SKANEATELES – For players, coaches and fans alike, the Cazenovia football team’s 33-10 season-opening victory over Skaneateles Friday night at Hyatt Stadium provided all kinds of satisfaction.
Some of it had to do with payback served up by one set of Lakers to another after Skaneateles rallied past Cazenovia in last November’s Section III Class C semifinal, with the visitors jumping out to a 27-0 lead by the third quarter.
Even more of it, though, related to who was coaching on the other sideline.
Jay Steinhorst stepped out of retirement to take over at Skaneateles after Joe Sindoni stepped down (and later went to Liverpool). This was the first time Steinhorst had ever coached against a program where he had spent more than three decades and, as a head coach, brought Cazenovia its only state championship in 2015.
Everyone on the Cazenovia side may have wished Steinhorst well as soon as this game was over – but on this night, the business at hand was establishing, once again, the Lakers’ place as a championship contender.
After a quick exchange of interceptions on consecutive plays in the opening minutes, Cazenovia struck first midway through the first quarter, driving from midfield as quarterback J.P Hoak finished the drive with three consecutive runs, the last of them five yards for a touchdown.
Later in the period, Cazenovia, from its own 20, marched 80 yards. Hoak’s 22-yard scramble started it, and he threw 24 yards to Jack Byrnes that, with a two-point pass to Alex Kuper, made it 14-0.
Throughout the first half, Skaneateles hurt itself with a constant string of penalties (it had 17 in all), which kept giving Cazenovia great field position – as it did in the second quarter when a short march led to Hoak throwing 12 yards to Byrnes for a second TD.
The 21-0 halftime lead seemed even bigger given the work of Cazenovia’s defense, which took full advantage of Skaneateles not having its top running back, Grayson Brunelle, on hand.
Tavin Reilley had a fumble recovery and interception. Byrnes and Jack Donlin both had three solo tackles, Byrnes adding four assists as Jed Olkowski had a pair of tackles before an injury sidelined him.
Hoak’s second TD run, from two yards out, made it 27-0 midway through the third quarter. Only then did Skaneateles get on the board with a safety and Herr’s short TD run.
As if all of his work on offense wasn’t enough, Hoak sealed the victory with a 75-yard scoring run. For the game, he had 225 yards on 28 carries while completing 10 of 16 passes for 83 yards.
Cazenovia is back home at Buckley-Volo Field next Saturday to face Bishop Ludden, who won its opener 31-14 over Clinton.