| BataviasBest.org
Thursday, October 9, 2014
As we begin Week 6 in the GR League, the Attica Blue Devils seem to have secured first place for the time being. Although they will face two tough opponents in the season’s final weeks (ND and OA), the Blue Devils have won each of their games this year by wide margins and I would be surprised if they continued to do anything but. As for the remaining six teams in the league, Notre Dame, Alexander and Elba sit tied in second place, while Oakfield, Holley and Pembroke round out the list in fifth, sixth, and seventh place respectively.
Highlighting the weekend will be the first of the three Friday night games on the schedule, as Elba/Byron-Bergen will welcome Cardinal O’Hara for what will be the first night game played at B-B High School since the two teams joined forces a few years back.
“I know our athletes and families are very excited,” said Elba head coach Mike Cintorino last night. “Its something that’s been in the works for three years now and it will be great to see it come to fruition on Friday night. A lot of people had to work behind the scenes to get this done and all the credit in the world goes to the parents who pulled for this, the administration at both schools, and the entire SOAR Committee.
The Lancers, who had previously played under the rented lights in Elba the past two seasons, will come into this game at 3-2 in the league after riding a roller coaster of emotions the past three weeks. Following a late-game loss to Notre Dame a few weeks ago in Batavia, Elba was able to find their way back on track in Week 4 against a tough Oakfield team, but went back to heartbreak a week ago versus Attica.
“I thought Attica made some good adjustments (last week) and by the time we were able to figure it out, we were down,” said Cintorino. “Fundamentally we need to play better on both sides of the ball if we want to compete with teams like Attica.”
This week, Elba will face a 2-3 Cardinal O’Hara team who recently was ramrodded by Attica just a few weeks ago by a score of 46-12. Against the Hawks, Lancers’ Senior Andrew Gottler believes his team can bounce back this week.
“It’s going to take focus, enthusiasm and mental toughness,” Gottler said, “Plain and simple. We have to get over it (the loss to Attica) and get to work because these next two are important.”
He also added how he believes as a group, against the Blue Devils, Elba got away from what had made them successful all season long.
“We lost track of what we needed to get done,” he added. “We stayed in it mentally but we just cracked fundamentally.”
In addition to Gottler’s comments last night, tight end John Hochmuth also spoke about what he believed would be key in obtaining a victory tomorrow night.
“Our theme this week is simply ‘Lancer Football'”, he said. “Last game we were all over the place. This week we have been getting back to playing ‘Lancer Football’.”
As far as the team as a whole is concerned, their head coach believes they have what it takes to overcome their recent misfortune, and forge a comeback that will push them into the postseason.
“It really is a great group of young men,” said their head coach. “Many of them I coach in the spring as well and I also see plenty of them throughout the year in the weight room. I have watched many of them grow up as they were still in elementary school when I began coaching the Varsity team here. We are still a pretty young team and I look forward to watching them continue to grow. Hopefully we get to spend at least another month together.”
In addition to the Elba-Cardinal O’Hara game on Friday night, Holley heads to Oakfield for a matchup between the fifth and sixth place teams in the league.
Losing a battle to Alexander a week ago, the Hornets come into this one on a surprising two-game losing streak, during which they have seemed to play quality football in stretches.
“We need to continue to focus and stay positive going forward,” said OA head coach Brian Palone last night. “We are playing good football.”
Hosting their second straight home game this week, Palone believes the familiarity that comes with their own territory will only help his team against a Hawks team who is hot as of late.
“I think playing at home helps,” said Palone. “Holley is playing good football the last few weeks so we need to be ready.”
As far as what the Hornets need to do in order to prepare for this week, Junior Allen Chatt believes a few things will help their chances against the Hawks.
“We need to get our defense back on track,” he said, “and establish a run game like we had earlier this season.”
In addition to Chatt’s comments, OA’s Zac Tacy also had his own thoughts on Friday’s game.
“We need to focus on the details,” he said. “At this point in the season, a game will come down to whoever executes so that’s our focus.”
The Hornet’s Devon Schroeder also believes the entire team’s ability to concentrate on the task at hand, rather than their previous failures will help them this week.
“After these past two weeks,” Schroeder said, “We are disappointed in the losses knowing that we could have played better – but we are still keeping our heads up.”
Holley, coming off a multi-possession shellacking of the Pembroke Dragons last week, will come into this one ready to put up a strong fight against a talented Oakfield team. Using a high-volume rushing attack with a few passes mixed in, Holley will provide the Hornets with a tough challenge on defense and carry two straight games of sound play into this match up.
Rounding out the Friday night contests, Pembroke will head to Alexander for what is sure to be a great game. Although the Dragons come into this game without a win, and the Trojans sit in second place after coming out on top in two straight, I believe these two square up rather evenly and will provide the fans with plenty of excitement tomorrow night.
