The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Cazenovia has eyes on state playoffs
CAZENOVIA, N.Y. » The goals never change for the Cazenovia football program.
Win game 1. From there, concentrate on securing a Class B East league title. Then, capture the Section III title and make a run in state playoffs.
It’s a tall task, but that is the expectation in Lakerland each year. Cazenovia has participated in every Section III Class B title game since the 2012 season, winning four section championships and one state championship during that run.
“All of these kids expect to win. They know what it takes,” said fourth-year head coach Jay Steinhorst. “We as coaches expect to win.”
Before the Lakers can visit what has essentially become their home-away-fromhome at the Carrier Dome for the Section III finals in October, they need navigate a Class B East that swapped out Utica Notre Dame for Chittenango and returns the likes Vernon-VeronaSherrill, Oneida, Camden, New Hartford, Central Valley Academy, and Phoenix.
“How this team handles adversity is yet to be determined. That will be key,” Steinhorst said of the looming regular season. “This year’s group will require a bit more a teameffort
than usual.”
Senior wide receiver and 2017 second-team all-star James Pavelchak has seen the Lakers reload before, and this season is no different.
“Not much has changed. The personnel has changed, but everyone is coming together,” Pavelchak said. “Everyone needs to chip in and do their part, and we need to hold it together off the field.”
The Laker veteran has been impressed with the level of effort he has seen so far through camp.
“Everyone puts in 100 percent effort. We pick each other up. We’re a family.” he added. “The goal is to go as far as we can go. Sectionals is the dream, but we want to win as many games as we can.”
“A winning record and hopefully sectionals,” added senior guard and defensive tackle Nolan Frisbey of the goals in Cazenovia. “There’s a lot of chemistry a lot of hard work. We’ve been playing together for a long time.”
Pavelchak and Frisbey are joined by fellow 2017 allstar talents Shawn Szlamczynski, Dan Hammond, Evan Duskee, Drew Johnson, Chad Carges, and Tony Heaney.
Of that group, Szlamzynski (defensive line), Duskee (defensive line), Heaney (secondary), Johnson (secondary), Frisbey (linebacker), and Carges ( linebacker) represent a core group of returners on the defensive unit. That does not mean they won’t be expected to contribute in a big way to the offense. Johnson, after receiving plenty of mopup time in as quarterback a season ago, will serve as the team’s starting QB. Similiarly, Steinhorst says Carges could be a ‘ beast’ for the Lakers at tight end this year.
Hammond, on the offensive line, and Pavelchak, wide receiver, are the two returning all-stars on offense.
Casey Cunningham, Isaac Senehi, Ryan Romanoli, Ty Fryer, and John Frege are also expected to step up into significant roles for the Lakers when the 2018 season kicks off on Saturday.
“We have a deep team in that our second-teamers are good and have had quality reps,” Steinhorst said.
The Lakers open the season at home against Mexico before travelling to Central Valley Academy in Week 2. Cazenovia begins a threegame home stand on Friday, Sept. 14 against Camden. Following visits from Vernon-Verona- Sherril l and New Hartford in con- secutive weeks, the Lakers close the regular season on the road, taking on Oneida on Oct. 5 and Chittenango a week later on Oct. 12.
Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 1 - vs. Mexico
Friday, Sept. 7 - at Central Valley Academy
Friday, Sept. 14 - vs. Camden
Friday, Sept. 21 - vs. Vernon-Verona-Sherrill
Saturday, Sept. 29 - vs. New Hartford Friday, Oct. 5 - at Oneida Friday, Oct. 12 - at Chittenango