A one-sided, run-oriented performance has the Chittenango football team within one step of an outright Class B West regular-season championship.
Going to Solvay Friday night, the Bears did not even need to throw the ball, amassing 543 yards on the ground on the way to a 57-0 shutout of the Bearcats.
Not so long ago, any trip to Solvay’s Earl Hadley Stadium, better known as “The Pit” because its field is surrounded by three steep hillsides above the high school, was a difficult one. The Bearcats dominated B West for decades under coaches Al Merola and Phil Merrill.
Now, though, Solvay is in rebuilding mode, and Chittenango was not about to help out matters.
Joe Gilona got it moving with a 45-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but the Bears really got away in the second quarter with 22 unanswered points.
After Kyle Zimmer found the end zone on an eight-yard run, Devin Phelps threw his only two complete passes of the night – and both went for TD’s, 10 yards to Brad Phelps and 41 yards to Steve Billington. All this helped Chittenango lead 29-0 at the break.
Alex Carter applied more points in the third period, scoring on runs of three and 70 yards, and Conner Mills took off on a 62-yard TD run late in that quarter.
At night’s end, it was Zimmer atop the running list, with 140 yards on 18 carries. Mills added 92 yards on the ground as Gilona finished with eight carries for 89 yards.
So to clinch the B West title, all Chittenango needs to do is knock off Westhill at home next Friday night at 7 p.m. The Warriors, who have dominated B West in recent years, have, like Solvay, tailed off, only going 1-4 this season as it comes off a 43-21 loss to Marcellus.
