Two storied - and currently undefeated - programs meet face to face today. Both are always in the postseason hunt, with running backs that have posted outstanding numbers this season. That's about where the similarities end between the Weedsport and Westmoreland football teams.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
The Weedsport football team practices in the high school gym on Thursday in preparation for its Section III, Class D championship game against Westmoreland at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse tonight.
The Weedsport football team practices in the high school gym on Thursday in preparation for its Section III, Class D championship game against Westmoreland at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse tonight.
The Warriors will clash with the top Class D team in the state, at the Carrier Dome tonight for the Section III, Class D title. Weedsport won its last sectional title in 2004, prior to claiming the state crown. Westmoreland, on the other hand, is the defending sectional champ in Class C (also winning a title in 2006) - handily beating Weedsport rival Cato-Meridian in the first round a year ago. This year, the Bulldogs slid down to Class D. Westmoreland was the third smallest Class C school in the section, with just nine students over the mark and are now one student under, making them one of the largest D schools. Weedsport is one of the smallest.
“It doesn't matter,” Weedsport head coach Greg Michaels said. “They're Class D, we're class D - let's go out and play. We'll both go out there and whoever is the better team will win.”
“Class C football is still football, the same as Class D,” Westmoreland head coach Tim Gates said. “We knew we'd still face good teams. We lost some kids, but we have 21 returning players this year.”
Just as the Warriors have bulldozed over most of their regular season opponents - by an average of 26.2 points per game - Westmoreland has also demolished teams to the tune of an average of 52 points per game. But both teams saw their closest contest to date last week - as Weedsport beat Watertown IHC by six points in the semifinals and Westmoreland topped Utica-Notre Dame for the second time this season, 35-20.
“Earlier in the year, we were beating teams by a lot,” Gates said. “But we knew the competition would be much improved at this stage of the game. We've had to battle and it's forced us to pick up our game.”
Westmoreland's game is the complete opposite of Weedsport's. While the Warriors have been able to run standout Brian Quigley (1,458 yards and 20 touchdowns) down the throats of opposing teams and stifle offenses with a stout defense, the Bulldogs have weapons everywhere.
“Most of their team has come back this year,” Michaels said. “They have a lot of talent and they run a wide open offense. They've got a 6-6 wide receiver - we'll have to keep (5-6) Jesse Schooley away from him. It'll be a tough matchup.”
Bulldogs quarterback Dan Smith has completed 52 of 99 passes this season for 971 yards, five picks and 13 touchdowns on top of 489 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
“He is a big, strong, athletic kid with a great arm,” Gates said. “He can run the option offense and he's got some great athletes to throw to over the last year.”
Jason Colburn is the team's lanky receiver, with 16 grabs for 391 yards and three scores. The team's best player, however, lines up in the backfield. Running back Justin Becker averages 9 yards per carry, rushing 119 times for 1,067 yards. The senior has 24 touchdowns on the ground, but 30 after receiving and special teams scores factor in - in addition to 18 catches for 320 yards.
“We've been fortunate to have great athletes,” Gates said. “It's been fun to come to practice, and hopefully, we'll continue to take it one game at a time.”
Westmoreland has a recent history of dominating Section III teams, losing only twice to those squads over the last four seasons.
Both coaching staffs have taken a big chunk of time this week to learn about their opponent.
“(Weedsport is) a very athletic team,” Gates said. “They have good size and good speed and they execute. Hopefully, we can slow them down.”
“We've been watching film a lot this last week,” Michaels said. “I don't know, it's going to be interesting. They have a lot of good skill people, their quarterback is great and they have a lot of big lineman. One guy is 6-3, 290 pounds.”
Not that anyone on the Warriors is a slouch.
While Westmoreland has the big-name players and the top-state ranking, the Warriors are thrilled to be playing for a title in the Carrier Dome and know they have a good shot against the Bulldogs.
“The kids are on cloud nine,” Michaels said. “It was a goal for a lot of them going into the season. This is a special thing for a lot of high school kids. (Going into the season) I thought we'd be good and at least get to (the semifinals). I thought, if I didn't screw them up, they'd be good.”
Despite the lopsided difference in the two team's usual game plans, or the stats and the size of the teams, Weedsport has no intention of going into the Carrier Dome and laying down.
“Our offenses are totally different,” Michaels said. “They throw the ball 30-40 times a game and we, maybe, throw 3-4 times. On paper, they're probably better than we are, but on the field - that's where the game is played. And that's what we're going to do.”
If you go
What: Section III, Class D championship game
Who: Weedsport vs.
Westmoreland
Where: Carrier Dome,
Syracuse
When: 7:30 p.m., tonight
“It doesn't matter,” Weedsport head coach Greg Michaels said. “They're Class D, we're class D - let's go out and play. We'll both go out there and whoever is the better team will win.”
“Class C football is still football, the same as Class D,” Westmoreland head coach Tim Gates said. “We knew we'd still face good teams. We lost some kids, but we have 21 returning players this year.”
Just as the Warriors have bulldozed over most of their regular season opponents - by an average of 26.2 points per game - Westmoreland has also demolished teams to the tune of an average of 52 points per game. But both teams saw their closest contest to date last week - as Weedsport beat Watertown IHC by six points in the semifinals and Westmoreland topped Utica-Notre Dame for the second time this season, 35-20.
“Earlier in the year, we were beating teams by a lot,” Gates said. “But we knew the competition would be much improved at this stage of the game. We've had to battle and it's forced us to pick up our game.”
Westmoreland's game is the complete opposite of Weedsport's. While the Warriors have been able to run standout Brian Quigley (1,458 yards and 20 touchdowns) down the throats of opposing teams and stifle offenses with a stout defense, the Bulldogs have weapons everywhere.
“Most of their team has come back this year,” Michaels said. “They have a lot of talent and they run a wide open offense. They've got a 6-6 wide receiver - we'll have to keep (5-6) Jesse Schooley away from him. It'll be a tough matchup.”
Bulldogs quarterback Dan Smith has completed 52 of 99 passes this season for 971 yards, five picks and 13 touchdowns on top of 489 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
“He is a big, strong, athletic kid with a great arm,” Gates said. “He can run the option offense and he's got some great athletes to throw to over the last year.”
Jason Colburn is the team's lanky receiver, with 16 grabs for 391 yards and three scores. The team's best player, however, lines up in the backfield. Running back Justin Becker averages 9 yards per carry, rushing 119 times for 1,067 yards. The senior has 24 touchdowns on the ground, but 30 after receiving and special teams scores factor in - in addition to 18 catches for 320 yards.
“We've been fortunate to have great athletes,” Gates said. “It's been fun to come to practice, and hopefully, we'll continue to take it one game at a time.”
Westmoreland has a recent history of dominating Section III teams, losing only twice to those squads over the last four seasons.
Both coaching staffs have taken a big chunk of time this week to learn about their opponent.
“(Weedsport is) a very athletic team,” Gates said. “They have good size and good speed and they execute. Hopefully, we can slow them down.”
“We've been watching film a lot this last week,” Michaels said. “I don't know, it's going to be interesting. They have a lot of good skill people, their quarterback is great and they have a lot of big lineman. One guy is 6-3, 290 pounds.”
Not that anyone on the Warriors is a slouch.
While Westmoreland has the big-name players and the top-state ranking, the Warriors are thrilled to be playing for a title in the Carrier Dome and know they have a good shot against the Bulldogs.
“The kids are on cloud nine,” Michaels said. “It was a goal for a lot of them going into the season. This is a special thing for a lot of high school kids. (Going into the season) I thought we'd be good and at least get to (the semifinals). I thought, if I didn't screw them up, they'd be good.”
Despite the lopsided difference in the two team's usual game plans, or the stats and the size of the teams, Weedsport has no intention of going into the Carrier Dome and laying down.
“Our offenses are totally different,” Michaels said. “They throw the ball 30-40 times a game and we, maybe, throw 3-4 times. On paper, they're probably better than we are, but on the field - that's where the game is played. And that's what we're going to do.”
If you go
What: Section III, Class D championship game
Who: Weedsport vs.
Westmoreland
Where: Carrier Dome,
Syracuse
When: 7:30 p.m., tonight
Citizen
Hot Jobs
Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.