GUILDERLAND — 1999.

That year has been in the thoughts of the Guilderland Dutchmen football players and coaches this season. And it is not because of elementary-school flashbacks.

The Dutchmen players have wanted to do something that hasn’t been done by a varsity team at the high school since the last year of the last millennium: Make the Section II playoffs.

And with a 28-12 win over Queensbury on Saturday, the Dutch earned their spot in the postseason and will be in uncharted territory.
"I told the guys before this game," said senior captain Kevin Forbes, "that I’ve been here for three years. I told them do it for us and do it for Coach. I’m proud of the kids. Everyone stepped up"This is a beautiful win for coach. We worked hard in the off-season."

Coach Dan Penna is in his second year of being the head coach but had been an assistant coach under Pete Schwan for six years.

Penna would be the last guy to take full credit for getting the Dutch to the playoffs. He would credit his assistant coaches — Bill Schewe, in his third year with the program, and old stalwarts Garth Childs and John Winters. Both Childs and Winters have coached in the lower ranks of the Guilderland program for years and got the call to the varsity this past season.

Penna also knows that it takes players who are willing to work and are dedicated to the program to make the postseason. And, for the most part, over the past seven years, the Guilderland program has had players like that. But this year, there is an added ingredient, a depth of talent.

The Dutch have had some talented kids, but this year’s team has more — the most this writer has seen, covering the team since the fall of 2000.
"We have great kids," Penna said. "We have great athletes. We have great coaches. We have great teamwork and the seniors have provided leadership. These things made it happen."

Forbes, and fellow three-year varsity player Kyle Hussey have been in the spotlight this season. So have classmates Greg Barcomb, Nick Zannotta, Tom Sweeney, Russell Qulia, Jarrell Gatterson, Donovan Lloyd, and Joe Lima.

Talented juniors Drew Smith, Paul Booker, Pete Stanish, Josh Sawyer, Parker Wolff, and Paul Malamood have also been huge contributors to the team’s success.

But, after Saturday’s game at Queensbury, Penna made sure to point out a group of kids who work hard every day but don’t see much playing time on Friday nights.
"I’ve got to credit the kids that simulated Queensbury’s offense and defense," he said. "They are a big part of this."

Penna then circled the names of several players on this reporter’s roster. He circled Jason Des Moines, Benjamin Kosinski, Raymond Callanan, Micheal Ward, Lee Russell, Paul Sheehan, Matthew Percoski, Alexander Leclair, Anthony Jasenski, Steven Miller, Ryan Cahill, Phillip Mazzotti, and Chris Murray. Murray subbed for an injured Ian Desol and long snapped on punts and extra-point kicks.

It takes a mixture of star athletes and hard-working yeomen to form a good team.

It also takes leadership from kids on the field.
"They do a great job," said Smith of the seniors. "Kevin Forbes at running back does a great job; Kyle Hussey with the linemen is tremendous. Greg Barcomb is a great leader. They all know what they are doing."

Since the last time the Dutchmen went to the playoffs, the team has had a one-win season and three 4-5 seasons. They shared the Gold Division championship in the old Suburban Council — before Section II did away with leagues and went to classification play before the 2004 season. The Dutch won three games in 2005, including two cross-over games.
"It’s always a goal," Smith said of making the playoffs. "Now our focus is on the playoffs and to earn respect. Other teams, I think, will start to respect us. We are now a team to be reckoned with."