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Guilderland
locks up berth
Dutchmen defeat Spartans to earn spot in Class AA playoffs
By JAMES ALLEN, Staff writer
First published Times Union: Sunday, October 8, 2006
QUEENSBURY -- React vs.
respond. Those are words every player on the Guilderland High football
roster knows all too well after hearing head coach Dan Penna describe
the differences throughout the week.
Saturday afternoon -- with
the team's playoff aspirations hanging in the balance -- the Dutchmen
delivered an emphatic response.
Guilderland running backs Andrew Smith, Kevin Forbes and Paul Booker
scored on fourth-quarter touchdown runs as the Dutchmen produced an
impressive 28-12 victory over Queensbury in Class AA Division I football
action.
"First reaction often isn't a good thing. First response usually
means you are prepared," said Smith, who paced Guilderland with 121
yards rushing. "We dealt with some adversity and got the win we
needed."
Guilderland (4-2, 3-1) physically and mentally rose to the challenge
against Queensbury (2-4, 1-2) and earned just the third football playoff
berth in school history.
"The kids feel great. We haven't been in the playoffs since 1999
and the kids were hungry for that and to earn some respect, too,"
Penna said.
Guilderland's football record since 1990 stands at 49-104-2. The lone
winning season during that span came in 1995 at 7-2.
"Our main goal is being respected," Smith said. "That's
great when people start respecting you. Teams are normally like, 'We've
got Guilderland. Oh, we're going to kick (their butts).' Now, we're a
team to be reckoned with. We want to make a legacy out of this."
It would have been easy for
Guilderland to react negatively late in the third quarter when Smith had
a spectacular 69-yard touchdown run called back on a penalty.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Guilderland wide receiver
Nicholas Ranalli took an inside handoff and ran 18 yards on a
third-and-7 play. Smith followed with an electrifying 47-yard touchdown
run to help Guilderland grab a 14-12 advantage.
The Spartans, behind the strong running of senior wingback Brad
Middleton (140 yards on 19 carries), threatened to regain the lead but
Jeff Benway's 27-yard field goal was wide right.
Forbes and Booker contributed touchdown runs of 28 and 23 yards,
respectively, as the Dutchmen secured their playoff bid.
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