Tiger gridders set for title contest

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – TITLE TILT UPCOMING: Nate Wright (41) and his Lyndonville Tiger teammates will host the Troy Fighting Irish in the Northeastern Football Alliance championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Pembroke Town Park.

Looking to capitalize on home field advantage and claim that elusive first overall league title, the Lyndonville Tigers will host the Troy Fighting Irish in the Northeastern Football Alliance playoff championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at Pembroke Town Park.

Lyndonville, which has won nine in a row after an 0-2 start to the season, advanced to the league title contest by blanking the Nickel City Kings 14-0 last Saturday in the West Division playoff final.

Troy, which has captured the league championship the last three years in a row, defeated the Glove Cities Colonials in the East Division playoff final.

“They use the Wing-T so we have to stop their running game,” said Tigers owner/coach Harold Suhr. “Our defense has always been the heart of our team so they’ve got to throw up a zero and our offense has got to score some touchdowns.”

Quarterback Matt Mackintosh, who threw a fourth quarter touchdown pass to Gary LeFrois to clinch the West Division title victory, leads the Tigers attack. He has thrown seven TD strikes on the season, six to LeFrois.

Running back Rob Williams, who scored the first touchdown against the Kings, is the Tigers season long scoring leader with eight touchdowns. LeFrois has a total of seven TDs, Derrick Adams five and Clay Johnson four.

The Tigers defensive effort against the Kings was highlighted by four pass interceptions, two by Brad Ralph and one each by AJ Clevelad and Kyle Fiegel.

The two teams last met in postseason play in 2010 when the Irish edged the Tigers 35-28 in the semifinals at Troy.

Olympic goal medalist pole vaulter Jenn Suhr will be on hand for the pre game coin toss and to sign autographs. There will also be fireworks following the game. Admission will be $5.