CAMILLUS – An important occasion for West Genesee athletics also turned out to be an important game with a very satisfying outcome.
It was the varsity football Wildcats christening the new artificial turf at Mike Messere Field Friday night, and doing by battling its way to a 19-7 victory over Corcoran.
The win did more than improve WG’s record to 6-2. It also clinched third place in the Class A regular-season standings and assured, among other things, that the Wildcats would be home again next weekend for the opening round of the Section III playoffs.
All of this was still in question going into the game against Corcoran. If the Cougars won, both teams would have 4-3 league records, as would New Hartford, sharing third place and requiring tie-breakers to sort out who would get seeded where.
Wanting none of this, WG would play strong defense throughout the game’s opening stages, and not just by keeping Corcoran out of the end zone during a scoreless first quarter.
Less than a minute into the second period, the Cougars were pinned near its own goal line, and the pass rush forced a throw that Vincent Firenze intercepted at the five and returned for a touchdown.
That 7-0 lead only lasted until the ensuing kickoff. Corcoran’s Jahmere Clarke took it at his own 20 and, picking up blocks and picking up his speed, took it back 80 yards to the other end zone, the extra point tying the game.
But the Wildcats’ offense sprang to life on the ensuing drive, reaching the Cougars’ 25 before Francisco Cross tore up the middle for the go-ahead TD.
Even with a missed PAT, WG took a 13-7 lead, then held it through halftime and a scoreless third quarter as, again, the defenses on both sides were able to make key stops.
Gradually, the Wildcats began again to win the battle of field position and, late in the fourth quarter, began to move the ball. With 2:52 left, Firenze picked up blocks and scramble 21 yards for the clinching score.
WG will host Carthage Friday at 6:30 in the opening round of the sectional playoffs, with the winner to face Whitesboro or Auburn in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Westhill, who lost its regular-season finale 65-6 to Institute of Technology Central, still made the Class B sectional playoffs and will face undefeated Indian River in Friday’s opening round.
