Hoosick Falls (11-0) vs. Bronxville (10-0, Section I)
Saturday, Nov. 21, Noon
New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C semifinal
Dietz Stadium, Kingston

Hoosick Falls Panthers 2009 game-by-game results

Schuylerville, W 39-19
HOOSIC VALLEY, W, 37-0
Tamarac, W, 40-13
STILLWATER, W, 51-6
RENSSELAER, W, 21-7
CAMBRIDGE, W, 21-19
Corinth, W, 21-7
CANAJOHARIE, W, 36-0 *
Granville, W, 32-0 #
Chatham, W 17-14 $
Ogdensburg Free Acad., W, 51-6 %

Home games in CAPS

*= Section II Class C quarterfinal
#= Section II Class C semifinal at Stillwater
$= Section II Class C Super Bowl at Stillwater
%= Regional final at Stillwater

Avg. points per game: 33.3
Avg. points allowed: 8.3
Leading rushers: Alex Hansen (206-1,554-24) and Mike Brewster (80-450-13)
Leading passer: Mike Brewster (96-155-1,344-17-2)
Leading receivers: Logan O’Brien (29-362-2) and Kevin McMahon (17-323-4) and Tanner Williams (20-250-2) and Alex Hansen (15-304-5)

Bronxville Broncos 2009 game-by-game results

Valhalla, W, 21-0
Dobbs Ferry, W, 24-7
MAGNUS, W, 22-7
CROTON-HARMON, W, 30-14
Rye Neck, W, 34-0
TUCKAHOE, W, 40-0
LINCOLN HALL, W, 41-12*
HASTINGS, W, 38-7#
Croton-Harmon, W, 35-20$
Ellenville, W, 34-6%

*=Section I Class C quarterfinal
#=Section I Class C semifinal
$=Section I Class C Super Bowl at Mahopac
%=Regional final at Dietz Stadium

Avg. points per game: 31.9
Avg. points allowed: 7.3
Leading rushers: Brian Murray (124-1,268-19) and Liam Berney (79-668-4)
Leading passers: Dillon Mitchell (15-21-258-3-1) and Jack Near (11-16-212-2-0)
Leading receivers: James Karol (12-172-0) and Will Karol (6-146-5)

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View full Bronxville stats on their MaxPreps.com page.

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It's been a rollercoaster season for the Broncos, as they suited only 21 players for their Week 1 game when 13 seniors were suspended for "violating team rules."

Still, Bronxville has rattled off 10 consecutive victories, setting up a New York State Class C semifinal meeting with Hoosick Falls.

What else do we know about Bronxville? Hoosick Falls head coach Ron Jones told me after the game against Ogdensburg that the Broncos are a big and physical team, but so was Ogdensburg. The Panthers have made due with their relatively undersized line by playing smart - Alex Hansen has racked up plenty of receiving yardage on screens when defensive linemen over-pursue - and using the essentially fool-proof spread option offense.

Like Hoosick Falls, the Broncos played an even first half with their opponent in the regional final before turning it into a rout, said the Journal News.

The Times Herald-Record said the Broncos controlled the line of scrimmage both ways in the 34-6 victory over Ellenville.

Here is an excerpt from the Kingston Daily Freeman (one of our sister papers):
"Bronxville rushed 46 times for 325 of its 350 total yards. Quarterback Jack Near completed one pass and ran 2 yards for the team’s final touchdown."

The Broncos are certainly not a pass-first team. Their two quarterbacks have combined for 470 passing yards on a 26-of-37 performance.

Hoosick Falls' Mike Brewster, on the other hand, is 96-of-155 for 1,344 yards and 17 touchdowns. He's been intercepted only twice this season. Brewster is also the Panthers' second-leading rusher, having run for 450 yards and 13 scores.

Few teams have held Hoosick Falls off the scoreboard this season. Chatham held the Panthers to 17 points in the Section II Super Bowl and Hoosick Falls scored 21 points in three consecutive weeks to conclude the regular season with tough games against Rensselaer, Cambridge and Corinth.

Bronxville, too, scores points consistently. Their 21-point output with a shorthanded team in Week 1 was their lowest total of the season.

Both teams have posted three shutouts apiece.

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On paper, these teams look as even as could be when you concede a little of the power rushing game to Bronxville and the passing attack to Hoosick Falls.

But, Hoosick Falls can move the ball through the air consistently and I think that could be the key, especially in a two-minute drill situation. The Panthers run the two-minute drill every Thursday afternoon in practice and they are 3-for-3 on their most recent attempts. Brewster's drill performance against Ogdensburg just before halftime was a thing of beauty considering the windy and rainy conditions.

The Panthers have done a good job this season against other power running games. They shut down Rensselaer in a regular season game, but that might have been expected against a Class D team, no matter if the Rams were heads and shoulders above the other Class D teams in Section II.

Hoosick Falls gave up some yardage to Corinth's Jordan Charbonneau and Chatham's Josh Keyes, but effectively held them out of the end zone. That run defense needs to show up again if the Panthers wish to have a shot against the Broncos.

The Panthers finally lose the homefield advantage they had built at Stillwater, having played three consecutive postseason games there.

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Other Section II football teams in action in Kingston this weekend:
Class AA
Saratoga Springs (9-1) vs. New Rochelle (10-0), Saturday, 8 p.m.
Class A
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (11-0) vs. Cornwall (8-2), Friday, 8 p.m.
Class B
Schalmont (9-2) vs. Nanuet (10-0), Saturday, 4 p.m.

TW3 TV will broadcast all Section II games except the Hoosick Falls contest.
Make sure to check out The Saratogian for ongoing coverage of Burnt Hills and Saratoga this week as well.