Cazenovia is Dome-bound

Lakers down Bears in Section III Class B semifinal

MANLIUS>> Members of the Chittenango football team knew they couldn’t fall behind Cazenovia in Friday’s Section III Class B semifinal game like they did in the quarterfinals against Central Valley Academy.

Unfortunately for the Bears, that’s just what happened.

Cazenovia scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, rolling from there to a 37-14 victory and a fifth consecutive trip to the Section III Class B final.

“We’re rolling really good right now,” said senior Cody Thorp. “We’ve just been coming closer and closer and watching film and working hard in practice just like we play.”

The victory was the sixth straight for the Lakers after a one-point loss to Utica Notre Dame in the third week of the season. After surrendering 64 points over the first three weeks of the season, Cazenovia has allowed just 39 over that six-game run.

“It really sunk home, I think, in our subconscious that if we don’t really practice hard, if we don’t really have intensity and emotion and things like that, we can be pretty average,” said second-year head coach Jay Steinhorst of the early season loss.

His Lakers looked determined to return to the Car-

rier Dome from the beginning of Friday night’s contest. Chittenango received the game’s opening kickoff but went 3-and-out and was forced to punt. Cazenovia’s Austin Enders ran 41 yards on the Lakers’ first offensive play from scrimmage, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run by Cody Thorp. Matt Regan added the extra point, putting the No. 1 seed ahead 7-0 with 7:01 to play in the first quarter.

The Bears gained their first first down on the ensuing possession but were then forced to punt again. Facing 3rd-and-7, Regan connected with Anthony Vecchiarelli for a 71-yard touchdown pass. Regan added the PAT kick as well, extending the lead to 14-0 where it would stay going into the second quarter.

Things continued to get worse for Chittenango in the next period. Two bad snaps on fourth down plays gave Cazenovia great field position on consecutive possessions. Regan capped one with a 20-yard field goal and Vecchiarelli hit a wide-open Thorp for a 28yard score on the next. Regan’s third successful PAT kick put the Lakers ahead 24-0 midway through the second quarter.

The Bears put together their best drive of the opening 24 minutes on the ensuing possession. Quarterback Cooper Young connected with Hunter Hendrix for a 12-yard gain before a 27-yard completion to Jacob Burgan. The drive stalled at the 3, however, with four straight incompletions leading to a turnover on downs and the score stayed 24-0 going into halftime.

Chittenango recovered an onside kick to start the second half but Cazenovia’s Joey Gates came up with an interception on the Bears’ first play. After the teams traded turnovers on downs, the Laker drove 31 yards in eight plays to extend the lead to 30- 0 on a 4-yard pass from Vecchiarelli to Will Huftalen.

A strong rushing attack allowed the Bears to reach the end zone for the first time early in the fourth quarter. Connor Fredericks capped a 14-play, 74-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to cut the Lakers lead to 30-6.

Cazenovia countered with another score on the ensuing possession, reaching the end zone on a 14yard run by Matt McLaughlin. Nate Morgan added the PAT kick for a 37-6 edge.

Chittenango added one final score in the closing minutes on a 13-yard pass from Young to Hendrix, followed by a Young-to-Burgan connection for the conversion.

“Our thing at halftime was if you’re going to quit, go home now,” said firstyear Chittenango head coach Curt Kielbasa. “I don’t think my kids did. They played hard and I’m proud of them for that.

“It’s not easy to come out down 24-0 against the defending state champions and play hard and they did just that.

“Obviously we’re upset for them, we know they wanted to win, but I can’t be mad at them.

“Nobody quit and that’s really what it’s all about.”

Cazenovia will face Homer for the sectional title for the second time in three years.

The Trojans rallied with 16 fourth-quarter points to defeat Mexico in Friday’s other semifinal game.

KYLE MENNIG — ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Cazenovia’s Cody Thorp (right) tries to escape a tackle by Chittenango’s Cooper Young (left) during their Section III Class B semifinal game in Manlius on Friday. The Lakers defeated the Bears, 37-14, earning a fifth consecutive berth in the Section...