BAINBRIDGE – Two on-side kicks, a great return game, winning the turnover battle, solid punts, and a great rushing attack and defense all contributed to Bainbridge-Guilford upsetting 13th in the state ranked Unatego, winning 25-7.
The Bainbridge-Guilford Bobcats had only defeated the then 0-6 UV Storm when they readied themselves to host the 13th ranked 6-0 Unatego Spartans for a homecoming and senior night matchup. Prior to the start of the game, B-G recognized their nine graduating seniors: Austin Carr, Bailey Hotaling, Austin Rowe, Nick Decker, Kameron Sickler, Jesse Micha-Hurlburt, Owen Lambrecht, Jesse Palmatier, and Zach Ouimet.
What ensued following the festivities surrounding homecoming and the senior night celebrations was one of the major upsets in New York State Class D high school football this past weekend, Oct. 14.
Following a phenomenal kick-return from Ben Bivar for 36 yards to start the game – to which B-G head coach Israel Lorimer credits as the spark that ignited his team – the Bobcats strung together a lengthy drive before Evan Hyzer hit a slant route to a wide open Ouimet for the go ahead touchdown. The Bobcats would not look back the rest of the game.
Up 7-0, the Bobcats defense helped earn the win early on with a big stop on the ensuing drive from the Spartans, stuffing them, allowing their offense to take back over – to which, following another solid drive, Carr took the ball in on the ground for a five yard touchdown.
“The kids played hard, we got some breaks. We have matured so much with so many young kids,” said coach Lorimer. “Getting a win last week made this week of practice better. I started the week off with saying 'listen if we go into this game thinking we're going to get smoked then we are. If we think were going to win then we will.”
Despite the comfortable 13-0 lead, Unatego's Wilsey would break out late in the first quarter for a 35 yard run for the touchdown, cutting into the lead at 13-7.
“They’re a good football team they were 6-0, I'm not going to take anything away from them, but I told them (Bainbridge-Guilford) 'you guys can play with anybody. We just beat ourselves usually,'” said coach Lorimer.
Taking the lead into the half at 13-7 – following a scoreless second half – B-G elected to go the unconventional route, as they kicked an onside kick to begin the second half, grabbing the ball and the momentum for themselves.
“It was senior night, homecoming, the kids were playing great, I figured let's keep them energized,” said coach Lorimer on his decision to onside kick the ball.
Although the Bobcats failed to score off the kick recovery, a great punt buried Unatego inside their one yard line. A fumble from Unatego shortly after, on that same drive, from deep inside their one yard line, lead to turnover points for B-G when Austin Carr tacked on his second rushing touchdown of the night, this time from one yard out taking the lead to 19-7.
A Ben Bivar interception for the Bobcats nearly solidified the upset win, as Bivar picked off Unatego's quarterback, Smith.
Bivar's late interception turnover lead to the nail in the coffin play for the previously undefeated Unatego Spartans. Senior Austin Carr managed to rip off the longest play of the night on the ground, capping off his senior night performance with his final 46 yard touchdown for the 25-7 lead.
“We had about 2,000 people there, it was just jammed and then it was homecoming, the band was playing, it was just a ruckus. Everybody felt it and it was a lot of fun, no one thought we could beat them,” said coach Lorimer.
