by Gary Danforth
The second time around for a high school football game between home standing Hoosick Falls Central School and the visiting Corinth Central School Tomahawks last Friday evening, October 31, Halloween night, turned out to be a scary proposition for the Hoosick Falls Panthers as Ron Jones’ team dropped a 32-27 season ending decision in a Class C crossover game. The Panthers, who had beaten the Tomahawks in Corinth earlier this year in a regular season overtime win, couldn’t stop the Corinth offense as HFCS ended up 6-3, overall and 5-1 in Class C North division play. The Hoosick Falls squad finished second in their division to 6-0 Schuylerville while the Corinth team had finished 3-3 in divisional play and 5-4 overall. Hoosick Falls was beaten in the Class C quarterfinals 22-19 by Watervliet while Corinth was bounced by Chatham 70-20.
Hoosick Falls jumped off to a 6-0 lead when freshman Tanner Williams returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score. Ryan Corbin booted the point after touchdown for a 7-0 Panther lead. Then senior Panther quarterback Kevin Woods hit wide-out Greg Stifter for a 59 yard scoring pass to give HFCS a 13-0 lead. The PAT kick failed so the score remained 13-0.
Corinth got back into the game when Tyler Nicholson found Broderick Roberge with a 24 yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion run was unsuccessful so the Panthers led 13-6. Corinth edged closer, 13-12, when Chris Dumoulin returned a Panther pass 70 yards for a score and the conversion points run failed. The half ended with HFCS ahead, 13-12.
The Tomahawks’ C.J. Saunders returned the second half kickoff 80 yards for a score. His successful two point conversion run put Corinth in the lead, 20-13. The Panthers Alex Hansen scored on a 21 yard run in period three to get HFCS to 20-19. Corbin added the PAT boot to tie the score at 20-20.
But Corinth struck again. This time Jordan Charbonneau gathered in a twelve yard touchdown pass from Nicholson to push Corinth’s advantage to 26-20. The two point conversion was no good.
In the fourth quarter Saunders broke free for a 29 yard touchdown run to give Corinth a 32-20 lead. The conversion run failed. Woods hit junior Kevin McMahon with a six yard touchdown pass to narrow the Panthers deficit to 32-26. Corbin added the PAT boot to get HFCS to 32-27. But it was too little, too late for HFCS.
Under the Goalposts: Watervliet upset previously unbeaten Chatham by a 20-3 score in one Class C semi-final to take some of the sting out of the Panthers’ quarterfinal loss to the Cannoneers. HFCS caught Watervliet on the upswing as the now 7-2 Watervliet squad will take on 9-0 Schuylerville in the Class C final on Friday night at Columbia High School. I can’t see Watervliet staying anywhere near Schuylerville The Black Horses are a very good offensive team with quick strike ability and a very stingy defense. The Black Horses may be good enough to get to the Carrier Dome to play for the State Class C title. It will take a very good balanced team to beat Schuylerville.
Hoosick Falls had a good season but no team is in Schuylerville’s class. The Horses will prove that Friday night. The Panthers’ record, 6-3 and 5-1, are good overall and divisional records by any standard.