Norwich (2-1) entertains Windsor (4-0) tonight in its division opener, and despite the Black Knights’ winless record, Norwich coach John Martinson is taking is opposition quite seriously.
“We’re treating this as a playoff week,” Martinson said. “They’re 0-0 in the division, and we’re 0-0. I told our kids, the season begins on Friday.”
Windsor has had trouble putting points on the board through four weeks, and is averaging well under 10 points per game. On the list of Windsor’s conquerors is Chenango County’s own, UV-Edmeston. “I think Windsor is pretty similar to last year,” Martinson said. “They’re pretty big up front and have some good backs. I think they will try to play power football against us.”
Norwich has won the last two meetings between these clubs, the first a 29-28 overtime win that led to an NHS division title. Norwich went into that game with Windsor as a winless team and an underdog. “We don’t want to get caught in a trap of looking at a team’s record,” Martinson said “They can give us trouble with their running game.”
After beating Chenango Forks last week, Norwich settled in for the week ahead by Tuesday. “We learned a a tough good lesson (losing to ) Sidney,” Martinson said. “It will be an emotional weekend with homecoming, and our number one job will be to play football.”
Oxford (2-2) at Bainbridge-Guilford (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Bainbridge-Guilford, guided by sixth-year head coach Tim Mattingly, has had Oxford’s number the previous four years. The Bobcats defeated the Blackhawks in each of those years, and the only loss for Mattingly to Oxford came in his first year as head coach of his alma mater. Not coincidentally, Oxford’s last win over Bainbridge-Guilford – in 2006 – was the last time the Blackhawks finished the season with a winning record.
Through four weeks of the season, Bainbridge-Guilford is unbeaten and sporting a spiffy top-20 Class D ranking in the latest state poll. That ranking may not mean much come game time for this long-standing rivalry.
“I’ve seen Oxford play a couple of times, and they’re good,” Mattingly said. “Paul Wonka (Oxford junior) is the real deal at running back. He’s a game-breaker, and he can break it for a long run at any given time.”
With 654 rushing yards through four games, Wonka has already far surpassed his rushing total of last year, but he is not the only concern for B-G. “They have some pretty good athletes, and they’re quick and physical,” Mattingly said. “The Golden (Andrew) kid is a big target at receiver, and their quarterback (Jody Smith) throws a nice ball.”
The Blackhawks were outmuscled at the line of scrimmage last week against Walton, and Mattingly hopes his club will do the same. His Bobcats average nearly 240 yards rushing per game. Behind junior quarterback Corbin Palmer, the B-G passing game is also a viable threat.but The running game, led by senior Billy Holden, remains the club’s bread and butter offensive staple. “We’re going to try to keep doing what we have been doing the last three games,” Mattingly said. “We do have the advantage of being able to throw it a little bit. We may have to (throw) to loosen them up.”
