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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh North Stars and the Glens Falls Greenjackets will host the first two games of the 2011 Empire Football League playoffs. The North Stars, who begin their title defense tonight, constructed a record of 8-2 earning the three seed and welcome the Montreal Voyageurs to Plattsburgh Athletic Complex. Montreal finished the season 3-7 capturing the final playoff spot thanks to a 15-0 victory over Amsterdam who had an identical record. Glens Falls will host the fifth-seeded Watertown Red & Black at East Field. The Greenjackets ended the 2011 campaign with a 6-4 record, just one game better than Watertown’s 5-5 mark, thus deciding the home team for tonight’s contest. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Steve Weed will stream the Watertown and Glens Falls game live at http://steveweedproductions.com/.
Plattsburgh ended the year on a three-game winning streak entering the playoffs with the league’s third best record. The North Stars gave up just 79 points all season with 46 of those points coming in their two losses to Albany and Syracuse. Head coach Pat Keleher’s offense has received steady production from quarterback Ken Stay, but it has been the defense keeping Plattsburgh hopes for back-to-back titles alive. Linebacker Harry Roscoe is the undisputed leader of a stingy North Star defensive unit. Roscoe compiled 43 tackles, two forced fumbles, two INT’s and a touchdown during the 2011 season, making several big plays throughout the year. The North Stars will have to contend with a competitive Montreal squad that comes into the playoffs losers of their last three. The Voyageurs will need to have success on the offensive side of the ball early if they want to keep the game within striking distance.
In probably the more anticipated match up of the weekend, Glens Falls and Watertown will face off for what is expected to be a dog fight all evening. The Greenjackets earned a hard-fought 21-7 victory over the Red & Black back on August 13 at home. Watertown enters the game looking exact revenge on the same field Glens Falls defeated them on two months ago. After a slow start Watertown’s offense began to produce in big ways for long-time head coach and owner George Ashcraft. The Red & Black tallied scores of 68, 50 and 47 in three straight games, finishing the season with the league’s third best point total (227). Watertown is 4-1 in their last five contests, but dropped the season finale at home to Albany, 20-15. Both teams will be looking to advance another week in the win-or-go-home scenario. The Greenjackets hope the home crowd will be the deciding factor as they look to hold off a hot Watertown team seeking another EFL crown.
Running back Joe Brennan leads the Watertown running attack with 557 yards and five touchdowns. Brian Williams and Anthony Noel combined for almost 700 yards and seven touchdowns. Noel added two touchdown receptions to give him a total of six TD’s on the season. Headlining the Greenjacket offense is receiver Ricky McVay who has caught 22 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns. A carousel of quarterbacks has gone under center for Glens Falls so it could be up to McVay and John Brennan to create big plays. Brennan had a team-high five touchdown receptions in 2011. The Greenjacket offense will have to be aware of Watertown linebacker Matt Kepler who recorded 57 tackles on the year.
Syracuse earned the number one seed by way of their 10-0 league record. Albany, who went 9-1 with their lone loss coming against Syracuse, will hold the two seed in the six-team playoff format. Unless Montreal defeats Plattsburgh, the winner of the Glens Falls/Watertown game will head to Syracuse next week while the North Stars would travel to Albany. As the top seed, Syracuse plays the highest remaining seed of tonight’s contests.
GAME INFO
Watertown at Glens Falls – East Field, 7 p.m.
Montreal at Plattsburgh – Plattsburgh Athletic Complex, 7 p.m.
Live Video of Watertown and Glens Falls game at http://steveweedproductions.com/
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