HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: ELMIRA FOOTBALL EXCITED FOR REGIONAL FINAL AGAINST CBA (2023-11-17)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
Most high school football players in the state are getting ready for their winter sports, done with their high school seasons.

For the Elmira football team they will be one of the eight teams in their class in the state still playing as they will face Christian Brothers Academy in the Class AA regional game. Elmira is ranked 30th in the state and CBA is ranked 5th. The game is 6 p.m. Saturday at Vestal.

“Playing football November 16, it’s awesome,” Elmira coach Jimmy McCauley said. “We are very excited. Trying to soak up as much of this practice as we can. Big time opponent coming up here. These games mean the most so we have to make sure we are ready to go and execute.”

The Express players are excited to still be playing this time of year.

“I think for everyone right now, it’s important for everyone, everyone wants to keep playing football and our goal for Saturday is to get the victory so we can keep playing,” quarterback Evan Garvin said. “Our goal we were saying was keep playing through Thanksgiving. That’s the goal to keep playing. We want to practice on Thanksgiving. We just want to keep winning and keep preparing and keep getting better.

Just being on the field this week was special, especially for the seniors who are happy to have more years together.

“It’s really nice getting another week of practice with my guys,” senior lineman John Overton said. “It means a little bit more to us seniors. I think because we haven’t made it this far yet as a group of seniors, and we just want to keep playing.”

The Express know they face a tough test against CBA.

“They are extremely talented,” McCauley said. “Their skill guys are very, very talented. Their lineman are big and strong. They are a good team. The teams here on out are going to be pretty darn good. We are going to have to be at our best.”

“We are extremely excited to go down there to Vestal and get after it,” Garvin said. “It’s definitely exciting knowing we are one of the teams still playing, but our focus is onto the next week, onto the next game, onto CBA on Saturday. We are trying to get prepared for that game on Saturday.

“I think they are a pretty good team. They have good athletes. They are big up front, but I think if we go down there, play our game, we have a good shot to come out with the victory.”

The Express have dealt with a lot of adversity this season with injuries throughout the year. Now, as they head into the regional final the Express are getting healthier than they have been through most of the year.

“We talked about that Monday,” McCauley said. “Now is our time. The kids are pumped up. The kids are fun, the kids are ready to win. I’ll tell you that much. It seems this season has been up, down, and everywhere in between and we are trying to keep it on the up and up.

“Regular season is important, but I think if you ask anybody you want to peak at the right time, you want to play your best football at the right time.”

For the Express players it’s nice to be getting healthier at the right time.

“It’s a good feeling to know we are getting healthier later on in the season and obviously with us being healthy we have more guys we can utilize on the field,” Garvin said. “It makes a difference. I think it’s an advantage for us going into this week because we haven’t had everyone healthy for a while.

“We started to get later in the season a little more. We got used to the offense we are in now. I think guys are gelling at the right time. I think it’s a really good thing we have going right now.”

Having players make is just building the confidence of the Express heading into the game against CBA.

“I think it’s given us a little confidence and given us the edge we need to keep going,” Overton said. “I felt more confident. The guys who replaced them I was confident with these guys I played with them my whole career and I’m real confident with those guys.

“Just having more experience all around makes us a better team practice wise and game wise.”

The Express know they will face some top athletes going against CBA. And, the Express have good athletes on their side as well.

“It’s going to be real fun to be able to compete with some of the best players in the state,” Garvin said. “It’s fun to go down and be able to compete with some of the best. I think for everyone right now it’s important for everyone, everyone wants to keep playing football and our goal for Saturday is to get the victory so we can keep playing.

“I think it’s a great opportunity we have in front of us.”

Overton knows that CBA has some big guys up front and he’s excited for the challenge.

“I love going against big guys and battling the whole game,” Overton said. “I love it. It’s probably one of my favorite things, going against guys who are five inches taller than me and have 50 pounds on me. I love going against those guys.

“Going against guys their whole line averages 20 plus pounds more than us and we have the confidence they do too.”

The Express may be the smaller line, but they work well as a group.

“I just hold my guys to a higher standard and make them work harder and it pays off,” Overton said. “It’s big time trust with all of us. We all work hard and trust each other and have each others back. It’s always 11 guys working as one working hard and getting the job done.”

Today is a day the Express have been looking forward to for a long time.

“Can’t wait to go Saturday and hopefully a few games more,” Overton said.
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STSR FILE PHOTO.


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