The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
VVS takes on Chittenango at home
VERNON, N.Y. » The last time the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and Chittenango football teams met was back in 2012, the Bears dominated the Red Devils, winning 42-6.
Five years later, the script was very much flipped, as VVS handled Chittenango at home, cruising to a 27-0 victory.
The Red Devils offense featured a balanced attack on Saturday as the Section III Class B No. 3 seed shut out the No. 6 seed Bears at home as Bryce Cousin, Alex Oliver, Nate Palmer, and Tyler Rotach all found pay dirt for the Red Devils.
Though VVS controlled much of the game, the Bears were the ones to threaten early on as coach Kurt Kielbasa’s squad used its opening drive to enter Red Devil territory, but a Chittenango fumble derailed the possession to give the Red Devil’s their second possession of the game.
Coach Gary Oliver’s squad used that ensuing possession to gain an early lead as Cousin found the end zone from11 yards out to give VVS a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Following a scoreless second quarter, the Bears received the second half kickoff.
After Chittenango was forced to punt, VVS used a 14-play drive to increase its ad--
vantage to 14-0. With thirddown-and-long deep in its own territory, VVS benefited from a personal foul to keep the drive alive. Following the Bears’ penalty, the Red Devils were set up with first down near midfield with 7:22 left to play in the first half. Cousin and Oliver alternated carries to bring the Devils to the Chittenango 30-yard line. The Bears were flagged again on third down later in the drive as Nate Palmer drew a holding call to set VVS with a first down inside the Chittenango 20. Four plays later on fourth down, Oliver busted through the Bear defense, losing his helmet in the process but reaching the pylon for the score.
At the end of three quarters, VVS held a 14-0 lead.
Oliver intercepted a Brian Lamaitis pass on fourth down with the Bears in VVS territory to keep the visitors score- less with 1:50 to go in the third. After the pick, VVS began its next drive on its own 46-yard line. Following two short Red Devil runs, Chittenango was flagged for a facemask penalty to give VVS a fresh set of downs inside Bear territory. Three plays later, again on fourth down, VVS went for it and Oliver hit Nate Palmer deep down the left right side of the field for a 30-yard touchdown. The touchdown took place in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, and put VVS up 20-0.
Rotach added a touchdown for VVS in the fourth, but by then the damage was already done as VVS closed out a 27-0 victory.
VVS advances to the Class B semifinals where it will face No. 2 seed Homer on Friday, Oct. 27.