Archive: Sports

This past Friday night, standing at the top of the Eastern hill, looking down upon the green, grass, grid iron of Sobus Field, the blaze orange sticks, chains and down marker lay on the visitor's side near the forty yard line. A crew from Waverly was setting up a boom camera at the North end, behind the uprights. The volunteer crew was starting to set up the concession stand, readying for a battle of their own. Jeff Neal and his crew from News Radio WEBO were performing a sound check on their broadcasting equipment. Chicken dinners were being sold down the hill. All of these activities and more were taking place to get the field prepped for the battle.

The two teams took the field to run through their pregame warmups, passing lines, linemen hits, and kicking drills. The coaches watching everything, setting up the chess match in their head. A short time later, the Bobcats filed down the hill to meet and finalize the game plan that they have been working on all week. The Waverly Wolverines huddled near the Northwest corner of the field to discuss their game. Fans, family members, photographers, scouts and community members started to fill the bleachers and the hillside. It was almost time.

As they ran onto the field the roster for the Lansing Bobcats grew by about seventy five players. The entire Lansing Recreation Football program, the Lansing Modified football team and the Lansing Cheer squads created a lane for the Cats to run through. They were also supported by a couple of alumni players from the class of 2014, Tyler Winslow, now playing at IC and Ben Rourke, now playing for Cortland State. As the approximately 1600 fans looked down upon the field they were able to view the past, present and the future of Lansing football. The coaches of the Small Fry teams stated that it is a great motivator for their teams. Coach Winslow believes that it is an even greater motivator for his Varsity squad. When the younger players and the community come out to support the team it really lifts them to a higher level.

Halfback Tim Kelley running off the back of pulling Guard, #65, Braydon Jackson.
The ball was placed on the tee at the forty and Waverly's kicker, Zack Saxon sent it flying. Lansing's kick returner, Tim Kelley, #30, received the ball eleven yards from the end zone. With great blockers and on swift feet he ran the ball back twenty six yards through the mass of Wolverines. If the Bobcat players were nervous they didn't show it. Starting at their thirty seven yard line Lansing's Quarterback (QB) made quick work of moving the ball down the field. Coach Butler's formula consisted of several parts Kelley, two parts Jordan, one part Greg Lee and three parts Brandon Davis. Mixing a couple of passes into their stout running game, the Cats created an explosive touchdown (TD) on their first drive of the game. Jordan missed the point after touchdown (PAT) but, he set the tone of the game and completely knocked the Wolverines back into their den.

After a nice forty five yard kick off by Jordan, Waverly took their first shot at moving the ball. Jacob Goble returned the ball an outstanding 40 yards, bobbing and weaving through the Bobcats. Instead of dropping their heads the Cats dug in. Pat Judd and Owen Davis slammed Joe Peters into the ground at the line of scrimmage. Next, Payton Miller put up a pass to Brendyn Stillman which was denied by pressure from Lansing's line and tight coverage by their secondary. This would be the norm for most of the game. On third and ten Waverly faltered, fumbled, then recovered ball and had to punt it away.
Lansing started a good drive but, the Wolverines forced them to punt after five plays. Kelley sent the ball sky high with his punt, which didn't give any opportunity for a return. With the clock stopped at thirty two seconds, Waverly had enough time to run two plays and the first quarter ended with the score at 6-0 in Lansing's favor. Lansing's offense dominated the time of possession, running twenty two plays for eighty one yards to Waverly's seven plays for one yard.

The Wolverines started off the second quarter continuing to stumble with another three and out. A weak punt gave Lansing great field position and they were fired up. The Waverly defense slowed Lansing down but could not stop them. Near mid field and needing three yards for a reset the Cats decided to go for it on fourth down. Judd snapped the ball to Jordan. Kyle Arrison, the left guard, pulled to be able to lead block. Lee, Brandon Davis, Logan Osterman and Tony Paige all set their blocks as Jordan handed the ball off to Kelley. The sophomore running back sprints through the hole, breaking free of the few hands that grab out for him. He had one man between him and the goal. Kelley lowered his shoulder and trucked the safety. Still building speed, he outran the others that were in pursuit, for a forty five yard TD. Jordan faked the hand off to Brandon Davis, rolled out to his right and completed a pass to a wide open Lee in the Northeast corner of the goal for the two point conversion.

Lineman #71, Pat Judd and #68 Tony Paige, making holes and moving bodies.
Jordan booted another kickoff forty eight yards. Waverly returned it for seventeen and started on their twenty nine. No matter what they tried they could not get traction. After a couple of three yard runs and another incomplete pass, they had to punt again. Coach Boothe and his defense had an answer for every move the cousins of the weasel made. The rugged Wolverine defense did not give up and caused the Cats to turn over the ball on downs after sacking Jordan for a loss of six on a fourth and two play near midfield. With a little shift in momentum, Waverly strung a few plays together and started to move the ball in a positive manner. First and ten, twenty hash marks from the allusive goal, the coaches in red decide to test the Bobcat's secondary. Attempting four passes in a row and completing none of them due to great coverage by the secondary and the in your face pressure from the defensive line. With a few seconds left in the half Owen Davis plowed down the field for two gains of six yards. The score remained at 14 - 0, Lansing on top and Waverly dumbfounded.

