By PAUL GOTHAM
CICERO, N.Y. — Touchdowns from Miles Caviness and Manny Sepulveda created a single-digit deficit, but the East Rochester/Gananda Bombers could not get any closer in a 39-18 lost to Chenango Forks (IV) in the New York State Class C semi-finals on Saturday.
Trailing 21-0 with 6:25 remaining in the second quarter, the Bombers put together a 62-yard drive with Carter Lathrop finding Caviness on a 17-yard connection for ER/Gananda’s first points of the day late in the second quarter,
After stopping Chenango Forks on the opening possession of the second half, Lathrop hit Sepulveda along the sideline on a 26-yard pass for a touchdown and a 21-12 game.
“We just couldn’t get another one to get over the hump,” fourth-year head coach Brian Touranjoe said. “I’m proud of the guys. They fought. I told them at halftime ‘look it, we got 24 minutes to go after it.’ In that third quarter, they showed what they’re made of. We just ran out of gas. We couldn’t punch one in.”
#nysphsaa Class C semifinal:
East Rochester/Gananda on the board with this 17 yard TD pass. Chenango Forks leads 21-6 with 2:25 to go in the first half. pic.twitter.com/45Wl5EmBR8— NYSPHSAA (@NYSPHSAA) November 27, 2021
Chenango Forks responded with a seven-play, 90-yard drive that started late in the third quarter and finished with Zander Arnold scoring his fourth touchdown of the day for a 27-12 Blue Devils’ lead with 9:45 remaining in the game.
“Once they made that drive, it sealed a little bit,” Touranjoe noted. “That drive that they had was big for them.”
Arnold had runs of 39 and 20 yards to highlight the decisive possession. The senior running back finished with 131 yards on 18 carries. Chenango Forks rushed for 360 yards on the day.
“They did what we thought they were going to do,” Touranjoe stated. “They’re big upfront. They’re very good on the offensive line. They got some good seniors and some good backs that run hard. There’s nothing unusual. They had us on size. We knew that.”
Heading to the 4th quarter: Chenango Forks 21 East Rochester/Gananda 12 pic.twitter.com/uRKBK4Ssjr
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 27, 2021
The Blue Devils stopped ER/Gananda on downs to start the game and then went 47 yards on 11 plays to start the scoring. Next time they touched the ball, the Blue Devils went 49 yards on six plays for a 14-0 lead with 3:02 left in the first quarter.
“We got off to a little bit of a slow start in the first half,” Touranjoe noted. “We just had a hard time running the ball against them.”
The Bombers did not get a first down until their fifth possession of the game – midway through the second quarter.
“They’re big upfront, so it’s tough to run against them. We’ve been balanced all year on offense, passing and running. We really just couldn’t run the ball very well.”
Despite being dominated for 18-plus minutes, the Bombers gave themselves a chance.
“In the third quarter, we were blitzing heavy, got in the backfield and caused some trouble. We just couldn’t quite get the big turnover either that we were looking for. In the second half, we got after them on defense a little more.”
Sepulveda finished with three catches for 64 yards. Caviness had six receptions for 63 yards. Lathrop completed 14-of-31 passes for 140 and two touchdowns. Adrian Letta scored the third ER/Gananda touchdown. The senior running back had two carries for 60.
Adrian Letta breaks a couple tackles at the line, gets to the outside for 39 yards and an @ERBombers touchdown. 2-pt conversion is no good.1:52 remaining Chenango Forks 39-18. pic.twitter.com/bdV5IhPuJB
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 27, 2021
“It was 21-to-nothing. It’s cold. Things are looking rough. We stopped them and we go down and get that touchdown. We come out in the third quarter, and we almost get the onside kick. They get it. We stop them. We hit Manny with the big pass. It’s kinda game on after three. They just kinda rolled the fourth quarter. We just couldn’t get to that 21-18 or 19 and put the pressure on them.”
ER/Gananda finished with 12 wins and 1 loss on the season. The appearance in the state semi-final was the first in program history.
“I’m so proud of these kids. What they’ve done all year. The camaraderie, the belief, it’s been an historic season for our school. The most wins for our school. To get a taste of it, maybe the next time we’ll try to go another step farther or two steps now.”
Chenango Forks (11-1) will play Schuylerville (II) next Friday in the state championship. The Blue Devils will be looking to win their fifth state title since 2013.
“Our kids have nothing to be ashamed of. There’s only one team that doesn’t have a bad feeling at the end of the year. Either Forks or whoever won the other bracket.
“It was a great season. Hat offs to Chenango Forks, but I’m so proud of my guys. I’ll take my guys any time.”
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