Make-or-break games for local gridders

We’ve just crossed the halfway point threshold for the 2007 high school football season, and some teams are already in must-win situations if they intend to play past Halloween next month.

Bainbridge-Guilford faces a Harpursville club in the same boat with each team likely to play out its Class D schedule as a spoiler in the event of a loss. In that same division, once-beaten Deposit travels to twice-beaten Oxford with the same implications at stake.

Meanwhile, Saturday afternoon, Norwich ventures to Susquehanna Valley with one division loss in tow. A second loss would certainly cast the Tornado out of the Class B playoff chase for a second straight season.

Greene has a much easier task facing winless Watkins Glen as it gears up for tougher matchups in the ensuing weeks against Trumansburg and Lansing.

Below are inside looks at this week’s local gridiron matchups:

B-G (2-2) vs. Harpursville (2-2)

Harpursville is much-improved this year with a prolific offense that scores 30 points a game, and does most of its damage with a deep running back corps. Joe Nieto is coming off a 235-yard, three-TD game against Delhi, the week before Todd Terpstra rushed for 186 yards against Hancock, and in week two, it was Mike DeMarco rushing for 116 yards against Oxford. “They’re awful quick and we need to stop their outside game,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. “Delhi had success running the ball right at them, so we’ll see what we can do.”

The Bobcats need to shake off the effects of a 66-0 loss to Walton, and the majority of that damage occurred in a second half that produced 52 Walton points. “We’re trying to focus on the first half of that game, and let the kids know we think that’s more an indication of us,” Mattingly said.

After a fast start that produced back-to-back 100-yard games, B-G’s leading rusher, Dustin Ross, has just 106 yards over the last two games. “After the Walton game, I’m concerned about the mindset of the kids,” Mattingly said. “Beating Harpursville will be some good medicine for us.”

Sherburne-Earlville (2-2) at South Jefferson (2-2), Friday, 7:45 p.m.

The Marauders make the 105-mile trip north tonight to face a South Jeff squad that likes to pass the ball and spread the field.

Jamieson Crast is a dual threat to run and throw with two 200-yard passing games already this season and 569 yards through the air this season. He also has over 200 yards rushing, second on the team to Jake Smith. “Their quarterback is dynamite,” said S-E coach Mickey James. “We have to pressure him or he’ll pick you apart. You can’t just fall back into coverage.”

The Marauders continue to pile up good offensive statistics led by Chenango County rushing leader Billy Northey (764 yards). However, those yards haven’t yielded a proportionate number of points. “We have to learn to finish drives,” James said. “A lot of that comes down to execution and good mental discipline.”