blue Devils has been Alex Piechocki. The big-bodied tight end, who was a man amongst boys during Week 1 at Holley, stands at 6’5″ tall but has athletic ability that stands up with any other player in the entire league.
“He (Piechocki), is very athletic for how big he is and works very hard in practice everyday,” said Cusmano about his big tight end.
In a week where he didn’t see much action, largely due to the breakout performance of Shadbolt, Piechocki and quarterback Damien Marchetti hope to re-create their success from the game against the Hawks, this week against the Trojans. Marchetti, who has completed 3 touchdown passes so far this season, is also the team’s kicker and has provided this offense with a sense of comfort unknown to many other teams around the GR.
As what I believe to be the leader in successful PAT attempts this season, Marchetti has impressed me throughout the first two games with his ability to split the uprights with such consistency. In high school football, finding a quality kicker is sometimes difficult, and with Attica having one that can make the extra point each time he runs out there, is undoubtedly one of the reasons for this team’s success.
“We’re not trying to jinx anything,” added the Blue Devils’ head coach, “but it’s nice to have the point after. I think later in the game it can interfere with game plans and possessions, but right now we are just happy that it’s happening.”
On the other side of the ball for Attica, the defense has also performed admirably up to this point. Allowing just 6 points in two games thus far, Cusmano could not be more excited with their effort. When I asked him if there had been any individual performances that had stood out to him over the first two games, he quickly turned the attention to the team as a whole.
“There is really no individual week in and week out,” he said. “Anyone on the field has the ability to have a breakout game. They just mesh well as a group and that’s great to have.”
Presented with the challenge of overcoming such a strong defensive front, the Alexander offense will need to kick it into high gear on Friday night in order to be successful; something the Trojans’ head coach reiterated last night.
“Our offense must contribute more,” said Sawyer. “Offense is generally a little behind the other areas early in the season, and we also have 8 underclassmen starting on offense so we just need time to get better.”
After a difficult game against Notre Dame a week ago during which the Trojan offense scored just 16 points, it will be vital for this unit to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers early in the game in hopes of gaining ground to the outside, which will in-turn set up the inside run. If there has been one thing that I have noticed about the two games I have had the opportunity to see the Attica defense play, it has been that if you are able to run between the tackles with success, you can move the ball against this team. Giving Alexander the best chance to do so will be Tyler Laird.
Laird accumulated 114 yards and 1 TD over the first two weeks and hopes to further his impressive campaign this week. Averaging over 7-yards per carry a season ago, Laird continues to show the ability to dominate opposing defenses when given the opportunity. In addition to the big fullback, Alex Hadsall, Tim Calkins and Tristan Aldinger have also ran the ball with success for the Trojans.
“They are pretty diverse and pretty good all-around for a young team,” said Cusmano. “Laird is a good player on both sides of the ball.”
Knowing the challenge will be a tough one to overcome this weekend when his team goes up against the Blue Devils, Alexander’s head coach has plenty of confidence and belief in his team’s ability. Impressed most with the defensive effort his team put forth a week ago against the Irish, Sawyer believed in a game where the Trojans’ weaknesses were exposed, their ability to hang on and beat a historically-sound Notre Dame team was something to hold on to.
Crediting the effort in large part to his defense and the great job his defensive coordinator (McCracken) has done with the impressive group, Sawyer mentioned this year’s team loves to hit, making defense their favorite side of the ball this season. However, he acknowledges that regardless of the result against a great Attica team, his team will move forward with the same state of mind they have currently.
“Whatever the result of this week’s game we will move forward,” Sawyer said. “We have a saying in our program … ‘The most important game is the next game.’ We continue to look forward and will wait and see where the season goes. I am honored to coach such a good group of young men.”
This contest is shaping up to be one of the best so far this season and I can’t wait to see what happens. In other exciting game action on Friday night, the Pembroke Dragons will enter the Oakfield Hornets’ house in search of their first victory of the season. The Hornets, who lost a heartbreaker at Nichols a week ago, are hoping to make a push for first place in Week 3.
Dominating the ball for much of the game last Saturday, Oakfield was simply unable to finish the game versus the Vikings. Allowing long run, after long run during the second half to a couple of quality running backs, the Hornets’ defense will be called upon this week to provide a better effort late in the game. When I spoke with OA head coach Brian Palone yesterday, the word finish came up quite often.
“We have been focusing on the word FINISH this week,” said Palone. “We need to be more focused and not let up late in the game. We took some plays off and that can’t happen this week. Pembroke is well-coached and we will have to be ready to play. It’s important that we are ready after that tough loss.”
Pembroke, who dropped a tough one 35-6 against Attica a week ago, will present the Hornets with the task of stopping two quality running backs in Dakota Swimline and Cal Neurohr. Both have shown the ability to break out at any given time for the Dragons, highlighted by a few big runs during the second half against the Blue Devils. Although they have struggled to complete drives and find the end zone thus far, the Pembroke rushing attack will continue to provide them with chances throughout the remainder of the season.
