BALDWINSVILLE – As always in football, some wins are just more satisfying than others.
Baldwinsville knows each victory means something in the long-term scheme, but getting the best of its neighbors from Liverpool always seems to count a bit more.
And after claiming a tense 20-17 with the Warriors a year ago, the Bees were far more dominant last Friday at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, starting fast and never getting caught in a 40-21 win.
This was the Liverpool side now coached by Joe Sindoni after Dave Mancuso’s retirement. Sindoni, who won a state Class C title with Skaneateles in 2017, has brought the same spread offense to the Warriors.
Liverpool did net 59 points in a season-opening win over Henninger Sept. 8, but against far tougher competition the Warriors committed three turnovers, with Greg Marinelli getting an interception and fumble recover.
Griffin Killian also recovered a fumble as Toby McIntyre recorded a team-best six tackles. Kaleb Young and Mike Madonna had five tackles apiece
Their task was made easier by B’ville bolting out to a 21-0 lead by the early portion of the second quarter, taking advantage of Liverpool’s mistakes.
More points followed as five different Bees – Marinelli, Young, Killian, Nico Wellman and Brandon Levin – picked up touchdowns by night’s end.
Levin carried the ball 27 times, earning 134 yards. Marinelli added 49 yards on five carries as Wellman completed three of five passes for 40 yards.
Another big challenge awaits B’ville this Friday when it travels to Bragman Stadium for its first meeting with Cicero-North Syracuse since falling to the Northstars in last November’s Section III Class AA final.
The Northstars started 2-0 before dropping an epic 42-41 battle with Christian Brothers Academy where it nearly erased a 21-point second-half deficit, only to get stopped on a late two-point conversion with a chance to go ahead. B’ville and CBA meet Sept. 30 at Pelcher-Arcaro.
