CENTRAL NEW YORK – Having waited until October to get its first win of the season the Cazenovia football team resolved to make it a habit, just like it was for so much of recent history.

At Al Merola Stadium last Friday night the Lakers took on Solvay and, with its best defensive performance of the season, was able to subdue the Bearcats 20-6.

In three consecutive defeats to open the season Cazenovia’s defense surrendered 121 points, but against a strong Solvay ground attack the Lakers only gave up 91 rushing yards and 212 yards overall.

More importantly, a single second-quarter touchdown was all Solvay could produce, which briefly tied the game 6-6 before the Lakers scored twice before halftime to move in front for good.

Bryce Enders led the defense, recording seven tackles and nine assists. Edward Moskvich added five tackles and two assists, with two of Carter Bowden’s four tackles going for losses as Bowden and Bobby Livingston both got interceptions.

On the other end of the ball, Livingston had a modest game, completing 11-for-23 passes for 190 yards while rushing for 42 yards, but was central to all three scoring plays in the first half.

Livingston’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Scott got the Lakers on the board. Then, with the score 6-6, Livingston, from his own 44, found Scott again, a 56-yard scoring strike which put Cazenovia ahead for good.

Right before halftime Livingston found the end zone on a 10-yard scramble, and from there the defense made sure Solvay didn’t answer.

Big as this win was, Cazenovia could make even more noise this Friday when it challenges undefeated (6-0) Marcellus, who comes off close back-to-back wins over Solvay and Bishop Ludden/SAS.

Meanwhile, Chittenango took its 3-2 record into a key Class B clash with 4-1 Institute of Technology Central at PSLA-Fowler High School, and its potent offense was contained early, the key to a 26-14 loss to the Eagles.

Enjoying its best season as a varsity program, ITC would keep the Bears off the board the entire first half while building a 12-0 advantage on scoring runs of 12 yards by Ja’Bri Blunt and one yard by Tyquanne Harris.

Chittenango would cut the deficit in half in the third quarter, Seamus Gardner going 29 yards to Aiden Greiner. When Chayse Ostrander scored early in the fourth quarter and added a two-point conversion the Bears were in front.

But it didn’t’ last. Harris, from the Chittenango 39, found Nyquan Gilbert for the TD that put the Eagles ahead for good, and Ryan Brown added a 31-yard scoring run for insurance.

Gardner went 13-for-24 through the air for 126 yards and threw a pair of interceptions while rushing for 61 yards on nine carries. Chayse Ostrander and Zailor Caras led the defense with six tackles apiece, ahead of Aiden Greiner’s five tackles and four tackles from Edward Geer and Cooper Smith.

Back home this Friday, the Bears will tackle another strong opponent, 5-1 Indian River. Kickoff is at 6:30.