By Bill Toscano
Granville suffered a painful 28-0 loss at Mechanicville Friday night in a game in which Horde coach Mario Torres said his team was physically outplayed. The loss left Granville at 0-3 on the season and 0-3 in Class C North competition.
Now the Horde travels to Cohoes Saturday to face an unfamiliar Class B opponent. The Tigers are also 0-3, with losses to Ravena, Lansingburgh and Albany Academy.
“It was a very uncharacteristic game for us,” Torres said of Friday’s loss. “We got physically beat up. We didn’t take care of our business, and we let the emotions take us away,” he said. “We had moments, but we were inconsistent. When we needed to make plays, we didn’t. When they needed to make plays, they did.”
Mechanicville, 2-1, broke Saturday’s game open with two touchdowns in the second quarter and added two more in the third. Sal Cimino passed for one touchdown and rushed for another for Mechanicville.
Torres said Paul Hanna, who gained 94 yards, played a good game for the Horde and that sophomore Bailey Pratt, the center, continues to play well.
“Jake Young, when he had time, threw some nice passes,” Torres said. “They were effective with their outside blitz, and they did not give us time to throw.”
Granville also saw two players taken from the field with injuries, Torres said. He said that Ronnie Taylor took a helmet to the knee and John Travis was involved in a helmet-to-helmet injury and had to be evaluated regarding a possible concussion.
Torres said he has not seen the Tigers play, but has seen them on video. He said they run a multiple offense and a four-man front on defense.
“I think we’re better than 0-3,” he said. “If we can play 48 minutes of football, we can win.”
Hoosick Falls is leading the league at 3-0. The Panthers are trying to go unbeaten in Section II play for the fourth straight season. Stillwater is 1-0, Mechanicville 2-1, Corinth 1-1, and Tamarac 0-1. There remains an outside possibility that if the Horde can beat Tamarac and Stillwater, they could possibly gain the final playoff spot. After the Cohoes game, Granville finishes out at home against Vorheesville, Stillwater and Tamarac.
