BY ERIC AHLQVIST
COOPERSTOWN CRIER
The NFL got its dream
match-up for this year’s
Super Bowl, when the
Indianapolis Colts take on
the New Orleans Saints this
Sunday in Miami at 6:30 p.m.
Not only are the teams
the top two seeds in their
respective conferences, but
they also feature star power
at the quarterback position.
Colts quarterback Peyton
Manning has taken the position
to a whole new level.
The wisdom in the NFL used
to be that a good running
game coupled with great defenses
win championships.
But Manning, the league’s
Most Valuable Player this
season, has led a change
in that thinking, taking the
majority of his snaps in the
shotgun and using a precision
passing game much like
a running game.
A few years ago when the
New England Patriots were
in the midst of their dynasty,
they figured out a way to
stop Manning, but no one
has been able to do that this
year.
I don’t think the Saints will
either. In the NFC championship
game against the
Vikings, New Orleans defenders
punished Favre with
hit after hit, but they won’t
be able to do that very often
against Manning, who gets
rid of the ball faster than
anyone in the league.
On the other side of the
ball is New Orleans quarterback
Drew Brees, whose 34
touchdown passes were one
more than Manning’s, and 11
interceptions five less than
Manning’s during the regular
season.
The Colts’ best pass rusher,
Dwight Freeney, is nursing
an ankle injury and if he can’t
play that might open things
up for Brees to have a huge
day against a mediocre Colts
secondary.
The Saints’ running game
is also better than the Colts’,
with Pierre Thomas coupled
with Reggie Bush, who is
also a threat out of the backfield
and on punts.
If the Saints do win, I look
for Bush to be the reason.
Both quarterbacks have
plenty of options at wide
receiver, while Colts tight
end Dallas Clark may be the
best in the NFL.
So, who is going to win? I
could make a case for both
teams, but I think Manning
and the Colts’ experience will
be the difference.
While the Saints are still
settling in to the game and
getting their bearings, I look
for the Colts to start strong
and get a big lead.
That will be the difference
in their 31-21 victory.
Let’s look at some other
area experts’ predictions:
Cooperstown football
head coach Steve Pugliese:
I think the Saints may have
more offensive talent than
the Colts, but Manning is
just so good he makes up
for that.
Which Saints team is going
to show up? Both teams are
Dome teams but I think if
you oook at the Saints playing
on grass they are much
less productive.
Turnovers always play a
big part, and the Saints can’t
afford to fall behind early.
I think the Colts’ defense is
better than New Orleans’ and
will be the difference in the
game.
Final score: Colts 31, Saints
17.
Cooperstown assitant
coach Jay Baldo: Man, I hate
to try and predict this one.
However, I will go with the
Colts. Peyton Manning is
going to be too much for the
Saints defense to handle. Defense
will be the key to this
game, and I think the Colts
have an edge in that area.
Final score: (Great minds
think alike) Colts 31, Saints
17.
Local Sports
Colts, Manning will be Super on Sunday
- Local Sports
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CCS swimmer finds diving challenging
COOPERSTOWN’S AARON IDELSON FINISHED eighth Saturday in the Frontier League Diving Championships at Carthage. Idelson, who already has qualified for sectionals in diving, amassed 285.15 points over 11 dives. The remainder of the meet will be completed this Saturday at Watertown.
After a day of highs and lows, Cooperstown’s Aaron Idelson finished in the middle.
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The sophomore diver scored a 285.15 and finished eighth out of 16 divers at the Frontier League Diving Championships in Carthage on Saturday. -
Brothers compete in the pool
Sometimes things are not always as they seem. Just look at Cooperstown’s varsity swimming brothers Sean and Erik Mebust.
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Volleyball team wins tournament at home
The host Cooperstown volleyball team won a six-team round robin tournament last Saturday. The Redskins tied Stockbridge with identical 7-3 records, but owned the tiebreaker by a single point in head-to-head match-ups, winning 25-22 and losing 23-25.
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Lady Redskins come out strong in second half
Nicole Cring’s double, double helped Cooperstown make a decisive second-half run and beat visiting Mohawk 45-28 in a Center State Conference game on Monday. Cring had 12 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots as the
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Redskins scored the first seven points of the second half, stretching a 17-14 lead to 24-14. “There wasn’t much to say.” -
CCS wrestling team competes in championships
Cooperstown teammates Michael Boyle and Jacob Miller had runner-up finishes in the Center State Conference Championships on Saturday at Adirondack.
