by Steve Bradley
Last Sunday the Hoosick Falls Fighting Irish met the Cambridge Tigers for the Northeast Youth Football League Super Bowl. Each year the Super Bowl is held at the home field of one of the league members. This year the game was held in West Rutland, VT, on the home field of the Vermont Vipers of Poultney, VT. The day was sunny and crisp, a perfect early November day for a football game. Cars in the parking lots were window painted in their owners’ team colors and support for their favorite players. Both teams’ supporters lined the sidelines and anticipation was high for players, coaches and spectators alike. The Fighting Irish were entering the game with an 8 – 0 record, the Cambridge Tigers were 7 – 1, their lone loss being a hard fought, no holds barred contest against HF, which resulted in a 12 – 0 HF win.
After player and cheerleader introductions, the team captains met at midfield for the coin toss. Hoosick Falls won the toss and elected to receive the kickoff. These games are played on an 80-yard field, with the 40 being midfield.
On the kickoff, HF kick returner Andrew Hoag brought the ball out to the HF 35 yard line. For the next seven plus minutes the Irish methodically moved down the field, mostly behind the power running of fullback Mark “Little Bull” Hackett. The final play of this time consuming drive was a dive up the middle by running back Jake Bakaitis into the end zone, giving the Irish a 6 – 0 lead. The PAT was no good.
The Tigers received the kickoff and started at their own 29-yard line. Their first drive resulted in a HF interception by Irish defensive back Garrett Wright. HF could not get a sustained drive going on this possession, and had to punt. The Tigers fumbled the punt, and Shane Richards recovered to give the Irish the ball back. The Irish would take this possession down the field and end the drive by scoring on a dive by Andrew Hoag. HF misfired on the PAT. The score was 12 – 0 at the 8:15 mark of the second quarter. This gave a little breathing room to the Irish, but the feeling wouldn’t last long, not even for one minute.
Hoosick Falls lofted the kickoff to Tiger kick returner Alex Messina. Messina took the kickoff, and ten seconds later he was standing in the HF end zone after a beautiful 55-yard return. The PAT was good, and the score was 12 ą 8, with 8:30 remaining in the second quarter.
On the Cambridge kickoff, the ball rolled toward the sideline near the HF 30 yard line, and a Tiger fell on the ball for a Cambridge possession. Cambridge moved to the 4-yard line, where a pass play to Tiger Alex Messina resulted in a score. The PAT was no good. With 5:40 left in the second quarter, the Hoosick Falls Fighting Irish trailed 14 – 12. This was the first time the Irish had trailed in a game all season, and they were not happy about this situation at all.
After the Tigers kicked off, HF started their next drive at their own 35. Colby Davendonis got loose for a 30 yard gain to put HF at the Cambridge 6 for a first and goal to go. Mark Hackett bulled in from 1 yard out behind the power blocking of the HF offensive line. The PAT was good, and the Irish had regained momentum and a 20 ą 14 lead.
The rest of the first half remained scoreless, although the Irish did have two back to back TD plays nullified for penalties in the last 3 minutes.
After the break, the two teams went at it throughout the third quarter, holding each other scoreless. Early in the fourth quarter, HF had a fourth and 5 from the Tigers 30 yard line when quarterback Garrett Wright rolled to his right and found fullback Mark Hackett crossing in front of him. Hackett received the short pass and proceeded to haul himself and much of Tigers defense down the field and into the end zone. The PAT was no good. With 10:30 left in the fourth quarter, the Irish held a 26 ą 14 lead. The Irish players, coaches and supporters thought maybe, just maybe, they could relax, just a little. They couldn’t.
On the ensuing kickoff, Alex Messina pulled in the ball and took off. In a return that looked like an instant replay of his first one, he tore through the Irish kickoff team just like he had in the first half. Eight seconds and 60 yards later he was in the end zone, and that sigh the HF faithful had breathed moments earlier was a distant memory. With the PAT no good, the score was HF 26 ą Cambridge 20.
This score would hold until the Irish gained possession at the seven minute mark. The Irish would move down the field to the Cambridge 3. With 5:29 on the clock, Andrew Hoag took the hand-off and headed to his left on a sweep, ending up in the end zone. Once again, the PAT was no good. Hoosick Falls now led 32 ą 20.
The Cambridge Tigers tried to come back, but the Irish defense would make sure no breaks fell their way. With 2:30 showing on the game clock, Garrett Wright intercepted a pass that put the game away. Hoosick Falls ran out the clock, and the entire team erupted in celebration.
Upon returning to Hoosick Falls, the team was met by fire trucks, sirens, flashing lights and about 40 horn-honking, flasher-flashing cars. After being led around the Village to let everyone know they had successfully defended their title, they and every one associated with them went to the Hoosick Falls Fire Dept. community room for a pizza party.
Bleacher Chatter: The Irish have now won three consecutive Super Bowls and a combined 27 regular, playoff and Super Bowl games in a row. The Irish defense was, as usual, all take and no give. The Irish defensive linemen really unloaded when tackling, and you could hear the hits from the sidelines. There is little, if any, difference when substitutions are made as the subs made their presence known. Linebackers filled the holes and attacked. Defensive backs were a threat to intercept any pass thrown in their areas. On the offensive side, the linemen protected their quarterback and opened gaping holes for their running backs. Hoosick Falls Central head football coach Ron Jones is probably already looking forward to having this group move in to his domain. Cambridge Tiger Alex Messina had a great game, scoring all three Cambridge TDs. Unsuccessful PATs could have presented a big problem for HF. Hats off to Head coach Ed Wright, along with assistants Charlie Costantino, Don Skott, Andrew LaBarge, Ken Marbot and Nug Yavaniski. This is a time consuming endeavor, and these coaches do a great job with these kids. There is much more than just football taught during a player’s time spent on this team.