Dropping a tough one to Holley a week ago, Pembroke moves on to the Trojans, carrying over a few bright spots from their previous game. While RB Cal Neurohr was able to scamper for multiple touchdowns, and their QB Mitch Lewter found room to run in the second half against Holley, the Dragons hope to build on that and come away with their ever-elusive first victory this week.
“If we can get everybody to play with the same mindset and remain physical for the whole game, and not just part of it, we can win this week,” said Lewter. ” That’s our problem. A lot of our guys don’t play as hard at the end of the game as they do in the start of the game. If we get everyone to play hard and do their job like we have to start games, we would be better as a team. Every game this year we have scored first but then everyone lets up. Unfortunately it has cost us.”
Although effort may be lacking at times throughout their first five games this season, the heart among the Dragons’ team remains intact.
“I believe the Juniors just want to help give the Seniors a season we won’t regret or forget,” said Neurohr. “We are a close family like that. Just knowing that we have had great teams in the past and having that knowledge just makes you want to succeed.”
Unlike Pembroke, however, the Trojans come into this one as hot as can be. Winning each of their past two games convincingly against Holley and Oakfield, Alexander looks prime to make a run at sole possession of second place this week.
“We just need to stay focused,” said Trojans’ WR/KR Sam Browne. “We have had a great week of practice so far and we will not take any team lightly no matter who we face.”
A big reason for their recent success, in Browne’s opinion, has been the high sense of leadership amongst the upper class men in the locker room. He, along with fellow Senior Tyler Laird have seemed to provide this group with the energy they need to compete on a daily basis.
“Tyler Laird and myself made sure everyone is ready to play,” Browne said, “Like its the last game they will ever play.
Along with the leadership duo in Alexander, under class men Derek Busch has also stepped up in a big way to help his team. Increasing his role throughout the season both offensively and defensively, Busch has provided his team with a much-needed boost throughout several of their victories this year.
“Derek Busch, being as young as he is, brings it every game for us,” added Browne. “He is always playing almost a captain on the field and helping anyone who does something wrong figure out what they need to do and how to do it. He is always pumped and it spreads to the team as well.”
Collectively, the Trojans have plenty of reasons for their increased success as of late. However, running back Tristan Aldinger believes a few things have been key.
“We have played tough, hard-nosed football and have been working together as a team,” he said about their previous couple of victories.
Adding to those comments, Aldinger also spoke about what he believes will be most important this week heading into their matchup with a winless team.
“Hard work and keeping the right mindset,” he said. “We have to make sure we don’t get over-confident since we are facing a team that has been struggling.”
Keeping a level head will be key for the Trojans this weekend.
Completing the weekend slate on Saturday, our Game of the Week will feature Notre Dame and Attica, two teams who have been equally hot as of late. With the Irish coming off a quality win over CG Finney a week ago and the Blue Devils approaching this week after rolling over Elba in their last game, each side has been clicking on all cylinders and will likely provide what I expect to be a massive crowd with a great display of football.
When I asked Attica head coach Rob Cusmano what he thought of the Irish after seeing them on film, he had glowing praise for the young team.
“They are very fast on defense, they fly to the ball,” he said, “And they have two good running backs on offense. They can run the ball and Zickl is doing a nice job at quarterback for them.”
Along with Cusmano’s raving review of the ND quarterback, his teammates also commented on what he has meant to this team’s success as of late.
“He has came in and got the job done,” said WR Josh Johnson. “He hasn’t really turned it over either. He knows what he is doing and acts as a leader on the field as well.”
“We are all trying to do our 1/11 and work towards the team goal – a sectional title,” said WR Casey Midwick. “Joe’s Senior leadership is a part of that and also plays a big role in how the offense operates and executes.”
This week, the Irish have the daunting task of slowing down a vaunted Attica offensive attack that has ran all over opposing defenses all season long, no matter who has been in the backfield. With starting running back Jake Strzelec finally fully healthy, their task has just become even more difficult.
“We game plan everyday in practice to prepare for the game,” added Midwick. “Our goal is to minimize mistakes/penalties, execute on offense, play sound defense, and ultimately do our 1/11.”
“The line on both sides of the ball needs to keep performing as well as they have been,” said Johnson. “If they can do that, we have enough skill players that can make the plays that are given.”
With the first place team coming to town, it will be interesting to see how this young Notre Dame team responds when faced with such a big game. For the Irish, Spencer Misiak admits this is not just another game.
“This game is bigger than most for sure,” Misiak said. “Its a must-win in order to make Sectionals, with the most important thing for us being our ability to put up points on offense. Our defense has been great this year and if we can put up enough on offense, it should be enough to beat Attica.”
Although I expect a quality game on Saturday afternoon, it will take Notre Dame’s best effort to drop the Blue Devils.
All in all, I believe we have another great week in store throughout the world of GR Football. With second place still up for grabs, as well as plenty of jostling for post season position taking place throughout the weekend, I can’t wait to see how it all shakes out come Sunday morning.
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