By Patrick Newell
Sun Sports Editor
Perhaps no quarterback this year in Section IV had bigger shoes to fill than Greene senior Corey Breck. Breck made his first start last week guiding the Trojans to a five-point victory over local rival Oxford.
Breck displayed his athletic ability and elusiveness extending drives and he converted a key first down late in the fourth quarter scrambling outside on a designed bootleg run. An understudy a year ago to four-year starter Kurt Spear, Breck is not expected to throw for 200 yards a game and double-digit touchdowns like his predecessor, although he certainly is no slouch slinging the pigskin.
“I think people maybe were spoiled with Kurt throwing the ball,” said Greene fourth-year coach Tim Paske. “Corey didn’t have his best game throwing the ball last week, but he definitely can throw it.”
In Breck, expect the Trojans to use his ability to make plays with his feet out of nothing, and he offers a legitimate run-pass threat. It’s a contrast to Spear, who delivered his bullets to receivers almost strictly out of the pocket. “As far as I am concerned, Corey has already established his identity as our quarterback,” Paske said. “He’s a leader in our locker room and the kids respond to him. He is relishing the position he is in right now.”
The Trojans look for a 2-0 start on Friday against Whitney Point, while B-G, Norwich, Oxford, Sherburne-Earlville, and UV-Edmeston all have Friday games on tap as well. Please read on for a look at this week’s contests:
Norwich (1-0) at Sidney (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Sidney may have lost its three big offensive guns – Aaron Zurn, Kyle Morenus, and Pat Simonds – but the majority of the unsung heroes blocking for them return, said Norwich coach John Pluta. “They have a lot of experience up front and they were very good last year,” Pluta said. “They may be even better (on the line) than last year.”
And last year’s team finished 12-1 en route to the school’s first state championship in football. The majority of those victories coming by blowout including a 64-15 blowout of Norwich. Returning backs Mike Burpoe and Parker Umbra weren’t your typical reserves seeing plenty of minutes a year ago, and the two of them combined for three rushing TDs in a 31-13 win over Oneonta last Friday.
Norwich’s ground game operated at near peak efficiency totaling 314 yards in a 34-20 win over Johnson City. Chris Mattingly had 117 yards, and four other Tornado backs rushed for at least 40 yards. “Our focus this week is to improve over our performance last week,” Pluta said. “We’re pleased with our game one effort, and some kids stepped up and did a nice job running the ball.”
B-G (1-0) at UV-Edmeston (0-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
B-G senior Willie McGinnis rushed for over 100 yards in his first varsity start. The converted lineman softened up the middle of Harpursville’s defense, and broke a 33-yard TD run late in the game. Stopping McGinnis is goal number one for the Storm. “He’s big and strong, and as a team B-G is big and strong,” said UV-Edmeston coach Jack Loeffler. One of B-G’s two wins a year ago was over the winless Storm. “Harpursville was pretty quick, but didn’t have a lot of size. I think we match up better size-wise.”
