By PAUL GOTHAM
EAST ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Tony Piazza started his varsity football career as a tight end during his sophomore season. Later that year, he was slotted as a fullback where he stayed until a week ago when first-year head coach Mike Humphrey and his staff decided to move Piazza to tailback.
Judging by Friday’s results, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior has found his spot in the lineup.
Piazza scored four touchdowns and led a Le Roy squad that converted on each of its seven possessions in a 50-34 victory over host East Rochester/Gananda in Section V Football action.
Piazza rushed for 219 yards on 19 carries.
“Tony is underrated in his open-field ability,” Humphrey said. “I think he’s looked at as more of a bruiser. We made the change about a week ago and put him tailback rather than fullback because we know how well he is at running the ball. Not that he’s not a good blocker, but most of the time the three-back is the one carrying the ball.”
He scored on runs of three, five, five and 65 yards.
After going 8 yards on fourth down for the conversion, Tony Piazza scores from five yards out. 2-pt conversion is no good. @LeRoy_CSD has scored on all six of its possessions and lead 42-26 with 3:04 remaining in the third quarter. pic.twitter.com/nVaAX1Og30
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 23, 2023
“We thought he was the best at carrying the ball or at least the best in space,” Humphrey said. “It just worked better for our offense. Ducking, diving, juking, that’s what he does.”
Piazza was at his best on the second play from scrimmage of the third quarter. With Le Roy leading 28-18, he took a handoff from Tommy Condidorio, broke a tackle at the line, switched directions and scampered into the open field.
Tony Piazza cuts back for 45 yards. pic.twitter.com/HaOeQn6NqX
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 23, 2023
In a game that saw more than 80 points of combined offense, it’s hard to pick out one play as more significant than others. Piazza’s run helped the Oatkan Knights regain the momentum they had going into halftime.
“I was a little surprised at that one; I’m not going to lie. Blocking was great. Holes were open, and that how that happens.”
Le Roy had its largest lead of the night to that point at 36-18.
“I never really expect a big play to come. It just happens. That happened to be the time. It was good for us. A two-touchdown lead is very important going into the second half. Obviously, momentum is important too. We gained it (momentum) from that play.”
Le Roy rolled up 373 yards of total offense. Drew Strollo gained 93 yards on 15 carries. Jackson Fix had 56 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
Jackson Fix caps a 15-play (all on the ground), 71-yard drive with a one-yard plunge on third and goal. 2-Pt. conversion is good. @LeRoy_CSD 8 @ERBombers 6 @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/1PuEWJusIs
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 22, 2023
The Oatkan Knights’ offense opened with a 15-play, 71-yard drive (all on the ground) that took up nearly nine minutes of game time. Later they scored on a three-play drive that was highlighted by 70-yard passing strike from Condidorio to Adrian Stephens.
Piazza broke a 45-yard carry to highlight a drive that started at their own 32 and went 68 yards in six plays over 56.7 seconds to score 6.
“No complaints on our offensive production tonight, for sure,” Humphrey said. “What more can you ask for? Obviously, still some things to clean up, but I’m proud of the way that offensive line played, proud of the way they’ve been coached all week and proud of the way the guys ran the ball behind them.”
Condidorio was 2-for-3 through the air for 75 yards. FIx had one catch for five yards.
Jude Sherman made eight tackles. Cal Koukides had five.
ER/Gananda’s Ben Newman completed 18 of 25 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. The junior signal caller hit Miles Caviness on a 34-yard strike to make it a 22-18 game with 1:03 remaining in the second quarter. He connected with Cadearrell Sneed, Jr. on a 35-yard strike. Still later, Newman completed 7-of-9 passes to four different receivers on an 89-yard drive that he capped with a 16-yard touchdown to Noah Mather.
Third and 5 from the 24, Ben Newman hits Miles Caviness for 6. 2-Pt conversion is no good. @LeRoy_CSD 22 @ERBombers 18 @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/nuYPKM4IKy
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 23, 2023
“The game plan going in was to keep ER’s offense off the field because obviously, we did our best to do that and they still put up 34 points,” Humphrey said. “We knew that we were going to take a couple shots over the top. They just needed to be timed well and hit. If not, the clock stops and you’ve really wasted a down where you can run the ball for three or four yards. They needed to be well-timed, well-practiced and executed. And they were for the most part.”
Coming into your screen: Ben Newman hits Cadearrell Sneed Jr. on first and 10 from the 35. 2-Pt conversion is good. 7:52 remaining in the third quarter, @ERBombers trail @LeRoy_CSD 36-26 pic.twitter.com/L0WLU1UtZ8
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 23, 2023
Newman also rushed for 16 yards and two touchdowns to lead ER/Gananda (2-2). Caleb Carpenter had five carries for 71 yards. Caviness made eight catches for 123 yards. Mather was five for 77 yards. Sneed made four receptions for 41 yards. Sneed also had eight tackles. Britton Delmadoros made eight tackles as well.
The game was stopped with 7:53 remaining in the fourth quarter due to a medical emergency. Play did not resume from that point.
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