BALDWINSVILLE – Only a few minutes of good play in the Section III Class A title game at the JMA Wireless Dome ended up separating Baldwinsville from ending Cicero-North Syracuse’s four-year reign as champions in 2021.
Taking that final step to the summit is what the Bees intend to do in 2022, even though the challenge might prove greater for several reasons.
Primarily, B’ville is dealing with key graduation losses, including the likes of top running back Sam Mellinger, defensive leader Dan Ewald, and quarterback Caeden Cox, who led a vastly improved passing game last fall.
There’s also a significant change in the coaching staff. Bill Spicer, defensive coordinator and thought to be long-time head coach Carl Sanfilippo’s successor, left to take an assistant’s job at Cortland State.
Add to all that the promotion of Christian Brothers Academy in the wake of its 2021 run to the state Class A title, and it’s a lot for the Bees to consider before its Sept. 9 season opener at Rome Free Academy.
Senior captain Nick Foster said his team’s trip to the sectional final only makes the returning players hungry to take it further.
“It was a cool experience,” said Foster. “But we want to recreate it and have a better outcome.”
Foster steps into one of the key roles on the Bees’ offense, succeeding Ewald at fullback. Another returning senior, Caleb Paul, joins a group of tailbacks that includes Anthony Noda, Trevor Valenti, Brandon Levine and Kaleb Young that, together, hope to replicate or top Mellinger’s 1,120 yards and 11 touchdowns.
To replace Cox, who completed better than 60 percent of his passes and threw for 11 TD’s last fall, B’ville has an open competition between two juniors, Nico Wellman and Greg Marinelli.
Sanfilippo said that, no matter who starts, the Bees will continue to open up its passing game. It helps that Kaleb Paul returns at wide receiver and Griffin Killian leads a deep group of tight ends.
B’ville is also fairly set with its offensive line, anchored by senior captain Patrick Pascho at tackle. Lucas Houghton is at the other tackle spot, with Jack Boslet and Ryan Flint at guard and Isaiah Pickard at center.
Pascho said that the entire group of linemen, running eight or nine deep, is a cohesive unit who hopes that cohesion can combine with perfect execution to dominate the line of scrimmage.
As much as possible, the Bees don’t want linemen to play both ways. Still, Pascho and Houghton could work into a defensive-line rotation where Mike Madonna, Matt Gingrich and Dan Fowler will see most of the playing time.
Even in a season shortened by injury, Ewald managed 61 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception. He, along with Amari Akins (63 tackles), depart.
But Foster, last year’s leading tackler (with 87), returns along with Young and Aaron Clark at linebacker. Paul leads an experienced secondary joined by brothers Logan and Toby McIntyre, along with Valenti.
With Sanfilippo saying that it’s critical B’ville start well, the opener at RFA precedes a tough three-game stretch that includes rivals Liverpool (now coached by Joe Sindoni) and C-NS, followed by a Sept. 30 visit from CBA.
Killian said his team’s “passion and chemistry” are at a high level heading into the season, a though echoed by Pascho.
“All of our guys are ready,” he said.
