Indians advance to title game
Offensive outburst helps 2016 champs put aside memory of ’17 flameout
Kyle Vachon made a statement that pretty much any returning member of the Glens Falls football team could have authored Saturday afternoon, especially the starters.
“I can finally put my nightmares to rest,” Vachon said.
The Indians entered the 2017 Class B state semifinals with immense confidence and departed the game with a loss against Pleasantville. Saturday, the return trip to Middletown High School’s Faller Field was a far more fulfilling adventure.
Sophomore running back Aalijah Sampson scored four touchdowns, seniorquarterbackjosephgirard III passed for 300 yards and two touchdowns and added a 25-yard fumble return for a touchdown as Glens Falls beat Marlboro , 48-28.
After the awards ceremony, Girard joyfully slapped over and over again the trophy football the Indians received and then flipped it to his coaches. Saturday’s conclusion was a stark contrast to the 2017 ceremony in a driving rain after Pleasantville notched a 20-7 win over the Indians.
“I didn’t think about anything else for months after,” Vachon said. “I put all I had into training over the last 12 months. As a linebacker (against Pleasantville), I was getting pushed back. I was on the offensive line, we got pushed back. This game, I knew that couldn’t happen again. We dug in this game and that is a big reason why we came out on top.”
The Indians won the battle at the line of scrimmage, producing 482 yards on offense.
“We’re going to Syracuse,” Glens Falls coach Pat Lilac told his team before they headed to the locker room.
Glens Falls (10-2), playing in its third straight state semifinal, will play for its second state title since 2016 at noon Saturday in Syracuse vs. Section V champion Batavia (12-0).
Marlboro (10-2), a program playing in the state playoffs for the seventh time in eight years, still has yet to advance to a state final.
Girard, who led the Indians to the state championship as a sophomore, will conclude his scholastic football career at the Carrier Dome — the same place he will begin playing college basketball for Syracuse University in the 2019-2020 season.
“I can’t wait,” Girard said. “I haven’t really said it much to (my teammates) or the coaches, but my Dad and Mom have talked about it a little bit. I was really confident coming into this game, but it was more about heart and pride for me.”
The Indians led 28-14 at halftime, but a third touchdown run by Marlboro senior running back Ameer Williams (140 yards, four touchdowns) cut the deficit to 28-21 with 4:48 remaining in the third quarter.
Glens Falls, after dropped passes by David Barclay and Sampson, faced a third-and-10 from its 15. Girard connected with Sampson on a swing pass going to the left and the electrifying sophomore speedster broke two tackles and stayed in bounds on his way to an 85-yard touchdown reception to take a 35-21 lead.
“After I dropped it (the previous play), I knew the ball was coming back my way,” Sampson said.
“That shows how tough he is. He makes a mistake and comes right back to make a great play,” Girard said of Sampson, who delivered 144 yards rushing and three touchdowns to go along with three receptions for 98 yards.
On the next play from scrimmage, Marlboro’s Sam Mongelli — who played quarterback on every other offensive play of the game — caught a pass from Christian Diorio, took a hit from Vachon and fumbled the ball. Girard scooped it up and darted his way through traffic for a 25-yard touchdown return and a 41-21 edge.
“Clinched the game, hands down,” Lilac said. “All the momentum: Aalijah’s play, the fumble, game over.”
A year ago, Girard scrambled constantly and never had a chance to set his feet in the pocket. Saturday, he was sacked twice.
“Coming into this game, we had more concerns about Marlboro than Pleasantville with the way they dominated their opponents,” Lilac said. “Shout out to the O-line and D-line for what they did.”
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