GREENE – In a wet, sloppy, slugfest of a game featuring two football teams that knew each other well, the Greene Trojans fell victim to Sidney by way of a four touchdown performance from the Warriors quarterback, as Sidney soared to a 32-23 win in the Class D Section IV quarterfinals.
“It's disappointing for all of us but it doesn't take away from our accomplishments this year,” said Greene head coach Dave Gorton.
Greene enjoyed a year of dominance on the gridiron – previously going 6-1, defeating then undefeated Harpursville-Afton for the division title and claiming the top-seed in the Class D Section IV sectional tournament.
However, despite all these accomplishments, a familiar foe, the Sidney Warriors – a team Greene had beaten in the regular season by a score of 30-20 – turned the table on the Trojans this past Friday, Oct. 21.
Down 16-14 at the half, Greene was looking for a turnaround in their play against the Warriors. To many fans surprise they received just that as a 21 yard field goal from Mitchell Walters in the third quarter game Greene their first lead of the night at 17-16.
This first lead would undoubtedly be their last however, when Sidney strung together two scoring drives in the fourth quarter for the comeback win.
Sidney's quarterback Dawson Backus tucked one into the end zone from three yards out to begin the fourth quarter of scoring – Nate Vibbard reception for a good two-point conversion.
Up 24-17, and with time ticking off the clock, Greene leaned on their main offensive weapon, senior running back, Luke Erickson. Erickson finished the game with 23 carries for 185 yards and three scores on the night – finding the end zone for the final time in the fourth quarter when he plowed his way in from 19 yards out for the potential tie.
Instead of electing for the tied game with the extra-point attempt, the Greene coaching staff dialed up a two-point conversion run – which failed, handing Sidney the 24-23 lead late in the game.
Instead of taking the one-point win, the Warriors rubbed some revenge salt into the wound of the Trojans, as they marched down the field punching the late touchdown in from four yards out off once again a Backus run – two-point conversion good, giving Sidney the final lead and score of 32-23 for the upset win.
Greene, the number five ranked team in all of New York State for Class D , had fallen and fallen to a team that they had previously managed a win against.
“We weren't able to make enough plays to win the game but we have to learn how to cope with disappointments in life,” said coach Gorton. “I'm proud of our players and our coaches, and I'll have many great memories that will be important to me long after I'm done coaching.”
Greene (6-2 overall) has now been jettisoned from playoff contention, and will now play one final consolation game on Oct. 27, when they host Norwich at 6:30 p.m.
