What awaits the Skaneateles football team, in the days and weeks ahead, is guaranteed to be a unique experience, one way or another.
The state Class C no. 3-ranked Lakers, two years removed from an 0-7 campaign, easily completed an undefeated regular season Friday night at Hyatt Stadium, ignoring the rain and wind to beat Syracuse’s Institute of Technology Central 61-16.
Even though Skaneateles had already clinched the Class C West division regular-season crown, it had no intention of surrendering any momentum before entering the playoffs.
To that end, the Lakers tore to a 47-0 halftime lead over the Eagles, making sure, after that point, that its top players, including quarterback Troy Green, did not stay out there any longer to risk injury.
Before that, though, Green, the single-season record-holder at Skaneateles for passing yards and touchdowns, went 16-for-26 for 221 yards, solid numbers in the tough conditions, and three TD’s, giving him 10 scoring passes in the last two weeks. Jake Cooney was the top receiver, catching nine passes for 96 yards.
Skaneateles gained 20 points in the first quarter, Green capping off the opening drive with a two-yard scoring pass to Koree Reed. Minutes later, Malik Merritt scored on a one-yard run, and Green found Cooney from four yards out for a third TD in that period.
In all, Merritt would score three times on this night. His second TD came on a five-yard run early in the second quarter. After Green found the end zone on a five-yard run to make it 34-0, he threw deep on the Lakers’ next drive and found Merritt, the scoring play covering 51 yards.
Even the Lakers’ defense joined in the fun as, just before halftime, Khiary Gale picked up an ITC fumble and returned it 51 yards for six points. Despite tough kicking conditions, Tyler Saunders made five of seven extra points in the first half.
For the second half, Skaneateles stayed on the ground. Max Weiss, who had a team-best 79 yards on just five carries, found the end zone from 16 yards out in the third quarter, while Merritt added 67 yards. Janson Mercado tacked on his own 16-yard scoring run during the final period.
As Skaneateles prepares to host Watertown IHC in next Friday’s opening round of the Class C playoffs, it also awaits the school district’s report on the questions of eligibility and/or residence of some of its players, which may or may not have a bearing on the Lakers’ record- or whether it even gets a chance to go into the post-season.
