Salamanca grabs consecutive regional titles with win over East Rochester/Gananda
By SPENCER BATES, Sports Editor
Despite miserable conditions, and conceding the highest point tally of its postseason thus far, the Salamanca football team still managed to emerge victorious and claim its second consecutive NYSPHSAA Far-West Regional title.
All week in preparation for their regional matchup against the Section 5 Class C champions, East Rochester/Gananda, the Warriors focused on overcoming adversity, time well spent as they needed all the mettle they could muster up in their 42-20 victory on Nov. 23.
“We needed a little bit of that,” Salamanca coach Chad Bartoszek said. “We got out front and I felt pretty confident. But this is the Far-West Regional game, (ER/G) was going to battle back. And they competed, hats off to them, they did a great job. But I'm just so proud of our guys who just continue to show up on game day.”
Underlying the win, Salamanca managed to keep its streak of scoring 40 or more points in each of its postseason games alive. Throughout their Section 6 tourney run, the Warriors scored 49 on Cleveland Hill, dropped 50 on Medina and 40 against Portville/Cuba-Rushford in succession. The scoring streak extended to four games in the regional result over the Bombers.
Helping carry the majority of the offensive load for Salamanca was Xavier Peters. The speedy and elusive backfield option for the Warriors tore up ER/G’s defense just about every time he touched the ball. He ran for 239 yards on 22 attempts and was responsible for four of Salamanca’s six touchdowns.
“He showed a lot of heart and determination today in terms of just grinding it out,” Bartoszek said. “(He had) some explosive shiftiness inside the tackle box, which was huge, because these guys like to spill you. We were hitting off-tackle often, a couple right up the middle, where the back breakers were. He's a warrior for us. He had a heck of a game and today was the day we needed to grind him out.”
The majority of Salamanca’s offense came from its work on the ground as opposed to through the air. Still, that did not stop other Warriors from getting in on the action.
Maddox Isaac, who was 4-for-6 passing on the day, ran 10 times for 115 yards. Quentin Brown and Cory Holleran (two interceptions) each found the endzone against the Bombers. Brown ran for 43 yards on 11 carries while Holleran only carried the ball twice but picked up an important 29 yards.
“We went right at them,” Bartoszek said. “They were fast in the secondary, they were closing windows. We were able to catch them just a couple times, but they closed quick. So that run game was the key.”
BUT AS score-happy as the stats may portray Salamanca, there were low-points and times when it felt like it was staring at a deficit as opposed to controlling the game.
The Warriors held a 22-0 lead part-way through the second quarter and while they did score again before halftime, momentum shifted to ER/G after two quick scores. Luckily for Salamanca, time expired on its opponents before they could try for a third second-quarter score. The Warriors piled onto the pain with a lightning strike two-play scoring drive right out of the interval that swung momentum back in their favor.
“That (drive) was huge,” Bartoszek said. “Coming out of half, we had a weird feeling. We were up 14 and we were almost (feeling like we were) down. Our guys … didn't have the same mojo they had coming into the game. But that drive, that touchdown, really sparked something.”
The Salamanca lead not only remained intact, but was expanded upon. A large portion of that came down to the defensive presence that the Warriors imposed on the Bombers.
Holleran and Zach Trietley finished with double figures in tackles, both picking up eight unassisted and the latter drawing praise from his coach.
“We got a ton of guys playing football on both sides of the ball, but Zach's that heart and soul,” Bartoszek said. “When he brings the physicality, we know we're okay, and he just continues to do it.”
Warrick Kyler recorded nine and was credited with a 10-yard sack. Kruz Coustenis and Evan Spruce were also frequent disruptors in ER/G’s backfield. Coustenis picked up two sacks totaling 16 yards with Spruce getting a sack for three yards.
With the win, Salamanca punched its ticket back to the NYSPHSAA Final Four, the same place it saw last season’s historic run come to an end. And while it may be stacked up against a Section 4 opponent yet again this year, it will not be Waverly the Warriors will have to deal with. Instead it will be the Chenango Forks Blue Devils, an opponent who, Bartoszek knows, will require a lot of preparation.
“We know we're running into a storied program,” Bartoszek said. “I think a lot of people penciled in Waverly after we faced them last year. But I know, going back for years, that Chenango has been the top dog over there. … We have got our hands full … and it's going to be a different type of game for sure.”
That game is slated to kickoff at 12 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Vestal High School with the winner making the trip to the NYSPHSAA Final.
Salamanca 16 12 14 0 — 42
East Rochester/Gananda 0 14 6 0 — 20
First Quarter
Salamanca - Xavier Peters 6 run; two-point attempt good, 8-0
Salamanca - Cory Holleran 12 run; two-point attempt good, 16-0
Second Quarter
Salamanca - Quentin Brown 1 run; Easton Chudy extra-point no good, 22-0
East Rochester/Gananda - Cadearrell Sneed Jr. 50 run; two-point attempt no good, 22-6
Salamanca - Peters 22 run; two-point attempt no good, 28-6
East Rochester/Gananda - Justice Allen 5 pass from Benjamin Newman; two-point attempt good, 28-14
Third Quarter
Salamanca - Peters 27 run; two-point attempt good, 36-14
East Rochester/Gananda - Noah Mather 12 pass from Newman; two-point attempt no good, 36-20
Salamanca - Peters 37 run; two-point attempt no good, 42-20
Team Statistics
Sala. ER/G
First Downs 20 13
Rushes-Yards 45-427 26-147
Passing Yards 40 186
Comp-Att.-Int. 4-6-0 17-25-2
Total Offense 467 333
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-2
Penalties-Yards 9-100 4-20
Punts-Avg. 1-29.0 1-52.0
Total Plays 52 52
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