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2015 Chenango Forks Varsity Football

Game 2 vs Maine-Endwell

Blue Devils rally falls short, M-E prevails 28-21
Third time the two school met as defending "state" champions!

Articles courtesy of the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

To Game 1 - Oneonta

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To Game 3 - Sidney

M-E holds off Forks for 28-21 football victory
Rob Centorani
 @PSBRob
rcentorani@pressconnects.com
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin 

TOWN OF CHENANGO – To live up to the billing, it probably would have needed three overtimes with a circus catch in the back of the end zone to end it.

That didn't happen, but make no mistake, it was entertaining high school football staged Saturday.

Senior quarterback Kyle Balmer scored three touchdowns and Maine-Endwell narrowly held off a fourth-quarter rally by Chenango Forks in a 28-21 Section 4 Football Conference non-division victory.

Played before a large turnout in a misty rain, Section 4's alpha dogs went nose-to-nose for 47 tense minutes before Balmer took to his knee twice to burn off the final minute or so of game clock.

At times in the second and third quarters, it looked as if the 2-0 Spartans might ease away to their 53rd straight victory, but the Blue Devils would have none of it. Twice, Forks (1-1) had possession in the fourth quarter down by seven but couldn't crack a sound Spartans' defensive unit.

Though the drama from squads who've combined for six state titles over the past four seasons came in the fourth quarter, M-E's dominant first half likely was the difference.

"We definitely controlled the ball, we controlled the whole game, but that's Forks," said M-E coach Matt Gallagher, the architect of a program that was won four straight state championships and has a state-record 53-game winning streak. "They came back. They're not going to give up."

Right after Forks missed a 29-yard field goal to end its opening drive, the Spartans methodically scored touchdowns on their next two drives, the first covering 80 yards and the second 72. It took a combined 30 plays on those drives, both of which ended with Balmer scoring runs.

That 14-0 halftime lead turned out to be mighty big.

The first, a 16-play march, bridged the first and second quarters. The Spartans converted on two fourth downs, the first a 3-yard run by fullback Cordell Woolfolk on a fourth-and-1, and the second, a 12-yard completion from Balmer to Michael Palmer along the right sideline on fourth-and-12. That completion gave M-E possession at the Blue Devils' 20, and one play later, Balmer scored from 16 yards on an option keeper to the right side, breaking a tackle at the 3 and diving into the end zone. The first of four Alec Greene extra points made it 7-0 10:22 before halftime.

After a three-and-out Forks series, M-E took over at its 28. Fourteen plays later, Balmer scored from 10 yards and M-E had a 14-point advantage. The Spartans converted another fourth down on the drive and received a 27-yard gain by John Cerra, who came in motion left to start, received a pitch from Balmer and ran around the left end to the Blue Devils' 8.

On third-and-goal from the 10, Balmer again scored on a keeper to the right side, this time dragging two Forks defenders into the end zone.

Balmer had 61 rushing yards at halftime, the one player for whom Forks defenders couldn't account.

"Obviously, running the option is tough to defend and when the line blocks it like they did, it's hard to stop," said Balmer, who finished with 78 rushing yards. "Keeping the football is important in a game like this."

Forks' chances took a seemingly devestating blow on the third play from scrimmage in the second half. The Blue Devils lined up three receivers to the left side and quarterback L.J. Watson threw into the left flat. Palmer cut in front of a Forks receiver, made an interception and raced 42 yards untouched into the end zone as M-E's lead ballooned to 21-0 with 10:42 left in the third quarter.

"I'm playing my assignment," Palmer said. "I have the flats. I saw him go out to the flats, so I made a break and as I made the break, L.J. was throwing the ball and good things happened."

To that point, Forks' offense had mustered 46 yards.

That was about to change and Watson played a starring role. All the junior did on this day was play quarterback, carried the ball 22 times, punted twice and made several big hits and the defensive side of the ball.

A 57-yard touchdown drive that consisted of nine running plays brought the Blue Devils to 21-7. Watson scrambled right for a 26-yard gain to M-E's 26 and he capped the drive with an impressive 14-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-8. He scrambled on left this one, made an ankle-breaking cut to his right around the 10 to elude a defender and then cruised into the end zone. Tony Silvanic provided the first of his three PATs to make it a 14-game with 5:04 left in the third quarter.

