SYRACUSE – As it left Alibrandi Stadium Sept. 16 following its thrilling 42-41 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy, the Cicero-North Syracuse football team anticipated a rematch with far more on the line.
“Losing that game put a chip on our shoulders,” said senior quarterback Jaxon Razmovski.
When that rematch came Sunday night in the JMA Wireless Dome, the Northstars were ready for it – and extended its reign as Section III Class AA champions, defeating the Brothers 34-20.
It was C-NS’s fifth sectional title in a row overall – which, according to head coach Dave Kline, was “pretty amazing. We have kids that love to work and love to be around this program.”
Razmovski agreed. “It (the sectional championship) is a tribute to the way our coaches develop players and the culture that we have built,” he said.
Tied 13-13 with CBA at halftime, C-NS took charge in the second half with a physical ground attack combined with a defense that contained the Brothers’ highly-touted group of skill players while, at the same time, forcing quarterback Porter Matt into bad throws and sacking him often.
Meanwhile, one play on offense epitomized how things had turned.
Nate Williams dragged tacklers on a 33-yard catch-and-run from Razmovski near the midway point of the period, followed by Lemon running around end 23 yards for a TD, to put C-NS ahead for good.
Anthony Johnson made another big play late in the period, taking a punt at his own 10 and returning it 56 yards deep into CBA territory. It set up Lemon’s third TD, a 24-yard dash that doubled the Northstars’ margin to 27-13.
Not letting up, the Northstars all but sealed it with 8:03 left when, from the CBA 31, Razmovski threw right and found Tristan Johnson, who broke a tackle and went the rest of the way for the TD.
By far, the biggest question entering the game was whether Jordan Rae, the CBA quarterback injured in the sectional semifinal against Utica Proctor, would play.
But with Rae’s arm in a sling, Matt went under center for his first start, replacing a player who had started for two seasons, won a state Class A title in 2021 and had thrown for 276 yards and four touchdowns against C-NS in that September classic.
At least at the outset, it didn’t bother CBA one bit. In fact, it took all of 33 seconds for the Brothers to turn a good opening kick return by Tez Thomas into a scoring drive capped when Matt, from the Northstars’ 22, found Jason Brunson over the middle for the TD.
A six-minute, 75-yard march answered it on C-NS’s opening possession Razmovski converted two third downs and a fourth down inside CBA’s 20 before La’Quan Lemon scored from the three, tying it 6-6.
Lemon, named the game’s MVP, intercepted Matt two plays later and, on the very next play, Razmovski broke free on a 38-yard TD dash, putting C-NS in front 13-6.
Early in the second quarter, Matt, from his own 37, found Syair Torrence on the left wing and the highly-touted senior receiver did the rest, going 63 yards untouched, the extra point tying it 13-13.
Lemon had a 75-yard TD sprint moments later called back for a holding penalty, and the defenses began to settle down, each side making key fourth-down stops along with an interception by Brunson on Razmovski in the end zone in the final seconds of the half.
Razmovski said that, in the locker room during intermission, teammates told him not to get down about the interception – and as it turned out, everyone stepped up, leading to yet another sectional title.
C-NS will be on home turf at Bragman Stadium Saturday at 6 p.m. when it faces Section IV champion Corning in the Class AA regional final, the winner to face Buffalo Bennett or Rochester McQuaid in the Nov. 26 state semifinals.
