Empire Football League

Sunday July 16, 2006           

Gilmore's TD provides spark for Dragons
By Robert Bonaparte
Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- A turnover early in the second half paved the way for the B.C. Dragons to defeat the Chateauguay Titans, 14-0, Saturday night in their Empire Football League home opener at Alumni Stadium.

Andre Gilmore scored the first touchdown on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line to give the Dragons (2-0) a 6-0 lead with 8 minutes left in the third quarter. The score capped a 53 yard drive after running back Andrew Blevings fumbled on the Titans' first possession of the second half.

Gilmore ran 12 times for 36 yards. Running mate Jermall Johnson added 40 yards on six carries including a 20-yard run through the middle of the Titans' defense on the first scoring drive.

"We knew we needed the touchdown in order to get the second half going." said Gilmore who leads the Dragons with three touchdowns. "After the touchdown, we just came alive and the defense stepped it up."

Dragons quarterback Ty Fish went 8-for-17 for 89 yards, including a 19-yard pass to wide receiver George Graham early in the fourth quarter.

In the first half, neither team was able to generate much offense. Overthrown passes and fumbles on running plays and blocked punts led to a scoreless 30 minutes.

Chateauguay, from Montreal, threatened in the closing minutes. It drove to the Dragons' 13-yard line with less than five minutes remaining. Titans quarterback Zan Symonds' potential touchdown pass was intercepted by defensive back Keair Hopewell to seal the win.

The Dragons marched to the Titan's 12 and Fish took a knee to run out the clock.

"Last year we only had eight veterans on the team," said coach Thomas Manny of the Dragons 0-2 start in 2005. "Now with our experience it makes a difference especially when it comes to closing games."

The Dragons' next game will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday against the Albany Metro Mallers at Binghamton Municipal Stadium. Albany is the defending EFL champion.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mallers Turn it On In Return to EFL Action
    The Albany Metro Mallers started the day with a rather unimpressive 3-1 record, against talented teams from around the Northeast, but coming off of a rather lackluster home opening win over Rockland County last Saturday at Union College, the team realized that today was different. Today, as they boarded the Wade Tours Cruiser at Albany’s Westgate Shopping Center, it was evident that the attitude was different. Today,  it was all business. Today, their Title was up for grabs. Today the were back in Empire Football League play, and the new team on the block was about to learn who was the undefeated defending Champion.
    The Vermont Ice Storm was the  gracious host coming into their second EFL contest, hot on the heals of a week 1 win over St Lawrence Valley, the Albany Metro Mallers rolled into town to make a statement to their EFL counterparts. What a statement it was as they proceeded  to roll out of town with a commanding 40-13 win.
    Vermont QB Brad Rudeman found him self under the microscope of Defensive MVP Greg Woodward , Alvin Foy Athan Schindler and the rest of the Maller Defense of all game long.
    Meanwhile the Scott Lawson lead Albany Offense clicked like a fine Rolex. The veteran QB went 18 for 26 on the night while picking up the vertical game with 350 aerial yards and 4 touchdowns.  Offensive Coordinator Chris Brown utilized the entire playbook spreading the ball around with Maller QB’s depositing the scoring passes to 4 receivers and let the running game score set up the pass and score one as well.
Veteran Wide Out Maceo Clinton hauled in 3 passes for 94 yards, 2 for touchdowns while second year man Culture Branch continues on the road to EFL Stardom with a 9 reception , 166 yards  and 1 touchdown performance. The sure handed John Mulino hauled in 5 passes for 69 yards and a score, while Tight End Dwight Chasten made the most of his sole reception on the night, a 13 yard Touchdown. The ground game complimented the pass like the Yankees wish their middle relievers could set up Marino Rivera. Powerhouse Tailback Sylvester Cooperwood again punished the Vermont Defense with a  15 carry for 101 yards, while Rookie Julius Irving gained 34 yards on 6 carries and added a  touchdown. Joe Bonfonte’s leg added 4 extra points to the Mallers total.
    The loss drops the Ice Storm to 1 – 1 on the EFL Schedule and 1-2 for the season and head across the Northern Boarder to take on the Ottawa Demon Deacons next week.
    Albany advances to 1 – 0 in league play and are 4 –1 Overall.  The Metro Mallers  remain on the road for another week as they head across the southern tier to take on the Broome County Dragons at Alumni Stadium at The University at Binghamton next Saturday.  Albany returns home on July 29th to take on the Tri State Bulldogs.

07/16/2006

Eagles tie Ottawa

STAFF REPORT

Another first in Scranton Eagles history occurred Saturday night in Ottawa, Canada.

A controversial finish left the Eagles with the first tie in their 25-year history, 19-19, with the Ottawa Demon Deacons. Both teams fell to 0-1-1 in the Empire Football League.

After the Eagles rallied from a 19-7 deficit to knot the score, Cory Champi caught a long pass and was hauled down at the Ottawa 5 as the final seconds of overtime wound down.

Inexplictably, the clock stopped with four seconds left, and Eagles quarterback John Kennedy spiked the ball with two seconds left, leaving time for another play.

But the officials huddled, and emerged from their conference saying the game was over.

“They said if the clock not stopped, time would have probably run out,’’ Kennedy said.

Having their last shot taken away, it prevented the Eagles from getting their first win.

