The "beast of the "B" boils down one more foe in a pretty tough Owego team, and sets its sights on the big prize: States? Not quite, but the energy that Maine-Endwell will have to place into the preparation for their next several games will definitely require consistent attention to technical detail, as well as high octane intensity, none-the-less. Although the Spartans have moved cleanly through half of the regular season with barely a scrape, their upcoming opponents are certain to test the metal of our favorite gridders. Both Binghamton and Union-Endicott are on tap for the next two weeks and while the two double “A” forces are neither road blocks to Syracuse, nor same-conference rivals, they will be sure to bring some of the stuff to the table that will be common in those teams that we will have to face and ultimately defeat in upcoming weeks. Among others, Section 5 stand-out Hornell, who just administered a 47-12 thumping on Vestal, is a very tough class B team and is characteristic of teams that the Spartans will see should they take a run for the title in this year’s state tournament. But again, we needn’t look that far down the road when the fires of local rivals percolate under the very ground we walk, in the form of Johnson City and Chenango Valley.

Although the Spartans will not meet Chenango Valley in the regular season, the 2009 Sparcat match is sure to rock the foundations of the Spartan stadium when it is played in four weeks. While nobody can say what each teams respective record look like entering the game, what is certain is that one team will finish the day with an “L” in their win \ loss column. Johnson City represents a team that most closely matches our own and while this article is not intended to make frivolous predictions based on bias alone (I am a Spartan fan after all), New York State rankings place the Spartans above all other section four teams. It can only be assumed that our Wildcat neighbors beg to differ and will bring every weapon available in their arsenal to the game come October 24th.

So, what is it that has set the Spartans apart from the teams they’ve played thus far and is it enough to get them to the next level? Pride, courage and all that other “rah rah” stuff aside; let’s talk brass tax here for a minute. What is it, really, that’s going to escalate performances in each individual athlete to such a degree that it elevates the entire team to a level above all other teams, including and indeed starting with our neighbors to the East. It would have to begin with the core of primarily seniors that make up the first teams on both offensive and defensive sets. Yes, you’ve heard these names time and time again, and there’s a reason for that! Without their efforts each week, the Spartans, while still a “good lookin’” prospect, simply cannot deliver the big plays mandatory in delivering big wins.

It all starts in the strong hands of Nate Reynolds. No offensive back in the league personifies toughness, competitive fire, work ethic, and focus, better than Reynolds. Adding to the list of “real-deal” qualities etched in the Reynolds DNA is old fashioned natural ability, impeccable vision, and phenomenal feet. Reynolds’ lateral movement in traffic is on par with any super-light tailback in the STAC (yes, Thomas included). Here’s a simple truth; keep Nate Reynolds in the game for two full halves, for an entire season and he’s earning 200 plus yards a game. To place that into perspective, a younger (sophomore) Nate Reynolds rushed for 400 yards on the 2007 season. This year, in three games alone he’s earned over 400 yards and has played on average, just under 3 quarters each game. Yes, there are very tough and athletic backs out there, including the impressive Owego Indian, Parker Evans (3). I enjoyed watching Parker use absolute given ability and perfect technical delivery to break tackles with his shoulders and make tackles with explosive speed from the corners. This kid, too, is the real-deal! What I did not see, however, was Parker taking a break. This guy was everywhere! One minute he was a tailback, then a quarterback throwing passes, then a special team’s guy cutting back for a 65 yard touchdown run. In fact, from my vantage point in the press box, he was the last kid to walk off of the field after the game had ended. So yes, I expect his numbers to soar, much like any other really talented kid allowed to stay in the action for the entire game. This, in my opinion is neither right nor wrong, it is simply true. However, with that being said, bravo Coach Gallagher, for resting Nate Reynolds and developing other second-liners coming up the ranks. This has been true all year of Gallagher and Crooks. They each have a keen ability to process the signals that define the games turning point. After which, they waste no time what-so-ever in entering their second and third teams. Few coaches in the league are as quick to do the same.

However, Nate Reynolds, while a showstopper, does not do it alone. Brothers Tom and John Connolly have developed into seasoned veterans that are also genuine “go-to” guys in the clutch. It’s sometimes easy to take for granted all of the little things that these two do so well that force plays to be carried out, or broken apart in some instances. Take, for instance, Tom’s touchdown pass to John in the second quarter. To begin with, Tom dropped back for a pass intending to go right, while his brother and Barrett took flight. When the right side of the pocket began to collapse with Owego jerseys flooding in, Tom was forced to entirely redirect his efforts to the left. Instead of grounding the ball or making a forced play to the right side of the field, Tom Connolly spun away from pressure and hustled to his left, where he picked up his brother heading down the home-side sideline. He was then able to send off a pass on the run. Well, as it was, the pass was less than perfect. Now, when I say “less than perfect,” I’m not attempting to be sarcastically clever, I mean just that. It was indeed, not a perfectly spiraled pass and was thrown with a defender closing at a dangerously fast rate, but it was traveling directly to its target and was completely catchable. As the tape shows, the defender did manage to get a paw on the ball, but it was thrown with such zest that it continued its forward momentum and landed in the hands of a patiently waiting John Connolly. John scampered into the end-zone for a second Spartan touchdown and the Connolly’s once again created something entirely out of nothing. This touchdown illuminates the “X” factor that is inherent in the Connolly makeup. You can’t describe the X- factor, because it’s not teachable, nor can it be absorbed by reading a book. It’s something that germinates deep within the psyche of its host and then explodes to forefront of consciousness when called upon to do so. What does that mean; I have no idea, but men like the Connolly’s have it in spades!

