’Jacks earn sixth gridiron win

Senior running backs Luke Robillard and Brayden Shannon led the charge with a combined 235 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Robillard had 106 yards, while Shannon recorded 129. Their efforts helped push the Lumberjacks overall record to 6-1.

Quarterback Wyatt Godin scored two touchdowns — one on the ground and the other through the air. Godin completed four of his six pass attempts for 61 yards.

The Lumberjacks had 10 different players either run or catch a pass on Friday. The team combined for 383 yards.

“We have a lot of different weapons that are able to throw the ball, catch the ball and run with the ball, as we have been able to spread the ball around,” Lumberjacks head coach Dennis Klossner said. “The main reason is the amazing blocking from Bauer Callaghan, Jesse Dattola and Cooper Cuttaia.”

Tupper Lake’s Jesse Dattola, left, and Bauer Callaghan block with Cooper Cuttaia (74) pulling across to open up a big hole for the team’s running backs during Friday’s game in Tupper Lake.
(Provided photo)

On the defensive side, Robillard led the team with 10 tackles.

“Our defense backs were busy all game as Garrett Pelkey did an amazing job with two big interceptions, one for a pick-six and the other he ripped the ball out of the receiver’s hands,” Klossner said. “Karter Kenniston does a tremendous job in coverage as well as coming up to make tackles, and Friday night he was able to break up four big passes, as well as Liam McClain and Cohen Gerstenberger with tight coverage broke up a combined five passes to keep Waterville behind the chains.”

Tupper Lake got off to a hot start when Shannon scored the first touchdown on a 90-yard run. Pelkey then halted the Eagles drive by intercepting a pass and retuning it 43 yards.

In the second quarter, Cohen Gerstenberger hauled in 14-yard pass from Godin. The senior quarterback then ran 22 yards for another score to take a 30-0 lead at halftime.

After the break, Robillard scored on a 70-yard carry to extend the Lumberjacks lead.

In the fourth quarter, Gavin Van Hoeven scored Waterville’s lone touchdown on a 41-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Up next, the Lumberjacks will take on the Ticonderoga Sentinels at 6 p.m. Friday at the Frank Tice Memorial Field. It will be the Lumberjacks’ first-ever playoff game since switching to 8-man football in 2019.

–

Tupper Lake 36, Waterville 6

Eagles 0 0 0 6 — 6

Lumberjacks 14 16 6 0 — 36

–

SCORING

First quarter

TL — Shannon 90 run (Robillard run)

TL — Pelkey 43 interception return (conversion failed)

–

Second quarter

TL — Gerstenberger 14 pass from Godin (Shannon run)

TL — Godin 22 run (Shannon run)

–

Third quarter

TL — Robillard 70 run (conversion failed)

–

Fourth quarter

W — Van Hoeven 41 run (kick failed)

–

Individual statistics

Rushing

TL — Shannon 8-129, TD; Robillard 12-106, TD; Bujold 10-18; Kenniston 4-12; Godin 2-22, TD; K. McClain 2-2. Totals: 38-289, 3 TDs.

–

Passing

TL — Godin 4-6-0-61, TD; Kenniston 1-1-0-17; Fleishman 1-1-0-16. Totals: 6-8-0-94, TD.

–

Receiving

TL — Pelkey 1-31, Godin 1-17; Shannon 1-14; Gerstenberger 1-14, TD; Bencze 1-16; L.McClain 1-2. Totals: 6-94, TD.

–

Defense

TL — Robillard 13 tackles; Pelkey 7 tackles, 2 interceptions; Shannon 4 tackles, 1 pass defended; K. McClain 4 tackles; Levey 3 tackles; Cuttaia 3 tackles; Kenniston 2 tackles, 4 passes defended; LaValley 2 tackles; L. McClain 1 tackle, 2 passes defended; Gerstenberger 1 tackle, 3 passes defended; Bujold 1 tackle; Dattola 1 tackle; Lindsay 1 tackle.