by Ryan Mosher
The Hoosick Falls football team’s great 2011 season came to a sudden halt on Saturday at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, NY. The Panthers took on Dobbs Ferry in the State semifinal game, with a ticket to the State Championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on the line.
On the first possession of the game, the Panther defense did a good job handling the Eagles, forcing them to punt. A fumble on the punt set Hoosick Falls up with the ball on the 44 yard line. At the end of the drive quarterback Billy Pine ran the ball in from the two yard line to get on the board with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter. Damon Dubois kicked the ball through the uprights for the extra point, only to have it waved off with a flag. The Panthers could not convert on the next attempt.
With the 6-0 Panther lead, the teams traded possessions and punts before Dobbs Ferry orchestrated a 20 play, 90 yard drive, culminating with a two yard touchdown run with :40 seconds left in the half. That drive took over nine minutes off the clock for the Eagles. With the extra point, they took a 7-6 lead into the half.
In the second half, Hoosick Falls started with the ball, only to be intercepted deep in their own territory. The Eagles pushed forward, getting to the one yard line, but the Panther defense stopped them on fourth down to get the ball back.
Panther Senior Tanner Williams put his team back on top when he scored on a 52 yard run to give Hoosick Falls the 12-7 lead. Again though, the Panthers could not convert and did not get any extra points.
In the fourth quarter, the Eagles running game continued to push the ball up the field, just as the Panthers had struggled to. With 6:33 left, Dobbs Ferry scored again on a short run to give them the 13-12 lead. They did not score on their conversion attempt, but wouldn’t need it. The Panthers late rally was highlighted by a 36 yard pass from Pine to Williams, to put them inside the 40 yard. The drive did not last unfortunately, and the Eagles took the ball back and did not give it up.
The Panthers end their season at 11-1. Williams was named Offensive Player of the Game for Hoosick Falls. Brad Burns was named Defensive Player of the Game, and Randy Tutunjian received the Sportsmanship Award.
On Monday Coach Ron Jones said, “At that level of competition, any little thing makes a big difference.” He is sure that after a few days, when the disappointment wears off, the players will realize that they had a great season. “I’m really proud of them,” he said. “They played great football. They are a great team. On and off the field they have good character. They are really good people, and they should be proud of what they have accomplished.”
