Staten Island 30 @ Utica 10
The Conference Championship game between Staten Island and Utica marked the fifth time this season that GM Murdock and GM Fullem were matching up. The season record sat at 2-2 for each. Murdock had beaten Utica (12-5) twice this season: once with Staten Island and once pinch coaching with Orlando. Fullem provided two of Staten Island's (14-3) three losses on the season with victories for Utica and as a pinch coach for New England. On the opening kick-off, Staten Island's Clifton Smith took it 94 yards to the house. 18 seconds in without running a play and Staten Island drew first blood.
After exchanging punts, Utica put together a 7 play, 78 yard drive to even the score at 7. Greg Jennings caught the 4 yards TD pass from Aaron Rodgers and it was tied up at 7.
GM Fullem had his defense going. The first three Staten Island drives netted 9 total yards and no first downs. But Staten Island's defense was up to the challenge. Forcing a punt early in the second quarter, Staten Island's Clifton Smith took a punt return 64 yards to the house. Staten Island had no first downs but (Clifton Smith) was leading 14-7. GM Murdock thanked the strat gods that he drafted Clifton Smith this year.
After a drive where Staten Island got 1 first down (its first and only), Utica took over. Rodgers pressed a little too hard and Staten Island's Chris Gamble got the pick and 22 yards to get into field goal range. Another three and out by Staten Island but Crosby was able to tack on three more for a Staten Island 17-7 lead. (One Staten Island 1st down, 17 points.)
Utica put together another 50+ yard drive late in the second quarter but stalled inside the Staten Island 10 and were forced to settle for 3 and a 17-10 deficit at the half.
The Staten Island squad came to life in the second half. An 8 play, 40 yard drive resulted in another Crosby field goal to make it a two score game again. The Staten Island defense withstood two 4th down conversion attempts deep in their own zone (both from the Staten Island's own 40) and turned both of these stops into points (one another Crosby FG and a 12 yard Garrard - Coles connection for 7) while running 11:24 off the clock on these two drives. Staten Island was up 30-10 midway through the 4th which was a deficit too hard to overcome for Utica.
Staten Islan'ds Clifton Smith again was the key factor in the game. He added two more return TDs to his regular season total of four. I believe that 5 of the 6 return TDs this season were against Utica's Fullem. Utica also turned over the ball three times to none for Staten Island.
After 4 close battles with Brian this season, it was disappointing that we didn't have another classic game. Staten Island wins the best out of 5 tournament at 3-2. Staten Island got the big rolls on special teams which was the deciding factor tonight.
After winning the SuperBowl last year and in the Conference final this year, we know Utica's Brian Fullem has a good team and is an top-level coach. Utica will only get better as he has 2 first round picks in 2010.
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