But M-E came right back, driving 69 yards in seven plays. Cerra, who finished with 92 rushing yards on eight carries, broke off gains of 17 and 21 yards before Balmer capped it with a 7-yard run. Balmer faked to Woolfolk inside before finding a crease on the left side and scored standing up with 2:48 left in the third to make it 28-7.

The Blue Devils' comeback started in earnest early in the third quarter. Cerra carried to the left side before Cody Lamont ripped the ball from his grasp and raced 27 yards for a touchdown as the Blue Devils pulled to 28-14, with 10:51 showing on the clock.

"I think that was definitely what changed things," Forks coach David Hogan said of Lamond's big play.

A three-and-out series ensued for Forks and it set up for its next possession at M-E's 41 after a 27-yard punt return by Watson.

When Tim McDonald took a handoff on a trap for a 30-yard gain, the Blue Devils had a first-and-goal at the 6. Two plays later, Watson faked a dive handoff before heading off the left side for a 5-yard scoring run and the deficit was 28-21, with 5:52 to go.

More good fortune came Forks' way when Balmer couldn't handle the ensuing snap from scrimmage and Jake Osterhout recovered at M-E's 34.

But two runs by McDonald produced 3 yards, Watson recovered a botched snap for a 1-yard loss on third down and Balmer tackled Watson after a 4-yard gain to give the ball back to M-E with 3:35 left.

"I felt like the second-to-last drive we had, we've got to be able to punch that in, but they stepped up, so hat's off to them," said Hogan, who's squad is aiming for a third straight Class C state title this season.

Three M-E plays produced 3 yards, forcing a punt by Balmer. It was a beauty, a 44-yarder that forced Lamont to make an over-the-shoulder catch, which took his momentum back 4 more yards, where he was tackled at the 20.

"That put them in a situation where they had to do some things they may have wanted to," Gallagher said. "It's nice to have a foot like that."

Forks couldn't get anything going on its last possession and turned the ball over on downs with about a minute left.

"You can't ask for anything better," Palmer said. "You've got your fans over their cheering hearts out and then on the other side you have the opponents booing you. It doesn't get better than that, especially to play a classy team like that. It was a great high school football game."

M-E & Forks matchup should be a football fixture
Kevin Stevens
 @PSBKevin
kstevens@pressconnects.com
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

TOWN OF CHENANGO – Here's hoping this M-E versus Forks deal is locked into the football schedule annually, at least for the foreseeable future.

And should there be any griping from the alphabet-soup faction, those overly mindful of the obvious enrollment-classification inequity, let 9/12/15 serve as Exhibit A, and 10/10/14 Exhibit B.

Once again on Saturday, it was Gold Standard vs. Gold Standard with regard to Section 4 football, one group sporting blue helmets, the other red, each likely to cause another November of mild discontent for basketball and wrestling coaches making due without "the football kids."

Maine-Endwell added to the nation's second-longest active win streak, boarding the bus all smiles after sweating out the waning minutes of a 28-21 getaway which, for a spell early in the second half, had a hint of barefoot-stroll-through-the-sand to it.

Ah, but those guys across the way, the ones who twice after halftime stared down three-TD deficits? They were having no part of a tail-kicking, most certainly not on their turf.

An outstanding 22 1-2 minutes of football is what it amounted to, as in, the segment of play that commenced after M-E wiz Michael Palmer executed one of the smoothest-sailing scoring plays he'll produce all season.

Third-and-7 from its 39-yard line was what Forks faced on the third play of the second half. L.J. Watson, a superior athlete but barely out of the quarterback incubator, sent an ill-advised pass targeting Cody Lamond. Problem was, Palmer had it scoped out, made the interception on a forward charge and proceeded in unmolested from the 42-yard line.

Alec Greene, 4-for-4 off the block for the day, added the PAT and it was a 21-0 mood-dampener for the home faithful.

Could have gotten outta-hand lopsided­ on some fields, against other opponents.

Not at Forks.

"We settled down and started blocking and tackling better as the game went on. That's what this game is about," said Blue Devils coach David Hogan, whose teams have come out on top in their last 24 games against opponents not wearing Maine-Endwell jerseys. "Our kids figured it out after a while. I'm very happy with the way things finished, not the outcome, but the way we finished."

Watson atoned for the throwing miscue summarily, rushing seven times for 55 yards when Forks regained possession. The last of his totes on a nine-play drive went for 14 yards on a quarterback draw started through the heart of a sound Maine-Endwell defense. A juke here, cut there and he was across the goal line for the hosts' initial points 6:56 into the third quarter.

