BALDWINSVILLE – Two weeks and two games on the road had only produced two touchdowns for the Baldwinsville football team, leading to lopsided defeats to Jamestown and Vestal.
The Bees hoped that, by returning to the familiar surroundings of Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, it would find an offensive spark and, by doing so, also reach the win column.
B’ville did produce plenty against visiting Elmira, only to go cold at the worst time possible as a 32-29 loss to the Express left the Bees at 0-3 with reigning five-time sectional Class AA champion Cicero-North Syracuse about to visit.
All through the first half, the game’s pattern did not waver. Three times, Elmira would find the end zone, only to miss each conversion, while B’ville also got three touchdowns but did make the extra points, producing a 21-18 margin at the break.
They played on even terms in the third quarter, with the Bees earning a TD and two-point conversion and the Express doing the same. Yet B’ville was unable to score in the final period as Elmira earned a go-ahead score and pulled it out.
Not only did Greg Marinelli complete eight of 15 passes for 120 yards and two TD’s – both to Trevor Valenti, who had five catches for 87 yards – he also ran for 117 yards and a score, helped by Kaleb Young, who had 17 carries for 113 yards.
Defensively, Dylan Garcia finished with a team-best 10 tackles. Close behind him, Valenti, Logan McIntyre and Aaron Clark had nine tackles apiece, while Marinelli and Gavin Donaldson each got five tackles.
Now it’s C-NS, off to a 3-0 start with comfortable wins over West Seneca West, Corning and Union-Endicott, who will visit Pelcher-Arcaro, looking to improve upon its no. 10 state Class AA ranking. Kickoff next Friday is at 6:30.
