For the second time in as many games, the Christian Brothers Academy football team soared past the 50-point mark.
But unlike its season-opening 56-32 win over Union-Enidcott in the Carrier Dome on Sept. 6, the Brothers also brought along a stifling defense to Friday’s game at Utica Proctor, earning a shutout as it smashed past the Raiders 52-0.
To be sure, Proctor was in the midst of some early-season struggles, having dropped its opener to Corcoran 34-6, but that didn’t detract from the complete all-around effort put together by CBA’s starting unit, especially in a 38-0 first-half blitz.
It all started with a drive to Proctor’s five-yard line early in the first quarter. J.R. Zazzara scrambled for the touchdown, and a two-point conversion pass from Josh Brown to Aaron Donalson sent the Brothers on its way.
On CBA’s next possession, it stalled at the Raiders’ 12, but Nolan Bower still kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 11-0. Before the first quarter was done, it was 18-0, Zazzara finding Andre Dowdell from 28 yards out for his first TD pass of the night.
That 18-0 lead was far from enough. Zazzara ran 13 yards for a score early in the second period, and Deshawn Salter, who carried the ball just six times but gained 158 yards, broke loose for a 58-yard TD run a few minutes later.
All through the half, the CBA defense kept stifling Proctor’s advances, and capped its effort by forcing a turnover deep in Raider territory late in the half. Zazzara threw 12 yards to Donalson for his second scoring pass, and Bower’s PAT stretched the margin to 38-0 as they went to halftime.
Little was seen of Zazzara (six-for-12 for 158 yards through the air) or Salter in the second half, and other CBA starters rested, too. But the Brothers’ reserves still tacked on two more touchdowns.
Again, the defense helped out, Daniel Damico’s interception setting up Josh Brown’s 15-yard TD pass to Tanner Hail before Robert Grant scored on a 14-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Beginning league play in the Class AA-1 division next Friday, CBA visits Bragman Stadium to face Cicero-North Syracuse, a reunion of sorts since CBA graduate and long-time Brothers assistant Joe Sindoni is now the head coach of the rebuilding Northstars, who are 0-2 following losses to Baldwinsville and Liverpool.
Not only is Sindoni the head coach, but many of his assistants have CBA ties, including offensive coordinator Tim Brown and defensive coordinator Tim Lee, who starred for the Brothers a decade ago.
