BINGHAMTON _ Delhi's defense has used its muscle to push teams around this season. Groton didn't give the Bulldogs that chance Saturday.
The Indians used their speed to stay away from Delhi and earned a 43-13 victory in the Section Four Football Conference Class D championship at Binghamton Alumni Stadium.
Kyle Reed returned the opening kickoff 84 yards for a score and the Indians (9-1) never trailed.
"We shocked them right from the beginning," said Reed, who also rushed for two touchdowns and kicked a field goal. "They kind of dropped their heads. They are a tough, big team. But we're just too fast and we're a real good team."
Ethan Tilebein rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns for Groton, which won its first sectional football title.
The Bulldogs (9-1), who entered the game ranked third in the state in Class D, had given up 49 points all season before Saturday.
"I really didn't expect the score to be that lopsided," Groton coach Jeff Lewis said. "Delhi has a darn good defense and (Delhi coach Dave) Kelly makes great adjustments at halftime, especially defensively. I was kind of nervous about what was going to go on and how we'd be able to handle it, but our kids were just focused. We hit things the right way and they made a couple of mental mistakes that kind of hurt them."
Groton consistently got to the outside on the Bulldogs, making the defense chase. Once that happened, the speed of the Indians showed as they eluded defenders for most of the game.
"The guys inside did pretty well as (Groton) only popped one dive," Kelly said. "But the edge of the off-tackle and out was very difficult to get a hold of those birds. If they got any kind of space, it was very difficult.
"We can't let them get out there," he continued. "We're not that gifted that we can give them a step."
After the opening kickoff, Groton forced a punt and scored on its next possession when Sam Wright capped a 11-play drive with a 16-yard touchdown run. Reed's extra point made it 14-0 with 2:42 to play in the opening quarter.
"Our defense isn't used to going up against a team like this," Delhi linebacker Jack Fletcher said. "We're just not used to all the points being scored on us, so we didn't know what to do."
The Bulldogs answered quickly, however, starting at their 36.
Fletcher went 54 yards on the first play to Groton's 5. On the next play, Fletcher went up the middle for the touchdown with 2:03 remaining in the quarter. Anthony Salerno's kick made it 14-7.
It was all Groton from there.
On Delhi's next possession, the Bulldogs were forced to punt. Groton's Eric McLaughlin blocked Fletcher's punt attempt and recovered the ball at the 18. Two plays later, Reed scored on a 16-yard run as the Indians took a 20-7 lead. The conversion run failed.
The Bulldogs again punted on their next possession and Groton needed five plays to score, this time on a 6-yard run by Tilebein. The conversion pass failed, but Groton extended its lead to 26-7.
"These guys were hard to bring down," Delhi's Marty Cole said. "Overall they are a great team. I don't think the scoreboard reflects on how good we did play, but every little mistake we made, they capitalized on."
With a little over a minute remaining, the Bulldogs had to punt again. Long-snapper Shawn Neumann sent the ball over Fletcher's head. Fletcher tried to grab the ball around the 6 but was hit hard by a group of Groton players.
Two plays later, Reed scored on a 6-yard run for a 32-7 lead with 1:14 to play in the half.
"I think a lot of the people that were on kickoff got discouraged (with the opening play) and they didn't pick their heads back up, but we started picking our heads back up and then we'd make another mistake," Cole said. "We couldn't keep our heads up. ... We did have some mistakes that we're not used to making. I really can't explain them."
Groton extended the lead to 40-7 in the third quarter when Tilebein got loose on the right side, avoided several Delhi defenders and broke away for a 67-yard touchdown. Josh Senter connected with Isiah Young for the conversion to make it 40-7 with 1:24 to play in the quarter.
Reed kicked a 34-yard field goal with 9:54 to go in the game for a 43-7 lead.
The Bulldogs closed out the scoring when Fletcher scored on a 4-yard run to make it 43-13.
Groton outrushed Delhi, 237-148.
"We just weren't expecting that at all," said Fletcher, who finished with 112 yards on 14 carries. "We couldn't really do anything on defense. We couldn't stop their running backs. We just got outplayed today."
Groton 43, Delhi 13
SECTION FOUR CLASS D
Championship at Binghamton Alumni Stadium
Groton14 18 8 3 _ 43
Delhi7 0 0 6 _ 13
FIRST QUARTER
G _ Kyle Reed 84 kickoff return (Kyle Reed kick) 11:44
G _ Sam Wright 16 run (Kyle Reed kick) 2:42
D _ Jack Fletcher 5 run (Anthony Salerno kick) 2:03
SECOND QUARTER
G _ Kyle Reed 16 run (kick failed) 10:51
G _ Ethan Tilebein 6 run (pass failed) 7:47
G _ Kyle Reed 6 run (pass failed) 1:14
THIRD QUARTER
G _ Ethan Tilebein 67 run (Isiah Young pass from Josh Senter) 1:24
FOURTH QUARTER
G _ Kyle Reed 34 FG 9:54
D _ Jack Fletcher 4 run (kick failed) 5:38
Groton rushing: Ethan Tilebein 17-140, Kyle Reed 8-39, Josh Senter 3-20, Sam Wright 3-28, Cal Conner 4-12, John Cooper 3-(-2).
Delhi rushing: Rich Ennist 6-15, Jack Fletcher 14-112, J.J. Darling 12-50, Anthony Salerno 3-4, Team 1-(-29).
Groton passing: Josh Senter 1-for-2, 34 yards.
Delhi passing: Anthony Salerno 3-for-12, 25 yards.
Groton receiving: Nick Conway 1-34.
Delhi receiving: Jack Fletcher 2-10, J.J. Darling 1-15.
___
P.J. Harmer can be reached at pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.
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