By JOHN LIKANJE
BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The Letchworth/Warsaw (LetSaw) varsity football program’s identity is centered around defense. Coming into Saturday’s game, Justin Mann’s squad had won 17 of their last 20 contests and allowed 8.8 points per game. LetSaw’s identity shined under the bright lights of the sectional final, shutting down LeRoy for a 26-6 victory and a second straight title.
“It took a ton of team effort,” senior quarterback Brett Vasile said. “It took all hands on deck for this one.”
LetSaw wasted no time getting on the board, scoring on the first possession of the game. Vasile started the contest with a seven-yard gain and Chad Hallopeter burst for a 17-yard run on the first two plays. LetSaw was rewarded 15 more yards due to a holding penalty, which allowed Joshua Andrews to keep the drive going with a 10-yard run. Vasile punched his way to paydirt for a one-yard touchdown and a 6-0 lead.
.@SecVFootball C Final – @LeroyFootball vs. @letchsports/@wcstigernation: Brett Vasile finds paydirt with the QB keeper. 10:04 1Q: LetSaw 6 LeRoy 0. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/f4sfNzQnpy
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) November 9, 2019
Vasile used his legs to rack up 61 rushing yards on 11 carries. The senior quarterback completed 2-of-4 passes, including a 10-yard touchdown to Dalton English to extend the lead to 20-6 midway through the fourth quarter.
“We played our tails off,” Vasile explained. “That’s what we’d been preaching all week: Intensity. We got it done tonight.”
.@SecVFootball C Final – @LeroyFootball vs. @letchsports/@wcstigernation: Brett Vasile 10-yard TD pass to Dalton English. 5:59 4Q: LetSaw 20 LeRoy 6. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/kqUkLkaKjr
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) November 9, 2019
Chad Hallopeter had five carries for 50 yards and a touchdown. Along with his touchdown catch, English scrambled four times and picked up 16 rushing yards.
.@SecVFootball C Final – @LeroyFootball vs. @letchsports/@wcstigernation: Chad Hallopeter 21-yard TD run. 4:34 4Q: LetSaw 26 LeRoy 6. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/Eu0T91IatV
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) November 9, 2019
Mason Johnson led the defense with 10 tackles. Andrews had nine while Austin Williams added eight and a half. William Shearing had a pick-six on defense as well.
For LeRoy, Andrew Englerth scored on a two-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit down to 14-6 with 10:33 remaining in the game. The senior running back had 24 carries for 128 rushing yards.
.@SecVFootball C Final – @LeroyFootball vs. @letchsports/@wcstigernation: Andrew Englerth 2-yard TD run. 10:33 4Q: LetSaw 14 LeRoy 6. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/8aTiaayFt0
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) November 9, 2019
LetSaw advances to the New York State Far West Regional next Saturday back at Brockport at noon. Mann’s squad will face the Section VI winner of Southwestern and Wilson.
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