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Niekro, Ozzie to return for Hall of Fame Classic
The Knucksies and Wizards will go at it again this June in Cooperstown. The Baseball Hall of Fame announced Monday that Hall of Famers Phil Niekro and Ozzie Smith will return as team captains for the fourth annual Hall of Fame Classic at Doubleday Field.
Continued ... - Monday, January 30, 2012
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Redskins hit century mark
If at first you do succeed, try to do even better next time. Dave Bertram led the Cooperstown boys basketball team to its highest points total in his 10 years as head coach Tuesday, when the Redskins thumped visiting Morrisville- Eaton, 106-51, in a Center State Conference Division III game.
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Davine, king of Cooperstown assists
If you need help, try calling Jay Davine. Senior point guard Davine broke Cooperstown’s all-time assists record last Thursday and scored 13 points to lead the Redskins to a 71-43 boys basketball thumping of visiting Westmoreland in a Center State Conference Division III game.
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Fox has big night for Hartwick women
Cooperstown graduate Samantha Fox scored a varsity-high 14 points Friday to lead the Hartwick College women’s basketball team to a 59-49 victory over visiting St. John Fisher in the Empire 8 Conference.
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Patriots hold off Gilbertsville-Mount Upton with score of 59-53
A varsity-high 27 points from Kyle Jaquay led host Cherry Valley- Springfield to a 59-53 Tri-Valley League boys basketball victory Monday over Gilbertsville-Mount Upton.
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CCS wrestles with the ‘Big Dogs’
Cooperstown’s wrestling revival got a reality check on Saturday in the form of visiting Dolgeville. Both teams came in undefeated in the Center State Conference, but only the Blue Devils left that way after a 64-10 win over the Redskins. “Dolgeville is definitely a tough team. Top to bottom, they really don’t have any weak spots on their roster,” Cooperstown coach Micaiah Abts said.
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Coach says he thinks his girls will return to top of their class
Close, but not there yet. That’s the story of Cooperstown’s volleyball team this season, and it played out again on Monday in a 3-1 loss to visiting Waterville in a Center State Conference match.
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Clark Sports Center hosts tournament
The Clark Sports Center recently held its eighth annual Pat Fetterman Memorial Tournament. There were six girls’ teams and six boys’ teams from as far away as West Philadelphia, according to a media release from the sports center.
Continued ... - Thursday, January 19, 2012
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Boy one step closer to seeing football dreams come true
Since Cowboy Stadium in Dallas opened in 2010, football fans have marveled at the massive, modernstadium. Over the holidays, Cooperstown Central School freshman Michael Perrino got to play two games in it himself.
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CCS coach and player earn recognition
Cooperstown’s soccer season has been over for a couple of months now, but the awards haven’t ended. Redskins’ coach Frank Miosek has been named Center State Conference coach of the year, while junior mid-fielder Michael Rowley won co-player of the year.
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Milford girls thump G-MU
Avalon Ward scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Milford topped visiting Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, 44-30, in a Tri-Valley League girls basketball game Tuesday. Milford held a 38-14 lead after three quarters before being outscored, 16-6, in the final period.
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Wrestling team focused on improving as end of season nears
Three Cooperstown wrestlers placed at the Central New York WrestlingTournament on Saturday at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill school, giving the Redskins confidence going into their final matches and the end of the season tournaments. Mikey Boyle (113) and Jacob Miller (138) each placed fourth, and Kevin Segit (195) placed sixth in the tournament. Cooperstown finished 14th overall.
Continued ... - Thursday, January 12, 2012
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Redskin ladies are red hot: CCS remains undefeated
Holli Erkson scored a game-high 13 points and Nicole Cring had eight blocks and 12 rebounds as Cooperstown stayed undefeated in the Center State Conference with a 44-29 victory over visiting Sauquoit Valley at Bursey Gymnasium on Tuesday. The Redskins (9-1, 5-0) had early foul trouble and problems on offense in the game. Fortunately for them, they had no problems on defense.
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Free throw caps 46-45 victory over Hamilton
Nicole Cring had a double-double and Holli Erkson hit a walkoff foul shot as host Cooperstown edged Hamilton, 46-45, in a Center State Conference Division III girls basketball game last Thursday. Alexis Bloomfield went 1-for-2 from the foul line with 30.2 seconds left to tie the score at 45 for the Redskins (8-1, 4-0), who stole Hamilton’s last possession with 7.5 seconds to go.
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Hall welcomes Cincinnati kid in third year of eligibility
Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was the lone selection by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. And Larkin’s admission into the National Baseball Hall of Fame came in a landslide. The Cincinnati native who grew up cheering for the man he’d replace at shortstop Dave Concepcion garnered 86 percent of the vote. Seventyfive percent is needed for election.
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