BALDWINSVILLE – Again the Baldwinsville football team demonstrated the ability to rebound from a lopsided defeat, also proving that it could win a close game, too.
Trailing Utica Proctor in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, the Bees put together the drive it needed and held on from there to defeat the Raiders 18-14 on Senior Night.
Defenses controlled most of the first half, a refreshing change from B’ville a week removed from allowing 35 unanswered points to reigning state Class AA champion Christian Brothers Academy.
Instead, all the Bees surrendered was a single second-quarter touchdown scored by Kamal Cisson-Ali on a one-yard run, which answered B’ville’s opening-period drive punctuated by Brady Garcia scoring from eight yards out.
Trailing 8-6 at halftime, the Bees saw the margin grow early in the third quarter on Cisson-Ali’s second TD, but a missed conversion, combined with a B’ville drive Garcia finished with a two-yard scoring run, kept things close.
Still, as the final period began the Bees were behind 14-12. Staring at a third consecutive defeat, B’ville put together one more prolonged driving, reaching the Raiders’ 22-yard line.
From there Cameron Morreale, who only completed four passes all night, found Garcia, who took it to the end zone for the score that turned out to be the winning points. Aside from netting all three touchdowns, Garcia gained 72 yards on 12 carries.
Improving to 3-4 overall, the Bees go to Bragman Stadium next Friday at 6:30 to face Cicero-North Syracuse (5-2) in the regular-season finale.