M-E responded with touchdown-maker Kyle Balmer ­ count 'em, six TDs 96 minutes into his senior season ­ feigning a handoff to fullback Cordell Woolfolk and dashing 7 yards for six points on the seventh play of the next drive. It was 28-7 with 2:48 remaining in the third.

Which is about when matters grew seriously interesting.

Forks' Lamond pulls off a brilliant rip-and-sprint defensive TD four plays into the final quarter and it's 28-14.

M-E goes three-and-out and Forks cashes on a six-play drive that featured a 30-yard, third-and-5 gain by resolute fullback Tim McDonald. Watson finished with a 5-yard scoring rush, Tony Silvanic kicked the PAT and it was a one-TD difference with 5:52 remaining in a developing classic.

Thereafter? Maine-Endwell applied the brand of defense on which 53-game win streaks are built.

The Spartans limited Forks to 6 yards through four plays on its second-to-last possession, and a net-zero yards on four plays on the last. A quarterback sack shared by Chuck Soriano, Travis MacDonald and Brady Wisniewski left Forks facing an ain't-happening fourth-and-10 on its final offensive snap.

And so it ended, each side appreciative of the opportunity and offering the other genuine well wishes going forward.

"Beforehand we said we want to be safe and make sure everyone leaves here healthy, and no matter what happens we're both going to be better for it­ and I think we are," said Spartans coach Matt Gallagher. "We're definitely better for it. Our guys faced some adversity and came out of it, those guys did, too, and they battled back."

"I told Matt, 'Go get (state title) No. 5,' " Hogan said of the head coaches' post-game exchange at midfield. "That's a very, very good team and they're on the run of all runs. I've got a lot of respect for those guys."

Here's the thing: Chenango Forks will absolutely not smack into a more formidable opponent than Maine-Endwell regardless of how deep into November the Devils may march. And the Spartans may not encounter the kind of resistance Forks offered up until come single-elimination time, if then.

That's why M-E versus Forks has got to be a fixture, so long as the respective coaching staffs remain intact and so long as the sport remains a high priority in the respective school districts.

1A vs. 1B is good for all concerned hereabouts.
 
01 02 03 04   Tot
Chenango Forks 0 0 7 14 - 21
Maine-Endwell 0 14 14 0 - 28
  • ME - Kyle Balmer 16y run (Alec Greene kick), 10:22
  • ME - Balmer 10y run (Greene kick), 1:35
  • ME - Michael Palmer 42y interception return (Greene kick), 10:42
  • CF - LJ Watson 14y run (Tony Silvanic kick), 5:04
  • ME - Balmer 7y run (Greene kick), 2:48
  • CF - Cody Lamond 27y stripped ball return (Silvanic kick), 10:51
  • CF - Watson 5y run (Tony Silvanic kick), 5:52

TEAM STATISTICS 

  M-E CF
First Downs 15 10
Rushes-Yards 46-217 40-158
Passing Yards 21 40
Comp-Att-Int 2-7-1 4-7-1
Total Offense 53-238 47-198
Punts-Ave yards 2-37 3-33
Fumbles-Lost 4-2 3-1
Penalties-Yards 5-40 5-35
.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Maine-Endwell rushing

  • John Cerra          8-92
  • Kyle Balmer        16-78,  3 TDs
  • Cordell Woolfolk   13-26
  • Drew Gallagher      9-21

Chenango Forks rushing

  • LJ Watson          22-80,  2 TDs
  • Tim McDonald       12-72
  • Dylan Studer        5-6
  • Cody Lamond         1-0

Maine-Endwell passing

  • Kyle Balmer 2-for-7, 21y, 0 TD, 1 int.

Chenango Forks passing

  • LJ Watson 4-for-7, 40y, 0 TD, 1 int.

Maine-Endwell receiving

  • Michael Palmer      2-21

Chenango Forks receiving:  

  • Tony Silvanic       1-21
  • Trevor Borchardt    2-15
    •
  • Tim McDonald        1-4
    •

JV Score:  M-E 14, CF 8

Preview Article(s) 

For streaking Spartans, a Devil of a game ahead
 Kevin Stevens
 @PSBKevin
kstevens@pressconnects.com
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

A weekend after matching 47-point margins of victory, they'll be matched up pad-to-pad, helmet-to-helmet, X-to-O.

Under unprecedented circumstances.

