Sunday, October 11, 2009
EFL Post Game Press Releases October 11, 2009
Red & Black capture EFL championship
MATT CORDOVA / TIMES SPORTS WRITER
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009
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JUSTIN SORENSEN / WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES
Watertown Red & Black players hoist the Empire Football League championship trophy after defeating the Plattsburgh North Stars, 6-0, at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.
Watertown's 29-year wait for an Empire Football League championship is over, as the Red and Black defeated Plattsburgh 6-0 in Saturday night's title game at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.
Quarterback Brian Williams's two-yard run just before halftime was all the scoring the team needed, as the defense turned in its seventh shutout of the season.
Head coach George Ashcraft was nearly at a loss for words after winning his first crown in 19 years guiding the team. "It's awesome," he said.
T.J. Williams helped Watertown (11-1) control the game's tempo with 127 yards on 18 rushes. Brian Williams carried the ball 15 times for 114 yards.
=0 A The North Stars finished the year 9-4.
Williams guides club to triumph
By MATT CORDOVA
TIMES SPORTSWRITER
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2009
ARTICLE OPTIONS
Brian Williams said it best a week ago, after the Watertown Red and Black defeated Binghamton to advance to — and eventually win 6-0 over Plattsburgh— Saturday's Empire Football League championship game.
"In reality, we all know this is just a game. But for all of us that have been playing it for so long, this is the game we've been waiting for ever since we've been playing for the Red and Black."
That kind of perspective is what has made Williams, a Watertown native and former WHS standout, an ideal leader for the semipro team this city rallies around so passionately.
With a running game that went on to produce 2,900 yards, Williams didn't have to carry this team through the air. But he proved to be a superb offensive manager.
For five seasons, he's been the type of player whose brain always works harder than his mouth, and whose heart never was overwhelmed by Watertown's championship dreams.
"He'll just keep coming at you, at 170 pounds soaking wet, until he has nothing left," linebacker Mike Dumaw said after the Red and Black won its first title since 1980. "When you have a leader like that, good things will happen."
The 114 yards Williams gained against the North Stars were the most important of his career. He kept key Watertown drives alive by scampering for first downs on three third-and-long situations in the second half. And he converted a pair of fourth down runs — one for Watertown's only score.
The Stars appeared to have made several big stops at times, only to watch Williams squirt through tackling hands, past the first down markers.
"His ability as an option quarterback is just tremendous," Plattsburgh coach Pat20Keleher said. "You can't practice for it."
"It can be third and short and he might break one for 50. Or, on third and long he'll pick up the right blocks, find a hole, and hit it," head coach George Ashcraft said. "He's been doing it all year."
Williams finished the season with 707 yards on the ground, and tied with Anthony Noel for a league-best nine touchdowns.
Still, Williams seemed happier for everyone else around him Saturday. Particularly Ashcraft.
"Words don't describe this," he said.
"I'm not just happy for George, but for his whole family. They are Red and Black football. They deserve this. They work hard so we can do what we do here."
Published October 11, 2009 01:49 am - Watertown claims league title with 6-0 victory over Plattsburgh.
Stars fall in EFL final
Stars fall in EFL final
WATERTOWN — The Plattsburgh North Stars fell just short of an Empire Football League championship Saturday night in Watertown, losing to the=2 0Red and Black, 6-0.
The Stars had one final opportunity to drive for a score with 1:05 remaining in the game. Plattsburgh quarterback Ken Stay connected on first-down passes to Matt St. Clair and Chris Fish, but Plattsburgh ended up just a yard short for another first down on fourth-and-10 with half a minute to go, just past midfield.
"The guys are disappointed, but they can be proud of their effort," Stars coach Pat Keleher said. "Our guys showed up tonight and played a heck of a game. We had chances to win the game."
Plattsburgh held the Red and Black to a fourth-and-goal inside the four-yard line late in the second quarter after three goal-line stops, but Watertown quarterback Brian Williams converted on a fourth down keeper.
"That was the only time they got into the redzone on us," Keleher said.
Shane Racette put Plattsburgh in good field position at Watertown's 45-yard line with a long return on the ensuing kick, but Stay threw an interception three plays later to end the drive, and eventually the half.
Plattsburgh's best scoring opportunity came in the third quarter when the Stars sat at third-and-goal at the two-yard line.
Watertown defensive players charged Stay as he dropped back for a passing play and forced the first-year signal caller into a fumble.
Keleher said his defense did a good job slowing down Watertown's running game, but that the Red and Black were able to chip away at the clock with short gains.
"The biggest thing for us is that we were on the field a lot defensively," he said. "They just had the ball so long. The time of possession was probably around a 2-to-1 ratio.
I'm very proud of my team, just very proud of the way the guys stayed together and played. I'm proud of how far we came as an organization in three years.
The Stars had one final opportunity to drive for a score with 1:05 remaining in the game. Plattsburgh quarterback Ken Stay connected on first-down passes to Matt St. Clair and Chris Fish, but Plattsburgh ended up just a yard short for another first down on fourth-and-10 with half a minute to go, just past midfield.
"The guys are disappointed, but they can be proud of their effort," Stars coach Pat Keleher said. "Our guys showed up tonight and played a heck of a game. We had chances to win the game."
Plattsburgh held the Red and Black to a fourth-and-goal inside the four-yard line late in the second quarter after three goal-line stops, but Watertown quarterback Brian Williams converted on a fourth down keeper.
"That was the only time they got into the redzone on us," Keleher said.
Shane Racette put Plattsburgh in good field position at Watertown's 45-yard line with a long return on the ensuing kick, but Stay threw an interception three plays later to end the drive, and eventually the half.
Plattsburgh's best scoring opportunity came in the third quarter when the Stars sat at third-and-goal at the two-yard line.
Watertown defensive players charged Stay as he dropped back for a passing play and forced the first-year signal caller into a fumble.
Keleher said his defense did a good job slowing down Watertown's running game, but that the Red and Black were able to chip away at the clock with short gains.
"The biggest thing for us is that we were on the field a lot defensively," he said. "They just had the ball so long. The time of possession was probably around a 2-to-1 ratio.
I'm very proud of my team, just very proud of the way the guys stayed together and played. I'm proud of how far we came as an organization in three years.
The Watertown Red & Black vs. Plattsburgh North Stars EFL Championship game is available for viewing at: http://www.steveweedproductions.com/Red%20and%20Blac k%202009.htm
