Three fourth-quarter TDs carry Salamanca past Forks in NYSPHSAA Class C football semifinal
Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette
A flurry of fourth-quarter plays went Salamanca's way Saturday afternoon, denying Chenango Forks a 14th appearance in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association football championship game.
Forks went from two points down, with the ball, to open the fourth quarter to a 21-point hole in just over seven minutes of game action in a 34-13 loss to the Section 6 champions at Vestal High School's Dick Hoover Stadium.
A 51-yard touchdown pass from Maddox Isaac to Cory Holleran was followed by a Forks lost fumble on a sack. Three plays later Isaac connected with Payton Bradley for a 22-yard touchdown that put the Warriors up 28-13 with 8:44 remaining.
What seemed like an open door for an opportunity at Forks' eighth state championship was slammed shut in a hurry by Salamanca.
"It just seems like everything just fell apart all at the same time, didn’t it?" Forks head coach Dave Hogan said. "We were right in it and all of the sudden we weren’t."
"I think it’s a lot of things. I think a lot of that was them and probably mostly them. They’ve got a lot of good players. All those big passes and stuff, they stuffed our offense as well and things just weren’t going our way there at the end."
Chenango Forks finished with a record of 11-2 after beating defending Class C state champion Waverly, 38-35, in a sectional final for the ages. Forks then rolled to a 42-7 win over General Brown in the state quarterfinals.
"It stings right now because when you put your heart and soul into something that’s so important to you and you fall short, it’s tough to take," Hogan said. "But in the end I think they’re going to look back on this and realize it was a great year."
Salamanca Stars of the Game
Isaac completed 4 of 10 passes for 103 yards and three touchdowns. His first scoring toss went for 29 yards to Zachary Trietley that, combined with a 2-point conversion, sent Salamanca into halftime with a 15-6 lead.
Isaac's 2-yard TD run with 4:45 remaining ended the scoring.
Xavier Peters did most of the work on the ground for Salamanca, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. His 40-yard TD run helped give the Warriors the lead for good, 7-6, with 4:43 to go in the opening quarter.
Forks Stars of the Game
Finn Stark scored both of the Blue Devils' touchdowns on 1-yard runs that capped drives typical of Forks' offense at its best. He rushed 10 times for 31 yards to go with three catches for 25 yards.
His first touchdown capped a 15-play, 82-yard drive to open the game. The second punctuated a 14-play, 88-yard series and brought the Blue Devils within 15-13 with 3:35 to go in the third quarter.
Tate Bender was Forks' top rusher with 62 yards on eight carries. Lucas Bartlow ran 11 times for 51 yards, and caught three passes for 52 yards.
Blue Devils quarterback Sam Paske completed 9 of 12 passes for 102 yards. With Forks in desperation mode, his final pass was intercepted.
Key moments
Forks' offensive efficiency is a big part of its success. But two lost fumbles Saturday led to Salamanca touchdowns, with the first setting up Peters' first-half TD.
"We talk about games are won up front and in the turnover battle," Hogan said. "We certainly lost the turnover battle, that’s for sure. You can’t turn the ball over and expect to win."
Up Next
Salamanca (13-0) will face Section 2 champion Schuylerville (12-1) in the championship game at noon Dec. 7 at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse. Schuylerville won its semifinal, 24-7, over Valhalla of Section 1.
Salamanca entered Saturday's game ranked No. 1 in Class C by the New York State Sports Writers Association, one spot ahead of Chenango Forks.
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