Stillwater claims Class C title with shut out of Cambridge-Salem, 21-0
LANSINGBURGH, NY >> Stillwater stayed undefeated with Friday night’s win over Cambridge-Salem to claim the Section II, Class C Championship, 21-0 at Lansingburgh High School.
“It means everything,” said
Stillwater Head Coach Ian Godfrey. “We have a proud tradition here but we were missing that sectional title. We were finalists a few years ago and to finally get over the hump is indescribable, especially with these seniors. They have earned it. It’s hard to not get emotional when you talk about them.”
Stillwater played a near perfect game Friday night, as shown by the final score. The defense was stalwart and the offense was rolling on all cylinders and to do it against Cambridge-Salem, the defending Class C sectional champion.
“You know what you are getting with them. You’re getting a really well coached,
disciplined football team,” said Godfrey. “We were really fortunate tonight. Some breaks went our way. We had to bend a little bit, we knew they were going to push the ball on us, but our kids answered, especially when it mattered.”
The facet of Stillwater than answered the loudest was the defense. Key stops on fourth down in the first quarter and to end the first half kept the Indians off the scoreboard early. That momentum carried itself over to the second half for some more key stops in the fourth quarter. Overall, with the help of some bounces that went their way, the Stillwater defense got the job done Friday night.
“Anything can turn the tide of that game, especially with Cambridge,” said Godfrey. “We turn the ball over and it’s 14-0 and they go down to punch it in and it is a different conversation. Our kids understood the game plan, they knew that we were going to give up some stuff, but at the end of the day that we had to tighten up, especially in the redzone.”
The first quarter ended with a 0-0 tie but that was because of Stillwater’s fourth down stand on the goal line on Cambridge’s first drive of the game. The ground game for both squads ate up clock and ground, with neither team budging on the scoreboard.
In the second quarter, Stillwater cracked the scoreboard. Senior Luc Lescault punched in a three yard run and Mason Seymour ran for a 69 yard touchdown in the quarter to get things going for the Warriors.
“He is the most underrated player in this entire section,” said Seymour of Lescault. “He is a phenomenal role player, he has been since we were eight years old. The kid is quiet and humble, but he is my best friend and we would not be the team we are without him.”
Another goal line stand to end the half was prolonged with some time out calls and clock stoppages with incomplete passes. Stillwater was able to shut down Cambridge-Salem workhorse Kaedin Ogilvie to keep the Indian’s off the scoreboard once again.
In the fourth quarter, Seymour ran for the final touchdown of the night, this time from 12 yards out, to close the door and all but clinch the section title for the Warriors.
“They have the history to back it up, they have a great resume,” said Seymour. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy coming in, they are a very well coached team. We knew they were going to have a good gameplan, but our coaches put together a really good gameplan and we executed really well.”
Along with Lescault and Seymour, quarterback James Galarneau racked up serious yards on the ground in the win. The three runners totaled 305 yards together in the win.
“We know 9 and 2 are going to be the targets, but to have Luc back, to be able to get some carries and to be able to throw the ball a little bit is also going to be big,” said Godfrey. “We are fortunate we have great guys up front. Our line time and time again is great. What else can you say? I am just so happy with how they fought.”
Stillwater, now 10-0 this season, will face the winner of the Section 7 and Section 10 game being played on Saturday.