Never before have two-time defending state football champions collided on Section 4 turf, but that's precisely what it'll be come 1:30 Saturday when Maine-Endwell visits Chenango Forks for what promises to be a gripping Week 2 contest.

The Spartans are working on a state-record streak of 52 consecutive victories that includes four successive state championships.

The Blue Devils have dropped one game in their last 25, that one by 20-7 with upward of 8,000 spectators on hand last October at Maine-Endwell. Forks has come out on top in its last 26 contests at home against Broome County opponents.

The challenges facing Chenango Forks, a Class C program stepping two rungs up the enrollment ladder?

"Jeepers Creepers, where do you start?" said coach David Hogan. "Looking at their offense, there are a lot of things that jump out, and I guess the No. 1 thing is (quarterback) Kyle Balmer, although there are a lot of close seconds." He proceeded to mention fullback Cordell Woolfolk, and, "Michael Palmer as a wideout threat, he can score from anywhere.

"They're obviously pretty scary on offense and you might argue they're even better on defense. They have so much team speed."

Spartans coach Matt Gallagher doffed his cap to the Blue Devils' system, structure and preparedness.

"They're Chenango Forks and obviously well-coached, very disciplined, you're not going to get them not doing the things they're supposed to," he said. "When we play them, that's something we have to understand. They're probably going to be in the right position the majority of the time, they're going to run to the ball, they're going to gang-tackle.

"Just the things that go along with a winning program, that's what you're going to get from a team like Forks."

From a spectator's perspective, there'll be matchups aplenty to stock a couple hours' worth of highly entertaining football. For example:

How do Forks' linebackers cope with Balmer once he breaks through initial resistance on the option keeper?

How will Maine-Endwell's defensive front hold up in its introduction to Blue Devils junior L.J. Watson at quarterback? Last time these teams collided, No. 33 was a halfback.

"He's explosive, he's dynamic," Gallagher said. "We'll have to contain him. We know what a quarterback can do, we know how a quarterback can control the game­ because ours does, and has for years. We understand that and we have to make sure we know where he is. It's going to go through him, I think."

Can Forks establish fullback Tim McDonald against a stout middle of the Spartans' defense?

Can Maine-Endwell's offensive front protect Balmer when a forward pass is the sensible choice?

Who'll make that huge play? Forks' Dylan Studer or Cody Lamond, on either side of the line of scrimmage? M-E's Brady Wisniewski with a defensive difference-maker? The Devils' Tony Silvanic with that accurate kicking shoe of his? Perhaps Drew Gallagher or Jon Cerra on something catchy out of M-E's offensive backfield?

Given what is guaranteed to be an electric atmosphere with thousands in attendance, Hogan stressed the need for an awareness of the situation tempered by a sense of perspective that would apply to both sides.

"You can't be so amped up that you're going to make a bunch of mistakes," he said. "You've just got to play disciplined, sound football."

M-E vs. Forks has makings of something special
Kevin Stevens
 @PSBKevin
kstevens@pressconnects.com
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

Chenango Forks vs. Maine-Endwell: The Sequel.

Two-time defending state champion vs. holder of four consecutive state titles.

One program has gone 42-6 from 2011 to the present, the other 52-0 over that span.

Must-see high school football ­ and then some.

This one, scheduled to commence at 1:30 Saturday on the Blue Devils' synthetic surface, is a happening beyond mere interscholastic athletics, as it was last October in Endwell. It is high-priority stuff for two communities vastly supportive of their respective football programs, but also will grab the attention of nonpartisan followers who fancy the game played at the highest level hereabouts.

On Oct. 10 of last year, attendance was estimated to be between 8,000 and 9,000 at M-E, where the home team defeated its fellow top-ranked, reigning state champion by 20-7 on a spectacular autumn evening. Those who stepped onto the grounds after 6 p.m. did so to discover seating capacity maxed out.

This time around?

David Hogan, director of athletics as well as football coach at Chenango Forks, assures that ticket sales will not cease ­ "There's plenty of space," he assures. He harkened to the 2007 epic pitting the Blue Devils against those guys from across the river, when 6,000-plus attended. Hogan anticipates something similar, and who knows how far upward of 6,000 that might stretch?

For those who'd like to secure a seat?

"Just judging from last year's game, there was a bunch when we pulled in probably 21/2 hours early," he said. "I would say the same, maybe a couple hours early ­ and if you want to guarantee, it may have to be sooner."

