Slow Start Sinks Moriah in State Championship Game 47-6

SARANAC LAKE SEASON ENDS TO GOUVERNEUR 60-20

The Red Storm’s Sam Donaldson (6) catches the ball and breaks free from the Wildcats’ Caleb Farr (5) to score a 62-yard touchdown, as Saranac Lake inched closer 24-14.  Gouverneur advances after winning the first-round New York State regional playoff game against Saranac Lake 60-20, held at O.F.A.  (Kevin Fisher photo)  Game Gallery

Gouverneur’s Mitchell Tyler (4) crosses the goal line for a seven-yard touchdown in the last two minutes of the first half to widen the Wildcat lead to 30-14.
 

Gouverneur’s big-yardage abilities were on big display in the opening round of the New York State Class C playoffs, held at Ogdensburg Free Academy. The Section X champion Wildcats struck for four touchdowns of 50 yards or more, in pounding out a 60-20 win over Section VII champion Saranac Lake. Gouverneur’s first drive ended when Cayden Stowell dashed up the left sideline on a 53-yard scamper. Quarterback Caleb Farr ran the extra points and Gouverneur was up 8-0. After the Wildcats forced the Storm’s first turnover, Mitchell Tyler wasted no time in returning the pigskin 60 yards to the House and stretching the lead to 16-0. Saranac Lake bounced back in the second quarter, first on a 22-yard keeper from Rhett Darrah to trim the Cats’ lead to 16-6. But Gouverneur immediately responded with a QB keeper of its own just 58 seconds later, as Caleb Farr outran the Red Storm cornerback and safety with another 53-yard TD dash. Saranac Lake’s next drive produced results when Darrah aerialed a long bomb, reeled in by Sam Donaldson at the 20-yard line on a 62-yard TD completion. Saranac Lake was back in contention 24-14. Gouverneur closed the half with Tyler’s second touchdown, a seven-yard run, to extend the lead to 30-14 at the break. The only scoring in the third quarter was an electrifying 72-yard punt return, Tyler’s third and final TD of the game, extending the Gouverneur lead to 38-14. Starting the final quarter, Darrah wired a 30-yard TD pass to Logan Brown in a soft spot in the middle of zone coverage, again trimming the lead to 38-20. But the final three touchdowns sealed Gouverneur’s advancement to the New York State quarterfinals vs. Section II champion Stillwater (10-0) next week. Farr scampered for 32 yards, Joe Cummings scooped up a fumble and dashed 38 yards to score and Kyle Savage muscled in a three-yard touchdown to wrap up a 60-20 win, with the Wildcats improving to 9-0.

POTSDAM DEFENSE STYMIES EAGLES IN STATE OPENER 30-0

POTSDAM 30, BEEKMANTOWN 0
The Potsdam Sandstoners’ shutdown defense forced three key turnovers and did not allow Beekmantown to get much offense going, in marching to a 30-0 win over the Eagles in the opening round of the New York State Class B playoffs, affectionately referred to as the “North Country Class B Super Bowl.” Matt Phippen’s interception was turned into points four plays later when Bobby Voss pounded the ball into the end zone on a one-yard run for a 6-0 lead. Will Varney scored on a 40-yard carry, expanding the lead to 12-0 in the first quarter. Dustin Agen’s pickoff put Potsdam back in business at the Beekmantown 29, but the Eagles stopped the Sandstoners on the drive. On Potsdam’s next offensive with 1:40 remaining in the half, Will Varney scored his second touchdown from the four-yard line, completing a 16-play, 87-yard drive. Potsdam led 18-0 at the half. The halftime statistics showed Potsdam’s dominance: 203 yards rushing to minus-eight for Beekmantown; 216-25 overall yards. Varney then dashed for a 52-yard TD on the first drive of the second half. Bobby Voss carried the mail for the final touchdown with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter.