SHERBURNE – Two plays into its first offensive series of the season, Cazenovia was on the board and rolling.
Scoring on each of its first four drives, the Lakers took command over Sherburne-Earlville rolling to a 33-6 victory Saturday night.
No, this Cazenovia team is not the same as the one that won Section III, Class B titles in in 2006-2007. The result against the Marauders, however, was quite similar to the previous meetings.. “They’re a good team and they’ve got it going,” said S-E head coach Mick James. “They play like Chenango Forks – they come in expecting to win.”
It was a little bit of luck that played into the Lakers’ early success. Quarterback Carter Franz was under pressure when he tossed a wobbler to the left corner of the end zone. Receiver Mike Blanchard and S-E defensive back Logan Klockowski each jumped for the ball, and the ball was tipped landing in Blanchard’s arms for a 39-yard score just 1:45 into play.
Cazenovia’s scoring was much less dramatic the rest of the way as it utilized an effective ground game that visibly pushed a larger Marauders defensive front back on their heels. “I think we were on our heels before we came out of the locker room,” James lamented.
Using the option, counter plays, and a straight-ahead fullback trap play up the middle, Cazenovia piled up gains in bunches. Chad Dorance and Mike McGinnis ripped off back-to-back first-down runs on the second drive, and although Dorance was knocked back for a six-yard loss midway through the drive, rushers Seth Goldacker and McGinnis got those yards back and then some. Goldacker’s 10-yard dash, his first of two TD runs in the first half made it 12-0. Perhaps the lone highlight of S-E’s first quarter was a strong pass rush on the extra-point kick attempts that yielded two blocks.
After forcing another S-E punt, Cazenovia moved with surgeon-like precision toward its third score. This time, a key 13-yard first-down pass from Franz to McGinnis was needed to extend the drive. Dorance scored untouched on a five-yard scamper, and the first successful point-after boot upped the margin to 19-0.
Following that score, S-E turned the ball over on its third play, and it came after a nice 10-yard run by Logan Aikins. McGinnis, powering up the middle again, lopped off 23 yards after an S-E sack, and Goldacker hit paydirt three plays later from seven yards out.
“The trap play is something we do right in practice, but in the game we weren’t reading our keys,” James said.
S-E’s first glimmer of resistance came on the ensuing kickoff. Nate Kline received the kick on one bounce, and dashed 72 yards to the Cazenovia eight. On the first play, Kline bolted up the middle for his team’s lone score. Kline led S-E’s rushers with 62 yards on 15 carries.
The Marauders’ defense tightened its belt in the second half allowing a lone TD pass on Cazenovia’s first drive of the second half. The Lakers were held to 104 yards of offense in the second half after gaining 237 in the first half. “The second half we played a lot harder, and that’s something we need to do at the start of the game,” James said.
The Marauders play UV-Edmeston Friday.
Score by quarters
Caz 12 14 7 0—33
S-E 0 6 0 0—6
Scoring Summary
C: Mike Blanchard 39 pass from Carter Franz (kick failed)