You can bet Hogan would be on hand even if he had no affiliation to either school district. Ditto for Spartans coach Matt Gallagher ­ "Yes. Absolutely. One hundred percent."

The irony is, in the big picture, the game has little to zero bearing on what may be ahead for either side.

Maine-Endwell is a Class A program, having returned to that classification after three seasons in Class B. Chenango Forks holds steady in Class C.

While M-E's 52-game win streak is New York's best all-time, Forks has fared swimmingly as well. Aside from that outcome last year at M-E, the Blue Devils have logged 24 consecutive victories.

The mathematics of enrollment would point to the Spartans as a favorite to celebrate come 3:30 or so Saturday afternoon. But mathematics of enrollment will be of no concern to a single teenager in uniform, and certainly not their coaches.

In truth, regardless of outcome, this game will benefit both squads come the chill of November. It's just that, in truth and at the present …

"I think it's very big, I do. But it's one of those things that, it's a game with no meaning that means a lot," said Gallagher, sizing it up most concisely and accurately. "No meaning based on standings and what happens down the road, but it still means a great deal because it's such a unique opportunity, playing a team like that.

"It's going to be great for the community, great for Section 4 and for football fans everywhere."

Hogan's take similarly addressed the reality of the most anticipated non-league billing in perhaps all of New York.

"Afterward, we're both going to be supporting each other and hope each other moves on," he said. "But I'd be lying to say it doesn't mean anything, because it does. Two of the best programs in the area, for sure. You want to give it your best shot.

"I think it also certainly makes us better. Matt would probably say the same thing."

One bond uniting Section 4's pre-eminent football programs is mutual respect. Each knows what the other is about, and you've got to believe that each has borrowed a little something from the other's modus operandi. After all, ever met a quality coach who believed himself to be above borrowing from elsewhere to apply to his team?

Another bond? Talent.

On this side, Balmer & Palmer, Burcume, Woolfolk and Wisniewski.

On that side, Ehrets and Watson, Lamond, Silvanic and Borchardt.

May they all, every Spartan and every Blue Devil, have a hand in a tidy, highly competitive and injury-free contest that'll be the talk of the town for weeks.

And may the rest of us relax and enjoy the unique opportunity.

Stevens can be reached by email at kstevens@pressconnects.com and on Twitter @PSBKevin.

IF YOU GO

What: Maine-Endwell vs. Chenango Forks football.

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets: $2 adults, $1 students.

Most recent meeting: M-E 20, Forks 7 (last October).

Post-game Midweek Article(s):    

Fifth Quarter:

CF, M-E emerge from tussle with mutual respect

 Rob Centorani and Kevin Stevens
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

When a fantastic second half of football concluded on a drizzly Saturday at Chenango Forks and the hitting was done between the Blue Devils and Spartans of Maine-Endwell, the respective sides became supporters of one another going forward.

Maine-Endwell held off a late charge from Forks to post a 28-21 victory, the program’s state-record 53rd in succession, with aid of three touchdowns from quarterback Kyle Balmer and some high-grade defense when that was absolutely necessary in the late going.

“I think we’re going to be able to do something the rest of the way, we’re going to at least try, and I’m sure they will, and hopefully we’ll come back with No. 5 and they’ll come back with No. 3,” Spartans coach Matt Gallagher said of the teams’ state-championship chases.

“I told Matt, ‘Go get No. 5.’ That’s a very, very good team and they’re on the run of all runs,” said Forks coach David Hogan. “I wish them the best, I do. I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys.”

M-E fullback Cordell Woolfolk did his share to keep the defense honest inside, and came away with heightened respect for Forks’ defenders.

“They showed us, definitely, how tough they are,” he said. “They just kept on fighting and fighting to every whistle and until that close hit zero.” …

Maine-Endwell’s Travis MacDonald made his presence felt during the second half. At least four times in the second half, he dropped ball carriers for the losses. He had back-to-back tackles of L.J. Watson that netted 3 yards of losses on the Blue Devils' first drive the second half. MacDonald dropped Forks' Dylan Studer for a 2-yard loss midway through the fourth quarter and then combined with two teammates to sack Watson for a 4-yard loss on the Blue Devils' final possession. …

Hit of the Game? Here’s one vote for the lick M-E’s Michael Palmer laid on a 140-pound opponent while blocking on a third-quarter kickoff return. The pop was followed by Boos of displeasure from some of Forks’ faithful. However, as Hogan assured, “It was absolutely clean.”

 

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