by Gary Danforth
The NFL has four preseason games and now the Hoosick Falls Central School football team has completed its first four 2009 regular season games in what amounted to warm up games for the rest of the season. Last Friday night, September 25, in one of the most lopsided displays of competition seen in recent years, Ron Jones’ Panther eleven thoroughly outplayed a struggling Stillwater Central School team to the tune of 51-6. What can you say about a game which saw the Panthers ahead 19-0 with 7:29 remaining in the first quarter. This game was about as competitive as fishing in a rain barrel. Hoosick Falls scored early and often to take any suspense out the game in the first six minutes. HFCS ran their Northern Class C record to 4-0 while Stillwater dropped to 0-4. Let me tell you, Hoosick Falls won by a 51-6 margin, but the game wasn’t nearly that close. Jones put underclassmen in the game long before the first half horn sounded and still the score expanded. It wasn’t pretty. But it did serve as another warm up for the next three weeks. Hoosick Falls entertains Rensselaer and Cambridge on October 2 and 9, respectively, and then travels to Corinth on October 16. The Panthers will get all they want from those three upcoming opponents. The preseason is over. But back to last Friday night.
HFCS took a 6-0 lead when junior quarterback Mike Brewster rolled left and hit senior running back Alex Hansen in the flat with a five yard TD pass. The Panthers blocked the Warriors fourth down punt on the game’s first series. HFCS scored on their fifth play on a third and goal play. The conversion points play was no good.
Panther sophomore David Couch intercepted Stillwater on a third down play on the ensuing series and returned the ball 30 yards for a 12-0 HFCS lead. The point after touchdown kick failed.
Things went from bad to worse for Stillwater. They fumbled on their ensuing kickoff, and HFCS recovered. On the first play from scrimmage, Brewster rolled right and hit a wide open senior wide out, Kevin McMahon, for a 30 yard TD pass. With 7:29 left in the opening quarter, junior place kicker Quinn Rasmus booted the PAT, good for a 19-0 Panther lead. It was over.
Both teams exchanged possessions of the football before senior Panther wide out Logan O’Brien returned a Warrior punt 35 yards to set HFCS up at the Stillwater 13 yard line. Again, Brewster rifled another touchdown pass, this one to sophomore Tanner Williams. The conversion run failed but Hoosick Falls led 25-0 with 1:05 remaining in period one.
Then disaster struck Stillwater again. O’Brien intercepted a Warrior pass and returned it to the Warrior twelve yard line. Hansen powered his way into the end zone on the next play, good for a 31-0 Panther lead with :35 left in period one. Rasmus booted the PAT to put HFCS ahead 32-0.
Stillwater could get nothing going and punted to HFCS. Hansen had a 58 yard TD gallop nullified by a penalty. Two plays
later, Hansen had a 59 yard TD run nullified by yet another Panther penalty. Staying with it, Hansen scored again on a six yard run with 3:08 left in period two, good for a 38-0 Panther lead. The PAT boot was errant as HFCS led 38-0 at the half.
Hoosick Falls opened the second half with yet another score. Freshman Bradley Burns broke free for a 34 yard TD dash down the right sideline. The PAT boot was errant, but HFCS led 44-0 with 10:44 left in period three.
Stillwater, facing Panther reserves, finally scored on a 17 yard TD pass from Dan Palmieri to Shawn McNeil with 8:10 left in period four. The PAT boot was errant as the score remained 44-6
The Panthers came back with their final score. Freshman quarterback Billy Pine scored from 16 yards out on a keeper. Rasmus booted the PAT to push the Panther advantage to 51-6 with 2:32 to play in a game which was long over.
Under the Goalposts: This Friday night, Class D Rensselaer will give HFCS all they want. The Rams have speed and are a good football team.