MASSENA — There was plenty on the line in the Northern Football Conference Class A meeting of Potsdam and Massena on Friday.
Both teams knew this was round one of two duels with the second being in the sectional playoffs. The winner Friday would get home field advantage.
Potsdam's Nick Howard had a career day and secured the Sandstoners a home-game rematch in the postseason with a three-touchdown, 304-yard rushing performance that led Potsdam to a 32-7 victory.
His final score — a 42-yard touchdown run — brought his season total to 1,220 yards. He remained on pace to reach his preseason goal of 2,000 rushing yards this season.
"I was breaking free all game, but bouncing off my own players," Howard said of the 42-yarder. "I just couldn't take it all the way."
He carried the offensive load as he has all season for the Sandstoners, totaling 46 carries — none for a loss.
"He can run," said Potsdam head coach Jim Kirka. "And he wants to run. We do try to pass, but it's still a work in progress."
The Sandstoners used junior varsity call-up John Coleman at quarterback. He is the third player to handle the position for Potsdam this season.
"He ran the offense, and as a sophomore that's all you've got to do," Kirka said.
Both Massena and Potsdam struggled at the onset, trading first-play fumbles for turnovers.
Neither team managed a score in the opening 12 minutes. But the first three possessions of the second were anything but a lacking in offense.
Potsdam struck first, on its first play from scrimmage, when Howard scored on a 5-yard run. The kick failed and the Sandstoners had a 6-0 lead with 11 minutes, 56 seconds left in the first half.
Massena answered with a 59-yard touchdown run by Evan Raymo. The Red Raiders took the lead, 7-6, when Taylor Zappia nailed the PAT.
"They didn't expect us to come out and play the way we did and that hard," said Massena head coach Anthony Diagostino.
Potsdam didn't take long to adjust as Zac Linsky needed only 15 more seconds to give the lead back to the Sandstoners. Linsky returned a kick 80 yards up the left sideline, breaking one tackle near the end.
"We knew we had an advantage on them and then they came out with (the lead)," Howard said. "I think (Linsky's return) changed the whole game and the whole momentum. We were playing horrible at first."
Linsky's score sparked the offense, which on its next drive marched 85 yards for another score and an 18-7 edge heading into the half.
"That was huge," Kirka said of Linsky's return. "He's fast, and we're trying to work him into the offense. He's Nick's replacement for next year, so that helps with his confidence."
The second half saw more Potsdam as the Sandstoners put another 80-yard drive together for a 26-7 lead with 5:17 left in the third.
Potsdam's win clinched the No. 2 seed in the Class A sectional tournament. Indian River's 53-19 defeat of Canton gave the Warriors the top seed while Massena has the No. 3 and Canton the fourth seed.
Massena is already itching to play Potsdam again.
"We played football the way it was meant to played. We get another crack at them, and we're excited about that," Diagostino said. "I think this was an awakening call for them that we're not going to let anyone walk all over us."