Kennedy was sharp enough to hit 17 of 32 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, including a 10-yarder to Louis Verdetto in the third quarter to pull the Eagles within six, 19-13.

Bill Sandly ran for 50 yards, including a five-yard scoring run with five minutes left in regulation to tie the game, but the ensuing extra-point kick was blocked.

Kennedy hit Champi for a 28-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring on the Eagles second drive.

The defense was sparked by George Romiti as the veteran linebacker made 19 tackles. Nick Parlanti added 11 tackles and blocked both an extra point and a field goal. Champi picked off two passes.

The Eagles return to action next Saturday with a road game against the Tri-State (N.Y.) Bulldogs

Tri-State spoils Lake City's home opener

By: KEITH KANE
Staff Writer

July 16, 2006

PLATTSBURGH — After a strong opening week to their Empire Football League season, the Lake City Stars were hoping to ride an emotional victory over Watertown in Saturday's contest against the Tri-State Bulldogs.

Unfortunately, the breaks didn't go the Stars way and they had a hard time finding the end zone as the Bulldogs captured a 24-6 victory at Melissa L. Penfield Park.

Tri-State came out aggressive early as quarterback Jay Hawes hooked up with Collis Martin for a 36-yard touchdown pass on the games opening drive.

Lake City had its first hard break on its first possession as quarterback Kellen Nolan was sacked and appeared to fumble the ball after being down, but the Bulldogs recovered the fumble and were setup on the Stars' 24-yard line.

Hawes again was the dagger to Lake City's heart, this time scrambling for a 16-yard touchdown run on fourth down. The score gave Tri-State a 14-0 lead all within eight minutes.

The Bulldogs scored once more in the first half as Brian Harris kicked a 21-yard field goal.

The Stars had a chance to get on the board before the end of the half as Nolan hit Chris Verkey with a 23-yard pass to the seven, but Verkey wasn't able to get to the end-zone before being called down.

"They jumped out on us early," Lake City head coach Ed McCallister said. "But, at halftime the guys didn't lay down and they came out hard in the second half.

"(The Bulldogs) just had a lot of the breaks in the game, not to take anything away from them. But, if a couple of those go our way, it might have been a different ball game."

The Stars took over on their own 35-yard line to start the second half, and marched 45 yards to the Bulldogs' 29.

On second down, Nolan dropped back and hit tailback Brandon Keleher coming out of the backfield for a 26-yard touchdown strike to get the Stars on the board. Nolan's two-point conversion attempt failed, and Tri-State held onto a 17-6 lead.

On their next possession, the Bulldogs returned the kick-off to the Lake City 27-yard line and on first down Andre Evans carried the ball 21-yards to the six.

The Bulldogs had four cracks at the end zone, but the Stars' defense held strong as they held Hawes out on a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak.

Lake City, however, couldn't find the end-zone the rest of the way as Tri-State held them to two, three-and-outs to finish the third quarter, and just two first downs in the fourth.

The Bulldogs added a late touchdown by Ray Morales after most of the starting unit for the Stars was out of the game.

"(Tri-State) knows that they were in a ball game here," McCallister said. "And I think our guys know that we were in this ball game as well."

Hawes completed seven of his 22 pass attempts for 118 yards and a touchdown, while being intercepted once by Lake City's Joseph Conway.

Martin hauled in five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, with Paul Reed pulling in a pair for 30. Raheem Ridley led the way on the ground with 55 yards and Morales added 50 and a touchdown.

Kelleher led the Stars' attack with 45 yards on the ground and also picked up 29 through the air with a touchdown. Nolan completed four passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. Matt St. Clair, James Blocker and Verkey each pulled in a catch a piece.

"I am very proud of the way the team performed tonight," McCallister said. "It's like the old saying goes 'We live to fight another day'.

"Hopefully this week we will be able to get back on track and get ready for St. Lawrence next week."

Tri-State 24, Lake City 6

Tri-State 14 3 0 7 — 24
Lake City 0 0 6 0 — 6

Scoring summary
First quarter
TS- Martin 36 pass from Hawes (Harris kick), 4:01.
TS- Hawes 16 run (Harris kick), 8:02.

Second quarter
TS- Harris 21 field goal, 6:17.

Third quarter
LC- Keleher 29 pass from Ke. Nolan (pass failed), 5:22.

Fourth quarter
TS- Morales 24 run (Harris kick), 13:02.

Individual statistics
Rushing
TS- Morales, 7-50, TD. Ridley, 9-55. Hawes, 6-39, TD. Evans, 3-36. McCloud, 2-9. Allen, 1-0. Totals: 28-189, 2 TD.
LC- Keleher, 5-45. Ky. Nolan, 2-3. Ke. Nolan, 2-7. Geiser, 3-(-6). C. Lawyer, 3-6. Randall, 3-9. Totals: 18-64.

Passing
TS- Hawes, 7-22-1-118, TD. McCloud, 0-2-0-0. Totals: 7-24-1-118, TD.
LC- Ke. Nolan, 4-14-0-94, TD. Ky. Nolan 0-1-0-0. C. Lawyer, 0-1-1-0. Totals: 4-16-1-94, TD.

Receiving
TS- Martin, 5-82, TD. Reed, 2-30.
LC- Blocker, 1-31. M. St. Clair, 1-11. Verkey, 1-23. Keleher, 1-29, TD.

Interceptions
TS- Allen.
LC- Conway.