Another game-in, game-out warrior is Patrick Barrett. A two way starter, Pat can also take command of a game and plays with an edge uncharacteristic of a young man adorned with his boyish good looks. Barrett is the type of guy who relishes every challenge laid before him. He engages the simplest blocking assignment as if he were Michelangelo approaching the Sistine on his first day of application. There is nothing done in a “half-glassed” manner. Barrett is the whole Magilla, or he isn’t in attendance. As a split end, opposite John Connolly, Patrick represents a second set of immaculate hands for catching and can get up there with the best of them. Although this season has not seen a lot of catchable passes directed at Pat, his previous two seasons (one of them a JV) saw Barrett in a constant state of aerial battle with some unnamed opposing cornerback. Ninety percent of the time, it was Barrett who landed with the ball, as he has always maintained a pension for incredible receptions. Even more incredible is the Barrett work ethic. He is truly a rare breed of young athlete: With better than a 4.0% GPA, earning all-conference accolades on the field may not be the only thing Patrick will be rewarded with this year. However, his extreme intelligence also translates quite nicely on the football field as well as the Basketball court and the Baseball diamond. When Barrett looks you in the eye, you can be sure of one thing, he is truly figuring you out.

Honing their running skills and gaining steam with each game are running backs Frank Sorrenti and Nate DuVaul. Each has stepped out of the shadow of Reynolds and the Connolly brothers to produce very respectable numbers over the last two games. These two athletes have rushed with a good deal more vigor and better vision and are beginning to show signs that they may live up to their potential, just in time for the intense battles to come. The Maine-Endwell earth assault must engage a 3 tiered attack if it’s going to be successful. It is critical for the Spartans to force opposing defenses to be baffled by at least two quick and savvy chargers that set up the knock-out punch administered by Reynolds. Their latest efforts have nicely offset the daily earnings by Reynolds and increased the Spartans total yards gained. This is good news, because it is imperative that they have career performances if the Spartans are to defeat some of their more polished adversaries.

However, big talent in the skilled positions cannot move an entire line of men. Only another line of men can do that. The Spartans look to snap artist and all around tough-man Matt DeVall to deliver perfect snaps and haul meat. DeVall is an intense competitor and deals that intensity on both sides of the ball. Largely taken for granted, his snaps represent among the most critical components of each play. It’s worth repeating that in last year’s section 4 showdown against Corning West, among other things, miscues between center and quarterback led to an upsetting conclusion for the Spartans. DeVall has been excellent this year, snapping a clean ball and exploding into opponents on both sides of the line. This week will see tackle, Bobby Gorham return to his native position after covering for DeVall at center in the Owego contest. The shift back to normalcy should set the Spartan offensive line back on the balls of its feet and we fully expect both Gorham and DeVall to enter the game with added fury this week against Binghamton.

Looming large in every contest are seniors Alex Sherman, Tim Szymrko and Ross Scribner. Along with junior stand-out, Benny Andrews, life on the line has been productive and these four gents represent the primary stopping force for Maine-Endwell. Most notably, each athlete presented in this set embodies a more modern look and feel consistent with today’s linemen. While the average guard or tackle was once known more for his belly, or how many steaks he could eat in one sitting, these guys take a much healthier and more efficient approach to their body styles. All four, while strong as oxen, move like horses. They have traded in the “carb-up” mentality for the more modern “core-down” approach. What was once, “block em’ with body mass index,” is now, “explode across the line with plyometric enhanced flexibility.” As a result, our offensive backs are beginning to see the benefits taking the form of wider holes on the line of scrimmage.

With each game in a given season, players are expected to improve, regardless of the skill level that they initially entered the season with. Our Spartans have been hailed by local sportswriters as being the dominant force in the section and have been labeled as such for a reason. Whether or not they live up to that good label is entirely up to them, but to be certain they will not let this year pass with only idle effort. Last year’s upset in the section final still tugs at the souls of the boys who were on the field that night and as each starter and back-filler gets closer to the big show their desire to be excellent will be at a heightened state. In the end, the odds of doing something phenomenal are still in our favor.