September 13, 2005
By Jonathon Hadley
Well, 2 weeks and a 2-0
record. What do you know, first time since 2001 that that has happened. The
score looked nice – a 25 point victory. Stats looked great – 377 yards of
offense to 171 for TriValley, 15 first downs to 9. Was anyone else scared
though? For a half, the thought of the domination of week 1 and the scrimmage
left me almost completely. We looked weak – weaker than most of last year for a
quarter and a half.
Being at times an optimist,
I of course can find the good in this. Last week I said that some of the hits
that Hood and Rockefeller took on their scoring runs in week 1 would have put
them in the dirt the year before. This week I contend that a game like this
would have given the ‘Dogs an ‘L’ last year. I don’t see us pulling this one out
in 2004. This season, with greater confidence and, in my opinion, greater team
leadership, the ‘Dogs pulled together and came out dominating in the second
half, getting not just yards, but touchdowns. That is something to be excited
about. That is something that helps you avoid a 4-5
season.
Does anyone understand the
importance of Delhi vs. Unatego? Although we are only in week 3, this game has
huge playoff implications. While I could see Seton or Greene knocking off Delhi
or Unatego on a good day, I don’t see them taking Sidney on any day. What that
means is that the loser of the game this weekend likely will need to beat Sidney
to have any shot at the playoffs. Obviously the division title is the real goal,
but the winner on Saturday will simply need to just take Greene and Seton and
they are almost certainly in the playoffs win or lose against Sidney. Granted,
the three-way tie situation is another poo in the punch that could even ruin it
for the winner on Saturday. Being so early in the season, there are still lots
of scenarios, but the bottom line is that the winner is in a favorable position
while the loser has a big time uphill battle, and will most likely need to beat
Sidney.
I
expect a big battle in this one. Unatego had a great team last year, highlighted
of course by a win over state semifinalist Walton. They missed the playoffs due
to an unexpected loss to Seton. I was at Unatego’s last game last year when they
beat up on Tioga, and they were bitterly angry that they weren’t playing
Trumansburg. They are hungry. Unatego hasn’t shown dominance yet, but I believe
they will be strong both running and passing, with 2 quality running backs and a
3rd year starter at QB. Delhi needs to break a few runs and get a
couple of TD’s ahead, because we rarely seem to do well against Unatego in the
close ones. More on the game in a preview coming later in the
week……
Walton/Sidney was a great
one to watch Friday, and quite a few Delhi folks were there enjoying it. It was
strange to feel all the Delhi compassion for Walton as Sidney’s passing game
ripped through Walton’s D like a hatchet through fresh ‘possum. It was just a
helplessness and a fear of Delhi being the victim of that come October 7.
Ironically, even though Walton won, I’m more afraid of Sidney than I was before
the game, and possibly slightly more afraid of Walton as well. Sure, both are
beatable. But both are also very good at what they do – Sidney at being athletic
and Walton at pounding the ball. Greene may give Sidney a bit of a fight Friday
night, but I don’t see them within 3 or 4 TD’s. Sidney 44-16. Walton may not
hang 60 on Sullivan West like Delhi did, but they will dominate them, though
Sully’s passing should give them a couple scores. I’d say Walton
46-14.
One
game of interest to Delhi this week is the matchup of Chenango Forks and
Norwich. Forks currently holds a 27 game winning streak, 7 shy of Delhi’s
section 4 record. If Forks defeats Norwich, their easier schedule down the
stretch (though Windsor could give them a game) could mean an end to the Delhi
record. Be sure to remember Forks player Mark Burns in your prayers. Mark
suffered a serious neck injury Saturday in the game with Maine Endwell, and is
scheduled to have surgery.