DELHI _ Zach Newkerk lifted Delhi with the power of concentration Saturday afternoon.
Newkerk's touchdown catch off a deflected pass gave the Bulldogs all the points they needed to clinch the Section Four Football Conference Division VII title with a 7-0 victory over Bainbridge-Guilford at Dave Kelly Field.
Delhi (8-0, 6-0), which won the D-VIII sectional crown last season, held the Bobcats (6-2, 5-1) to 15 rushing yards and 33 overall. The Bulldogs, ranked third in the state among Class D teams, ended B-G's six-game winning streak.
"We knew coming into this game that we had a challenge offensively," B-G coach Tim Mattingly said. "We felt we needed to score at least twice to win the game. "¦ I give Delhi a lot of credit. They are a well-disciplined team and a well-coached team. Defensively, they stepped up and did a great job."
Jack Fletcher led Delhi's offense with 30 carries for 131 yards, most of which came in the thick mud at midfield.
"It was really tough. I couldn't get footing at all," said Fletcher, who is 34 rushing yards shy of 1,000 this season. "The line blocked well, but every time you took a step, you'd slip. It was hard running. "¦ I just didn't stop my feet. I just kept running until I felt the ground."
Delhi scored with a little bit of luck and a lot of focus.
Facing a third-and-8 from B-G's 10-yard line, Delhi quarterback Anthony Salerno rolled to his right and sent a high pass to the right side of the end zone. The ball went between the hands of B-G's Justin Pepper and bounced off of his right shoulder. Newkerk, the intended receiver, followed the tipped ball and grabbed it for the touchdown.
"I just tried to focus as much as possible," Newkerk said. "I was just thinking this could be the game right here and sure enough, it was. We got the win."
Rune Tybirk's extra-point kick made it 7-0 with 10 minutes, 28 seconds to play in the second quarter.
"That was just good luck," Delhi coach Dave Kelly said. "It's nice to get one of those every now and then, but you sure can't count on the tip. It was just good fortune."
Neither team threatened much the rest of the game.
Delhi's best chance to extend its lead came with 2:28 to play, when it set up for a field goal on a fourth-and-4 at the Bobcats' 12. Tybirk missed the 29-yard attempt with a low, short kick to the left that followed a bobbled snap.
Delhi held B-G without a first down until midway through the third quarter and limited the Bobcats to two overall.
"We were ready to battle," said Pepper, who doubles as B-G's quarterback. "Delhi is a heck of a team with strong defense and strong offense. We never gave up. A 7-0 ballgame, you can't be ashamed of that. We're going to go to the playoffs and we'll keep our heads up. We have the second season to go."
Delhi and B-G earned playoff berths before Saturday's game, which determined the division champion. Kelly said Delhi will play D-VIII runner-up Tioga (6-2) in a Section Four Class D semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday at Binghamton Alumni Stadium. He added that B-G and D-VIII champion Groton (7-1) will follow in the other semifinal at 4 p.m. Saturday.
"This gives us a lot of confidence," Newkerk said. "I think now we realize we have what it takes and we just have to work our butts off and get ready for Tioga."
Delhi 7, B-G 0
Bainbridge-Guilford0 0 0 0 _ 0
Delhi0 7 0 0 _ 7
SECOND QUARTER
D _ Zach Newkerk 10 pass from Anthony Salerno (Rune Tybirk kick) 10:28
B-G rushing: Dakota Vandermark 11-2, Daren Terpstra 7-5, Billy Holden 1-1, Justin Pepper 2-7.
Delhi rushing: Jack Fletcher 30-131, J.J. Darling 6-28, Anthony Salerno 7-(-33), Rich Ennist 9-17.
B-G passing: Justin Pepper 2-for-15, 18 yards.
Delhi passing: Anthony Salerno 3-for-5, 25 yards.
B-G receiving: Ryan Porter 1-5, Jake Taylor 1-13.
Delhi receiving: Jacob Haynes 1-9, Zach Newkerk 2-16.
___
P.J. Harmer can be reached at pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.
