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The dominance of Marcellus over Solvay is complete!  After trouncing Solvay in the regular season 32-6, Marcellus rolled over the Bearcats again; this time on a neutral field in the semi-final playoff game; shutting them out completely and making a statement in the process!

Solvay did not score one point against a very inspired Mustang defense.  Not one point.

Solvay did not even have one first down in the second half until Marcellus started substituting in the 4^th quarter.

It started ugly.  On the first kickoff of the game, a Solvay player blindsided our kicker, Brendan Carey, more than 30 yards away from the ball in a nasty helmet first hit that somehow went unnoticed by the officials.  It knocked the wind out of Carey for a couple minutes but the senior caught his breath, stood up and walked off.  Carey would come in later and hit a 19 yard field goal, go 3 for 3 on PATs and barely miss a 56 yard field goal that had the entire stadium silent while it soared on target but fell just two yards short – a magnificent attempt.  The Mustangs rallied to their kicker and a very fired up Marcellus defense took the field and despite 30 yards of penalties still kept the Bearcats out of the end zone!  It would be the start of a defensive performance that shutout Solvay!

Indeed, the entire kickoff incident set the stage for what would become a fiercely physical game – with the Mustang defense vowing to deny the Bearcats the end zone the entire game.  It was a promise they made good on.  They turned back every Solvay drive.  They smacked down one ball carrier after another.  They were so fired up that swarms of green jerseys piled into every defensive stop. 

And series after series, they made sure that the hits just kept on coming.  Joe Felicia had a Kodak moment sack that planted the Bearcat QB into the turf; Zach Wiley pummeled both running backs and receivers; but no hit was as special as the one Dan Rudy laid on a Bearcat defender in the secondary to free Derek Belvito on a 4^th quarter touchdown bomb.  The Rudy hit was a monster smack-down – a Halloween treat for Mustang fans!

Defense came up big all game long and bought time for the offense to catch fire.  They never let up.  When Solvay drove down inside the red zone, the Green Swarm would literally push them backward and hold on one 4^th down attempt after another.  They were not going to let Solvay put one point on that board – even the second team worked like dogs to preserve the shutout.  This team’s defense played like champions.

The offense did its part too.  Coming out of half time with a slim 7-0 lead, the Mustang attack opened up and took control.  Touchdown passes to Zach Amidon, Dan Rudy and Derek Belvito would put the game out of reach.  Ricky Alfreds had another 100+ yard rushing game, Dan Rudy had another 100+ yard receiving game, and Will Fiacchi took his passing yards on the season to over 2400 with 22 TDs through the air.  Kevin Daily ripped off some electrifying runs and Chaz Hayes pulled down some circus catches to move the chains.  Even when the offense stalled, the team shined as Fiacchi nailed a 73 yard punt! 

It was a very emotional game – played right on the edge.  But it was a game that brought the team together.  A game where they rallied to each other; where they were not going to yield an inch.  If it was going to be a dog fight, then let loose the hounds because the Mustangs were all in.  Playoff football is like that.  It is intense.  It is high stakes.  The loser goes home; turns in their helmets and has to live with the loss for another year.  No one wants that at this stage of the season.  Our players were going to make sure it was not the green and black that was heading home a loser – this team is on a mission and Solvay was just in the way. 

But no more.  The Bearcats are yesterday’s news.  Marcellus has more important things to contemplate; like a trip this Saturday to the Carrier Dome to face Westhill for a Section title.  Oh, what a game we have coming up.  This is going to be a collision worthy of a championship.  We know how good they are but we know we are better.  No one will hand us the championship; we will have to take it.  But Saturday is not the end game; no, we want to play for states.  That where this journey is headed.  A state title.  But we play them one game at a time.  South Jefferson is gone.  Solvay is gone.  Westhill is next.

If you cannot get pumped this week, then you have no pulse.  If you do not expect to work as hard as you have ever worked, then do not bother showing up for practice.  This is what you live for; this is what you play for; this is what the game is all about.  Marcellus versus Westhill in the Dome for the championship and the right to keep the season going.  It does not get any better than this!

The Solvay playoff game was actually won on Wednesday night.  Practice did not go particularly well that night and coaches dismissed the team early.  But just as a I reached my car, I heard Will Fiacchi calling signals.  I looked back and the players had stayed.  There under the lights of our stadium, with one assistant coach they convinced to stay and blow the whistle, was 33 players lined up running practice on their own.  The team decided that they had not performed well that night and that work needed to be done for Friday’s game – so they stayed and worked harder.  The players FINISHED the practice the way they knew it needed to be done.  On their own, without prompting; that is leadership.  That is a team on a mission to win a championship.

Congratulations Mustangs on a big win over Solvay!

Now get ready to win a championship!


Thanks for the kudos Howlett Hill Fire Department!
Maybe other local marquee signs will follow your lead this week and cheer on the Mustangs as they head to the Dome!  How cool would that be to see signs in the village and surrounding area supporting the football team's first ever trip to the section finals!  Make them big or small -- but let's get them up on the corners, in the windows and wherever we can!

















































GO MUSTANGS!