Only a small smidgen of doubt surrounded the Cazenovia football team’s belief that it was, once again, the class of the Class B East division.
As the Lakers roared to a 3-0 start, its first-string defense not allowing a point, Holland Patent had also run off three straight wins, keeping pace.
And now Cazenovia would have to travel east to face the Golden Knights, looking not only to take over first place, but to also make it clear to all the other challengers that the Lakers would be tough to catch.
Needless to say, Cazenovia was successful.
Quick, opportunistic and physically dominant on both ends of the ball, the Lakers rolled through HP, its 35-0 victory a proud exclamation point on a perfect first half of the 2006 season where it outscored its four victims by a combined 154-13.
Not having any problem adjusting on the road, the Lakers took a modest 7-0 edge in the first quarter with a short drive and Brandon Moyer’s two-yard touchdown run.
However, that just served as the appetizer for the tremendous feast Cazenovia would enjoy in a 28-point second quarter.
Coleman Koesterer got it going, firing long to Ben Dewan on a touchdown reception that covered 58 yards and made it 14-0.
From there, Cazenovia’s defense really started to clamp down, forcing short HP possessions, punts and more opportunities for the Lakers to add to its lead.
Brian Bartlett, who led his side with 86 yards on 11 attempts, would score on a pair of TD runs in the middle of the period, the latter a 31-yard trip to the end zone.
Not content with his team-best nine tackles, Artie Bigsby put the seal on this second-quarter eruption when he caught a 10-yard TD pass from Koesterer.
Even though head coach Tom Neidl went to his bench early (again), the Lakers maintained the shutout throughout the second half. It was Cazenovia’s second shutout in a row, to go with the 38-0 blanking of Ilion a week earlier.
Going to the road again this Saturday, the Lakers pay a visit to league newcomer Altmar-Parish-Williamstown (2-2) for a 2 p.m. kickoff. The Rebels are coming off a 42-6 loss to South Jefferson.
