By Dan King
One game separates the Whitehall varsity football team from a perfect regular season.
It may be the Railroaders’ toughest foe of all, the Cambridge Indians.
For the second time in as many seasons, the matchup between Whitehall (6-0, 4-0) and Cambridge (6-0, 4-0) will determine the regular season champion for Section II Class D.
Last year, the Railroaders hosted the Indians, but this year Whitehall will have to travel to Cambridge, where the Indians haven’t lost since 2008.
“This is where we’re going to find out what we’re made of,” said Whitehall coach Rich Gould. “They haven’t lost down there in six or seven years but you know what, they’ve got to get beat at some point.”
Despite Cambridge’s home dominance, Gould is confident in his team.
“We’ve got to be physical up front,” he said. “Our line needs to do well on both sides of the ball and I think we can. That’s really what we have to do, our line has got to control that game and I believe they will.”
Both teams had to defeat all of the other four Section II Class D teams to get to this point.
Whitehall beat Canajoharie 29-0 in week one, Rensselaer 20-0 in week two, Warrensburg 27-6 in week four and Salem 49-6 in week six (see recap on Sports page).
Cambridge defeated Salem 64-6 in week one, Warrensburg 19-14 in week two, Canajoharie 35-21 in week three and Rensselaer 41-0 in week four.
In non-league games, the Railroaders defeated Class C schools Corinth 48-20 and AuSable Valley 41-0. Meanwhile, Cambridge defeated Voorheesville 35-25 and Chatham 41-6.
Key players: Whitehall
Whitehall’s offense has been heavy on the run all season, with a strong pass attack when needed. Running back Daryl Hillman leads the prolific Railroaders offense on the ground, where he has rushed for more than 100 yards in every game and exceeded the 200-yard mark three times.
The Railroaders will look to wear Cambridge down with the run, which then opens the pass game for the “Wonder Twins,” Derek and Tyler Thomas – Derek at quarterback and Tyler at wide receiver.
Gould said he anticipates Cambridge will key on Hillman and double-team Tyler Thomas, but he believes his team can still produce.
“We expect that,” Gould said. “We have a few wrinkles. We haven’t shown everything yet. I’m sure they haven’t either.”
Defensively, the Railroaders have been led all season by a brick wall of a defensive line, consisting of the likes of Jake Gregory, Brandon Bolster, Cody LaRock, Joe DeLorme and others. Linebackers Seth Martindale, Lucas Morse and Daryl Hillman fly all over the field, while the defensive backfield of the Thomas brothers and Jason Hart batten down the hatches.
Key players: Cambridge
Cambridge’s offense is a little more balanced/pass-centric.
Quarterback Brendan Holcomb leads the aerial attack for the Indians. On the ground, though, Cambridge uses running backs by committee, as Jonas Butz, Colton Dean, Andy Romack and Ryan McLenithan will all likely see their share of carries for the orange and black.
Last season
Last year the two teams played each other twice and each game had a lot on the line.
During week five of the regular season, the two teams were undefeated when they squared off at Ambrose Gilligan Field. As the rain poured and the winds howled, Whitehall was able to pull off the 21-19 win, the Railroaders’ first win against Cambridge in more than 20 years.
That victory led Whitehall one step closer to winning the Section II Class D regular season title, which was ultimately sealed with a week 7 win over Rensselaer.
When Whitehall and Cambridge squared off in the playoffs last year, it was a much different outcome.
The two teams were battling for the Section II Class D Super Bowl and the Indians got payback for the regular season loss, winning 42-0.
Regardless of who wins Saturday, these teams will be the top two in the Section II Class D playoffs, when it gets underway Oct. 31. This game, however, will determine which team gets the No. 1 seed and which gets the No. 2 seed.
If the playoffs play out the way they are seeded, these two would see each other again in the Section II Class D Super Bowl.
