Saturday, September 19, 2009
EFL Pre Game Press Coverage September 19, 2009
BC Dragons travel to Watertown Saturday
The Broome County Dragons Finish off the Regular season at Watertown. The Dragons Make a trip to Watertown to take on the 1st place Red and Black. this will be the second time these two teams have faced off. The Red & Black beat the Dragons 55-13 at Binghamton earlier this year. But since then the Dragons have Gelled together and won the next 4 out of the 5 previous games. Along with that winning the last 2 games in a row at home If you could make the Trip up interstate 81 and support the Dragons they will be playing at Alex Duffy Fairgrounds Coffeen Street Watertown 13601. The following week The Empire Football League Playoffs Start. Thanks and Go Dragons
R&B focused at home
EFL: Watertown aims to play postseason games at fairgrounds
By MATT CORDOVA
TIMES SPORTSWRITER
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2009
The Watertown Red and Black clobbered the Binghamton Dragons 55-13 when the teams met in July.
But head coach George Ashcraft has made sure this week that his players don't march too confidently into tonight's matchup with the Dragons.
The Red and Black can accomplish a great deal with a victory in the regular season finale. It can complete the campaign unbeaten at home — something it's failed to do this entire decade.
It can secure home-field advantage for the postseason, and running back Anthony Noel has a chance to win the Empire Football League rushing title.
Watertown rushed for 411 yards in its win at Binghamton, and continues to be the league's best running squad. But injuries have found their way into Watertown's offensive line in re cent weeks.
Center Jared Cook has missed action with an injured knee, and Ryan O'Hara broke his finger in last week's game against Quebec.
Ashcraft said none of the team's injuries should cause any trouble, and he expects O'Hara to be in the lineup.
"We have nothing so bad that the guys won't suit up," he said. "They've been at practice, and they're going to be fine. Even if we have two or three people who aren't there, the replacements are more than adequate. I can't say enough about our depth."
Binghamton, at 5-3, has shown improvement since being embarrassed by Watertown at home.
The Dragons' most important win came on Aug. 29, a 35-34 decision over the Plattsburgh North Stars. Binghamton posted 21 fourth quarter points in handing Plattsburgh its second loss, and has won three of its last four outings.
0A"We know as a team we must win," Ashcraft said. "We're not taking them lightly. They've added some players, and I've warned my guys their team has gotten better."
Published September 19, 2009 12:46 am - Plattsburgh visits Quebec Titans with playoff bye, home-field advantage on line.
Stars shoot for postseason edge
Stars shoot for postseason edge
MONTREAL — A playoff bye and guaranteed home-field advantage in the semifinals is at stake tonight when the Plattsburgh North Stars travel to Montreal to face the Quebec Titans in Empire Football League action.
Both teams currently sit with two losses apiece entering the regular-season finale — one more than first-place Watertown.
The Red and Black hold the first-place tiebreaker against Plattsburgh even if they lose and the Stars win tonight, so Plattsburgh is battling to lock up the second seed.
The Stars defeated Quebec, 31-7, in20week three of EFL play because of a solid 21-0 fourth quarter.
The game was the third of six-consecutive (eight overall) victories to open the season, but Plattsburgh lost two-straight road games to Watertown and Binghamton before bouncing back last week in a 13-0 shutout of Vermont at home.
Quebec won four-straight after the loss to Plattsburgh, but the Red and Black ended that streak last weekend in Watertown.
Plattsburgh's ground game is led by Brandon Keleher, who has compiled 735 yards and six touchdowns this regular season.
Quarterback Ken Stay has totaled 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in that span with a 2-0 touchdown-interception ration in Quebec and Plattsburgh's only meeting.
Kelly Gordon has also made an impact with six receiving touchdowns.
Sigmund Charles leads a Quebec running corps that has amassed just 546 rushing yards this season.
Both teams currently sit with two losses apiece entering the regular-season finale — one more than first-place Watertown.
The Red and Black hold the first-place tiebreaker against Plattsburgh even if they lose and the Stars win tonight, so Plattsburgh is battling to lock up the second seed.
The Stars defeated Quebec, 31-7, in20week three of EFL play because of a solid 21-0 fourth quarter.
The game was the third of six-consecutive (eight overall) victories to open the season, but Plattsburgh lost two-straight road games to Watertown and Binghamton before bouncing back last week in a 13-0 shutout of Vermont at home.
Quebec won four-straight after the loss to Plattsburgh, but the Red and Black ended that streak last weekend in Watertown.
Plattsburgh's ground game is led by Brandon Keleher, who has compiled 735 yards and six touchdowns this regular season.
Quarterback Ken Stay has totaled 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in that span with a 2-0 touchdown-interception ration in Quebec and Plattsburgh's only meeting.
Kelly Gordon has also made an impact with six receiving touchdowns.
Sigmund Charles leads a Quebec running corps that has amassed just 546 rushing yards this season.
