By Kyle Higley
Friday, the Oswego Buccaneers played host to the Cortland Purple Tigers, and earned a hard fought 26-6 victory. Damian Williams and the Oswego running game proved to be the difference as the field was pelted by rain and wind throughout. Williams totaled 223 yards and racked up two touchdowns as Oswego’s only attempted passes came on two-point conversion attempts.
“Damian will be the first to credit he guys up front and they did a great job tonight,†said head coach David Gyczka.
Oswego Quarterback Ryan Jock and running back Matt Howard accounted for the two other Oswego touchdowns. Cortland’s lone touchdown was scored from one yard out by Brian Strough, after a Josh Nelson fumble recovery.
Oswego started the game off with a 74-yard three minute 42 second drive into setting the tone for the rest of the game. The Bucs continuously wore down the Cortland defense with their relentless run game, and Williams capped off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. After a failed conversion Oswego led 6-0 earlier in the first quarter.
Following the Williams touchdown Cortland fumbled the next kickoff and Oswego recovered taking over on Cortland’s 31-yard line. Compounding their miscue Cortland received a personal foul penalty and moved the Bucs to the 15-yard line. From their Williams wasted no time and finished the Oswego drive off with a 14- yard touchdown run, with 3:41 left in the first quarter.
Cortland was unable to get anything going on offense during the first half, and the next score in the game came on a ten minute 85 yard Oswego drive. The drive was highlighted by two fourth down conversions, including a forth and nine from the Cortland 15-yard line. Finally, Ryan Jock scored from the four yard line with 1:49 left in the second quarter giving the Bucs an 18-0 lead at half.
“We played a great ball control game in the first half, they held the ball for about three minutes,†said Gyrczka.
Much of the same was true in the second half as the Oswego defense would not allow the Purple Tiger offense to get started. It was the Purple Tiger defense that would set up a Cortland touchdown. As Williams fumbled on tough pitch in the cold Friday night rain, and Cortland’s Josh Nelson scooped it up and took it 31 yards, before being brought down at the Oswego 1-yard line. Cortland running back Brian Strough took in the rest of the way, and after a failed conversion Cortland still trailed 18-6 with 6:24 left in the game.
Matt Howard added another late game touchdown for the Bucs, and Oswego was able to extend a 8 game home winning streak with a 26-6 win. “Our kids were fired up they knew they weren’t playing in the playoffs. They knew they had won 7 in a row on their home field and hopefully we come out Wednesday and make it 9,†Gyrczka said.
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