By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It was bad enough for the Fairport Red Raiders that what had been a comfortable 14-0 first-half lead had suddenly become a one-possession game.
The Aquinas Li’l Irish, riding the power running of senior Jeffrey Logan III, opened the second half with a dominating 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive. Logan did most of that damage, carrying eight times for 54 yards, including the final five.
But then the AQ defense stepped up and, for the first time in the game, forced a three-and-out punt by Fairport.
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Suddenly the prevailing thought on the turf of the Aquinas stadium was, What in the world just happened?
Except that wasn’t what Fairport senior quarterback Sam Roselli was thinking. He instead was contemplating what he was about to make happen the next time he had the ball.
“I gave my coach a look, ‘We’re not done yet,’ ” Roselli said. “We’re not done at 14 points.”
Six plays later the Red Raiders led 21-7 and were on their way to a 28-7 victory.
Roselli took advantage of a short field and delivered flawless execution on a 37-yard drive. He gained the final 11 on a quarterback draw, slicing between defenders Eddie Mancini and Frankie Burgess in the backfield before sprinting untouched to the end zone for the game-breaking touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.
“He lives for that moment,” Fairport co-head coach Mike Wayne said. “No. 1, he’s an incredible kid and No. 2, he’s an excellent football player.”
Fairport (2-0) scored the clinching touchdown on its next possession after an interception by Alexander Berretta-Northcutt provided a first down at the AQ 37.
This time, Roselli needed eight plays to guide Fairport into the end zone. He again did the honors, and again on a quarterback draw, this time from 23 yards out on fourth-and-seven.
“We saw something we liked and called the play,” Roselli said of the draw.
While Roselli and running backs Daniel Roessel and James Robert Kester dominated on the ground, the quarterback gave all the credit to the guys doing the blocking.
“I feel like our line really proved something tonight,” Roselli said. “I trust everyone on the line. They make me feel protected.”
That was evident on the game’s first possession. Fairport methodically drove 57 yards on 13 plays – converting a third-and-one and third-and-10 along the way – to take a 7-0 lead.
They did have some good fortune on the touchdown. Daniel Roessel caught a Roselli pass around the five and, just before he reached the goal line, fumbled. The ball, however, rolled into the end zone and Roessel’s older brother, senior Jonathan, pounced on it.
The lead became 14-0 with 4:09 remaining before halftime when Daniel Roessel carried in from three yards out.
For Aquinas (1-1), the first half couldn’t have gone much worse. While the defense surrendered the two TDs, four possessions on offense resulted in no first downs, one lost fumble and three punts.
But Logan, who missed most of the first half because of injury, was determined to carry Aquinas back. He ran past and over defenders play after play on the opening drive of the second half, when the Li’l Irish pulled within 14-7.
“We knew coming out of the half that 15 was back on the field and we would have to step up,” Roselli said.
Fairport forced a three-and-out on the next Aquinas possession, when Logan was reinjured. He did not return.
Roselli then authored back-to-back touchdown drives and Fairport’s defense dominated the rest of the way.
While the 21-point margin of victory was impressive, and satisfying for the Red Raiders, it was just another step in building into a true contender for the Section V Class AA title.
“This was not close to our best game,” Jonathan Roessel said.
Which is what the coaching staff liked to hear.
“It’s another win,” Wayne said, “but now we’re focused on our next practice Monday.”
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