West Genesee and Jordan-Elbridge’s football teams entered the 2010 season trying to shake off last fall’s struggles, as both sides won just one game apiece.
So far, though, the problems remain, though it had as much to do with the opposition as anything else.
The Wildcats had to start at home Friday night against defending Section III Class AA champion Baldwinsville, and it could never get its offense going in a 24-0 loss to the Bees.
Facing that same dilemma at Cato-Meridian, the Eagles also proved unable to put points on the board as it fell to the Blue Devils 27-0.
WG was fired up to deal with a B’ville squad that did have several stars gone from 2009, including running back Malik Burks, the Central New York Player of the Year.
And the energy level for Wildcat players and fans only grew when the Bees fumbled on the game’s third play from scrimmage and Sean Howard recovered near midfield.
What followed set the tone for the night, though. WG could not get a first down, and in fact would manage just five of them for the entire contest.
B’ville’s defense held the Wildcats to 76 total yards and one real scoring chance in the fourth quarter, when WG drove to the Bees’ 10-yard line, only to get stuffed again.
Meanwhile, WG ran right into the Bees’ vaunted ground attack, which did not tail off, in terms of production, despite the new faces in the backfield. B’ville’s veteran offensive line, returning four starters from ’09, physically overwhelmed the Wildcats at the line of scrimmage.
All told, WG allowed 260 rushing yards as two backs, Tyler Rouse and Ben Paprocki, reached the 100-yard mark and accounted for all three touchdowns.
Rouse scored twice in the third quarter, on runs of 15 and 69 yards, to put the game away after the Wildcats stayed within range (10-0) in the first half.
Jordan-Elbridge commenced what will be a season full of road games with a Class C West division showdown at Cato-Meridian, which steadily got away from the Eagles.
Cato scored once in each quarter, Jon Grady earning two of the touchdowns on runs of six yards (in the first quarter) and two yards (in the fourth quarter). Brandon Jones and Nick LaLone also scored.
By contrast, J-E only managed 79 total yards, all of them on the ground, as it did not complete a pass in four attempts. Leland Holmes led the Eagles with 49 yards on five carries.
Defensively, Zach Stevenson led the way with 11 tackles, seven of them solo, while Holmes had a part in seven tackles, also earning an interception and fumble recovery.
J-E plays next Friday at Tully, who lost its opener to Syracuse Institute of Technology Central 22-19. West Genesee, meanwhile, travels to Fayetteville-Manilus to meet a Hornet team that upended Henninger 31-21 in its opener. Both games start at 7 p.m.
