10/09/2005

Stars eliminated

ALBANY -- The Lake City Stars saw their season come to a close at the hands of the top-seeded Albany Metro Mallers, 23-0, in Saturday's Empire Football League playoffs.

Lake City had trouble sustaining any flow on offense against an Albany team that improved to 11-0.

"We just didn't have enough for them offensively," said Lake City head coach Ed McCallister. "We had to run the ball mainly, and when you don't possess the threat of a passing game, they have athletes they can pack it down and it makes things tough.

"I know coaches use a lot of sports cliches, but if wins were awarded on heart, we would have had the win. We were short with some injuries and the guys were overmatched but there was no quit in them."

Lake City trailed 10-0 at halftime before Albany put the game out of reach with touchdowns at the end of the third and another in the fourth.

The Stars finish the 2005 campaign three games above .500 at 8-5.

"And two of those losses are to Albany," noted McCallister. "We're anxious to get to work during the offseason. We know what we have to do. The guys are bummed out right now, but we're not going to give up on this thing. We'll find our weaknesses and work during the offseason but by no means are we throwing in the towel. We've worked too hard this year,

"This team doesn't know how to quit."