MORRISVILLE – Amid a unique setting and as part of a unique rivalry, the Cazenovia football team made sure that it did not get upended by those other Lakers to the west.
Cazenovia’s 14-12 victory over Skaneateles Friday night was almost entirely due to a defense that, at several key moments, forced turnovers or kept the visitors from crossing the goal line.
And it all took place on the newly-installed, one-of-a-kind black artificial turf at Morrisville State College’s Drake Field, which had only seen its first competition a week earlier when the host school lost to Catholic University.
Without a home field as Buckley-Volo Field gets its own turf installed (which will not be black), Cazenovia pulled out this victory despite getting outgained by more than a 2-1 margin.
The visiting Lakers had 309 total yards while its defense stifled Cazenovia most of the way. All that the host Lakers got was 128 yards – 88 on the ground, 40 through the air.
Yet Cazenovia did take care of the ball, something the other side could not as it was forced into four interceptions, two of which were grabbed by Taven Reilley.
Trailing 6-0 at halftime, Reilley put his team in position early in the third quarter. Then, on the Skaneateles nine-yard line, Bobby Livingston threw a swing pass to Reilley and he powered his way into the end zone, Cazenovia taking the lead with Connor Frisbie’s extra point.
Then, with Skaneateles trying to drive it out of its own end on its next possession, Reilley stepped in front of another Joe Delmonico pass and this time took it 27 yards for his second touchdown of the night.
Frisbie’s second PAT made it 14-6, and Cazenovia didn’t just lean on Reilley as two others, Jack Macro and Christian Schug, also earned interceptions to thwart Skaneateles drives.
When it wasn’t turnovers, it was the likes of Wyatt Scott amassing a team-best eight tackles, including a sack, while Macro contributed four tackles and an assist. Carter Bowden had three tackles and three assists.
Even with all this, Skaneateles still had a chance, and promptly netted a TD late in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to two. Needing a conversion for the tie, the visitors instead saw Jack Donlin break through the line and record a sack, ultimately preserving Cazenovia’s win.
Ranked no. 2 in the state in Class C going into this game, Cazenovia will get tested again next Saturday when it faces 3-0 Solvay at 1 p.m. at Fayetteville-Manlius High School Stadium. The Lakers’ defense will no doubt key on Bearcats running back Jaysin Bliss, who had four TD’s, including a 90-yard run, in last week’s 41-32 win over Marcellus.