Something that has prevented the Dragons from stringing together long drives so far, has been the inefficiency of their passing game. Largely due to an inferior offensive line, Pembroke seemed to struggle mightily through the air a week ago versus the Blue Devils and will need to improve upon their performance if they hope to keep up with teams going forward. With a quarterback who certainly possesses a quality arm (Mitch Lewter) and several great athletes lining up on the outside, if the Dragons’ men in the trenches can provide a little bit more time for their playmakers, big things can start to happen within the offense.
Hoping to continue to thwart their attack however, the OA defense is in need of a big game in this one according to QB/DB Allen Chatt, who I spoke with last night.
“Defense for sure will be most important this week,” said Chatt. “A very improved Pembroke team and a good offense will be a big test for us. But if we play to our full ability we will be fine.”
Chatt believes his team improved from Week 1 to Week 2, but remarked that they only competed in one half versus the Vikings. Acknowledging the need for a complete game this week, he and his teammates believe they can become a ‘full-game team’ who has the ability to close out games when they need to. Along with their quarterback, another key factor in this week’s game will be the status of RB Ryan Emery, who took several big shots last week which led to some leg issues.
When I spoke with Emery earlier this week on Sunday, the Hornets running back said he was “pretty sore” but informed me that the troubles he was experiencing were mainly cramps and that they had been improving since the game the day before. Following up on that conversation, when I asked Palone about Emery’s status for this week he said the two-way player should be “good to go”.
With both teams at full strength for Week 3, this game is sure to be a classic which I believe will light up the scoreboard.
Following the pair of Friday night match ups, Notre Dame versus Elba highlights the list of Saturday’s ‘Rivalry Week’ action, while CG Finney will head to Holley for a non-league contest with the Hawks; each game beginning at 1:30. Taking into account the long-standing rivalry that is Elba-Notre Dame, this Saturday should be a lot of fun.
Coming into this week having endured one of their best starts in a few years, the Lancers hope to extend their undefeated record to 3-0 versus the Irish, who have struggled to put forth a complete effort thus far. Being such a highly-anticipated game, this week will present challenges each team has yet to face this season.
“Both schools get amped up to play each other, no matter the sport,” said Elba head coach Mike Cintorino last night. “Being around for all seasons, Elba/Byron-Bergen vs Notre Dame always has a lot of excitement from teams, fans, and the student body. If you’ve ever been around the football games, or in the gymnasiums, you know what we are talking about. It’s a great small-school rivalry.”
Using a vaunted rushing attack to their advantage over the course of the first two weeks, Elba has displayed a two-headed monster that is perhaps the most impressive in all of the GR league. With Mike Shanley and Steele Truax showing great ability to miss tackles and run for first downs with regularity throughout their first two games, it will be difficult for a young ND defense to slow the duo down.
“The nice thing about having two Senior backs is we can get them rest when rest is needed,” Cintorino added. “After suffering a minor injury last week, Shanley will be a full-go this weekend.”
Hoping to slow down the Lancers’ attack on the ground, the Notre Dame defense who performed well in their previous two match ups with Oakfield and Alexander, will have to put forth a great effort this week. With several well-sized offensive lineman to go with their big backfield, Elba presents a difficult challenge to any defense and will give the Irish all they can handle on Saturday afternoon.
As far as the Elba defense goes, they too will have to concern themselves with slowing down an impressive Notre Dame running game, which was led last week by RB Jack Sutherland. In order to walk away a winner this weekend, the Lancers will have to spotlight Sutherland, as well as WR Josh Johnson defensively, but if they are to do so I believe they will have a chance at the end.
“Playing as a team and doing their 1/11th”, said coach Cintorino when I asked him what will contribute most to his team’s defensive success this year. “Coach (Charlie) O’Geen always preaches playing team defense, not being selfish, and doing your job. Our young men have bought into his philosophy and do a nice job. As always, there’s room for improvement, but as long as they keep buying in they should continue to do well.”
I am really looking forward to this one and expect nothing but a great game for 48 minutes. Much like Notre Dame-Oakfield, the other game on Saturday, Holley versus Finney, is another case of a team in search of their first victory. Following two straight lopsided losses to the top two teams in their league, the Hawks square off against another talented opponent in the Falcons.
The Falcons, who previously defeated the Alexander Trojans in a close game, will bring plenty of athleticism to the table this weekend and in order to slow them down, the Hawks’ defense must play with much better effort than it has thus far. As I listened to the broadcast of the Elba-Holley game a week ago, the commentators continually commented on the lack of effort by Holley on the defensive side of the ball.
In contrast to what the announcers saw last week, during the first week of the season, for much of the first half against a tough Attica team, the Hawks put forth great effort and stopped the Blue Devils short of the end zone for the first 12+ minutes of the game. If Holley is to beat CG Finney this week and finally get in the win column, they will have to get back to how they played during the first quarter of Week 1, and must do so at the start of Saturday’s contest.
With all of the action coming up tomorrow night as well as Saturday afternoon, the entire county is buzzing with excitement. In addition to the classic rivalry that is Elba-Notre Dame, Attica and Alexander will also provided the masses with intense rivalry action, and will likely end closer than some may think going into the game. Either way, I expect another great weekend of football, and as always, you can follow along right here on BataviasBest.com or @BataviasBest on Twitter.
Stay tuned tomorrow for scouting reports and predictions of this weekend’s games!
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