The halftime show started with a spectacular routine from the Lansing Cheer squad and then went into the announcement of the Homecoming court. Matt Hulsebosch, Michelle Schafer, Octavio Tellez and Reilly Zajac were all voted in as the junior court while Adele Ferris, John Lasurdo, Thomas Galvin, and Cassidy Towner were voted in as the senior court. Anna Kirkwood was honored as the Homecoming Queen and Max Jordan was crowned the Homecoming King.
Waverly received the ball to start the second half and on the second play they finally penetrated the Bobcat's secondary and made a reception. Miller completed a sixty eight yard pass to Saxon for the TD. Saxon also made the PAT kick bringing the score to 14 - 7 and shifting momentum their way. Lansing received the kickoff and with determination and fierceness they drove down the field from their twenty two yard line to within three steps of the end zone. Owen Davis, Brandon Davis, Kelley and Jordan all bashing their way through the holes made by the line. The boys in red and white entrenched themselves and forced a turnover on downs.

The wolverines were cornered and fighting back hard now. They are not typically on the lower end of the score. First and ten on their three yard line. A gain of three on a keeper, to the left, by Miller. Next, a sweep to the right by Saxon who collided with Zack Detrick and Logan Boothe. The hit was hard and as he was going down, he coughed up the ball. Zach Walker quickly dived over the pile and smothered it as if he was saving his squad from a grenade. Given a second chance the boys in blue were not going to let this one slip away. A sweep to the right by Kelley and three hash marks go by. Only three left to go. Jordan handed the ball off to Brandon Davis and he plowed through the wall of defenders in the back pockets of Lee and Boothe, increasing their lead to 20 - 7.

The Waverly team was starting to get discouraged. Their fans and cheer squad were still encouraging them but, their coaches were upset and not handling the pressure of being behind very well. One pass attempt was thwarted by Lee when he laid completely out horizontal and his arm looked to have stretched several inches knocking the ball away from the receiver. They went three and out yet again. Lansing started their next drive with a short gain by Kelly and another by Brandon Davis. After a twelve yard gain Lee was brought down hard and dropped the rock. Waverly recovered it and tried to close the gap. Three, 5 yard carries, a false start penalty and another couple of incomplete passes later they were punting the ball back to Lansing.

You could see the exhaustion on the faces of both teams. It had been a difficult battle from the start. Lansing went three and out and gave up the ball. The first three quarters flew by in a blink. The fourth, however had the clock crawling down. Each change of the light segments seemed to take days. Waverly knew that time was not their friend at this point and they took to the air again. Four passes in a row and four times the ball struck grass. A combination of pressure and tight coverage kept the ball from reaching anything but the ground. Winslow's team acquired possession of the ball and began to chew the clock down. All they would need is a couple of first downs and to hold onto the ball to spoil their opponent's plans. Twelve plays later combined with smart management of the play clock, removed almost all of the grains of sand from the hour glass.

Waverly took over on their thirty two yard line with less than two minutes left in the game. Miller completed a pass to Alex Volpe for a huge forty three yard gain. If they scored quickly they could attempt an onside kick. Second and four only nineteen yards away from their goal, they spiked the ball to stop the clock. As the next two pass attempts came crashing to the ground so did the hopes of a Waverly win. All Jordan had to do now was to kneel the ball and watch the clock tick down to his team's victory over a long time divisional foe.

The final score of the game was 20 - 7, Lansing. Not only did the Bobcats take over sole possession of first place in their division, they also took over a spot on the Class C, NYS Sports Writers Association (NYSSWA) rankings board at 17th in the state as posted on Section 4 Football/ Road to Syracuse.

Coach Tim Boothe and his son Logan after a hard fought battle. You can almost see the southern drawl.
Waverly came into this game averaging 2.7 passing TDs, 2 rushing TDs, 167.3 Passing yards, and 159.2 rushing yards, per game. Lansing held them to 1 passing TD, 0 rushing TDs, 54 yards rushing, and 138 yards passing. Lansing defense has allowed a measly 39 points to all of their opponents. This is still the lowest in all of section four football. Lansing football is back on track.

"Together We Win"..., "Together We Win"..., "Together We Win"

Prior to the start of the game, Coach Winslow brought his team in close. He didn't tell them what to do or how to do it. It was too late for that at this point. Besides they each knew their mission. He asked them if their mottos of "I'm All In", "Together We Win" and "Winning is a Choice" were real or all just bull crap. Their answer was a resounding "No Coach". He then told his team to, "prove it!" He knew by the look in their eyes that they had won the game before they even stepped onto the field.

The Bobcats will take on Watkins Glen, Friday, October 24th, at Sobus field in Lansing. Senior night kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

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