Silver & Black face difficult assignment
POTSDAM — Heading into the 2010 Empire Football League season, Silver and Black Raiders' coach Jim Compeau listed a boost in numbers as one of the team's strengths.
Four weeks later, that improved depth is being severely tested.
"Injuries have definitely hit us pretty hard. They've taken what was a real good team and knocked it down a notch," Compeau said as the Raiders get set to host north country rival Watertown on Saturday at Potsdam Central's turf field. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
The Silver and Black enter the game having lost three starters to season-ending injuries and are awaiting word on the status of a fourth, who will be kept out of action against the Red and Black.
Already done for the year are quarterback Mike MacPherson, center Lyle Compo and cornerback Jeb Euto. Starting wide receiver Buddy Compeau finds out next week whether he'll be healthy enough to play beyond this weekend and will not be available to compete on Saturday.
"We've had to revamp the offense a bit. We had the bye last week so we've had more time to work on things. We have a lot more depth than we've had and we've got people to fill in the holes. We need all of them to step up and we're seeing that already," said Jim Compeau, who expects to be back on the sideline against the Red and Black after being forced to miss the game against Vermont while dealing with an infected foot.
"Watertown is always tough and, for some reason, they're always pumped up for us," Jim Compeau added.
Winless in its first two EFL matchups this summer, the Silver and Black are coming off a 13-0 decision to the Vermont Ice Storm two Saturdays ago in their first home game at Potsdam. They are going up against a Watertown squad that raised its early-season record to 2-0 with a 21-0 win over Broome County last weekend.
The duo of Phil Dishaw and Ryan Mason shared quarterback duties against Vermont and will likely do the same against the Red and Black. Shaun Harkes and Andy Deon anchor the Silver and Black ground game while Steve Zakarauskas has emerged as a leading receiver. Veteran lineman Gordon Leonard is slated to reprise his role as starting center and Mike Lavery is set to shift into a starting job on the offensive line.
While the injury shark has taken a big bite out of the Silver and Black offense, the Raider defense has managed to hold its own having allowed just five touchdowns in two outings.
"Our defense is doing awesome," Jim Compeau said. "We're holding teams to around two touchdowns a game. We just need the offense to do a better job of giving the defense time to rest and putting up some points. If we can do that, it takes some of the pressure off the defense."
The trio of linebackers Mike Weller and Ricky Delaney and defensive back Filippo Flacco lead the way defensively for the Silver and Black. Weller has a team-high 23 tackles and recovered a fumble. Delaney has notched 13 tackles and picked off a pass while Flocco has ravaged opposing offenses for 18 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Other defensive leaders include Geoff Carey with 11 tackles and Elias James, who recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the Silver and Blacks season-opening 27-21 loss to Plattsburgh.
The Red and Black feature a punishing ground game that has already churned out 679 yards and six touchdowns in just two EFL games. The trio of quarterback Brian Williams (33 carries for 369 yards, 2 TDs), Joe Brennan (43 for 187, 1 TD) and T.J. Williams (23 for 82 yards, 2 TDs) has accounted for the majority of the rushing offense. Brian Williams has also completed 3-of-13 passes for 84 yards and two TDs and has yet to be intercepted. Joseph Williams has been his most effective target, having pulled down two passes for 52 yards with both going for TDs.
