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2009 Chenango Forks Varsity Football

Game 12 vs Southwestern
Blue Devils blanked by Southwestern 21-0
Defending State Champion Trojans Win 27th Straight Game
 

Articles courtesy of the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin & Jamestown Post-Journal

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 Forks hits a wall in 'C' football semi

Southwestern's size helps shut down Blue Devils

By Kevin Stevens
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

ROCHESTER -- Southwestern High of Jamestown took it to Chenango Forks as precious few foes have this decade, snuffing out the Blue Devils' season with a 21-0 victory in Saturday's Class C state football semifinal

The reigning state champions turned a Forks give-away into points with less than three minutes elapsed on the way to the program's 28th consecutive victory.

And, get this for a twist: It was Forks running smack into, rather than applying, the brand of won't-budge defense that Blue Devils faithful are so accustomed to applauding.

The Devils trotted off Marina Auto Park Stadium's turf at halftime having gained a single first down. Dan Grady had been called upon for four punts to that juncture, and Forks rushers had gained an unsettling 23 yards against a large and rugged defensive front.

Nonetheless, Southwestern's lead was a mere 7-0 -- courtesy of a 12-yard Zack Sopak-to-Levi Bursch touchdown pass on the fourth play after Forks lost a fumble at its 29 on the day's third play from scrimmage.

But second-half play commenced with one of the more significant happenings of the contest.

The Trojans' Jake Swan, 140 pounds worth of sophomore, fielded Grady's kickoff at the 11-yard line, found a seam and accelerated, got to the right sideline and ventured clear to Forks' 32-yard line.

After Southwestern nickel-and-dimed its way to Forks' 4-yard line, Sopak soft-tossed to a far-too-open Bursch on the left side and Bursch stepped comfortably across the goal line 4:11 into the third quarter. Jimmy Rauh's PAT kick made it 14-0.

"It's a lot easier to put a drive together from their 30 than our 30, so that was huge," Trojans coach Jay Sirianni said.

But Forks responded, with quarterback Rickey Bronson ripping off a 45-yard gain to the Southwestern 17 on second down after the kickoff. However, as it did most of the afternoon, the Trojans' defense buckled things up when it mattered most.

Three consecutive rushes advanced the ball 5 yards, leaving fourth-and-5 from the 12, from which point Bronson scrambled from initial trouble only to be felled for a 15-yard loss by Corey Carlson.

Southwestern proceeded to gain one first down before, on a third-and-8 play from the 43, Bronson intercepted a pass from Sopak _ thanks to a left-handed deflection of the football by secondary mate D.J. Smith -- to put Forks back in business at its 43-yard line.

Then, for the first -- and last -- time all day, the Devils put back-to-back chain-movers together.

Tyler Lusht made the most of end Mike Szymkowicz's textbook block and gained 26 yards on first down. Next, Bronson passed to 6-foot-4 Grady, who went airborne over a 5-9 defender and made a 28-yard reception to Southwestern's 3. Then ... No gain on first down ... 1 yard on second down ... Again, nothing on third down.

Forks called timeout with 44 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The call was for a play-action pass.

"I just felt that we had to try something different because they'd stuffed us (three) plays in a row," Forks coach David Hogan said. "That's tough when you have to go to something that you're not used to doing. We're used to punching that in."

On fourth down from the 2-yard line, Bronson headed left, looking pass and with intended-target Grady seeking to establish himself in the end zone. Finding nothing to his liking, Bronson reversed field, only to be whacked by the Trojans' Will Sleggs for a 10-yard loss.

"I saw my receiver, Dan Grady, and I'll admit I probably should have thrown the ball," said Bronson, named Forks' offensive MVP. "I think he's got a height advantage over most, so that was my mistake."

Said center Jake DuBois: "When we were on the goal line, it was then or never. If we put it in there, we had a chance."

Forks' next took possession at its 7-yard line after a punt, but a third-down pass from Smith was intercepted by Bursch. That led to a clinching 8-yard TD rush by Sopak with 2:53 to play.

Sopak, last season's Class C state Player of the Year, closed with 91 rushing yards and 123 passing yards on 10-for-19 accuracy. Sopak, along with his teammates on the defensive front, largely decided the outcome.


"I just felt that we had to try something different because they'd stuffed us (three) plays in a row," Forks coach David Hogan said. "That's tough when you have to go to something that you're not used to doing. We're used to punching that in."

On fourth down from the 2-yard line, Bronson headed left, looking pass and with intended-target Grady seeking to establish himself in the end zone. Finding nothing to his liking, Bronson reversed field, only to be whacked by the Trojans' Will Sleggs for a 10-yard loss.

"I saw my receiver, Dan Grady, and I'll admit I probably should have thrown the ball," said Bronson, named Forks' offensive MVP. "I think he's got a height advantage over most, so that was my mistake."

Said center Jake DuBois: "When we were on the goal line, it was then or never. If we put it in there, we had a chance."

Forks' next took possession at its 7-yard line after a punt, but a third-down pass from Smith was intercepted by Bursch. That led to a clinching 8-yard TD rush by Sopak with 2:53 to play.

Sopak, last season's Class C state Player of the Year, closed with 91 rushing yards and 123 passing yards on 10-for-19 accuracy. Sopak, along with his teammates on the defensive front, largely decided the outcome.


"I just felt that we had to try something different because they'd stuffed us (three) plays in a row," Forks coach David Hogan said. "That's tough when you have to go to something that you're not used to doing. We're used to punching that in."

On fourth down from the 2-yard line, Bronson headed left, looking pass and with intended-target Grady seeking to establish himself in the end zone. Finding nothing to his liking, Bronson reversed field, only to be whacked by the Trojans' Will Sleggs for a 10-yard loss.

"I saw my receiver, Dan Grady, and I'll admit I probably should have thrown the ball," said Bronson, named Forks' offensive MVP. "I think he's got a height advantage over most, so that was my mistake."

Said center Jake DuBois: "When we were on the goal line, it was then or never. If we put it in there, we had a chance."

Forks' next took possession at its 7-yard line after a punt, but a third-down pass from Smith was intercepted by Bursch. That led to a clinching 8-yard TD rush by Sopak with 2:53 to play.

Sopak, last season's Class C state Player of the Year, closed with 91 rushing yards and 123 passing yards on 10-for-19 accuracy. Sopak, along with his teammates on the defensive front, largely decided the outcome.
 

Back To The Dome

Trojans Earn Return Trip To State Finals By Shutting Out Chenango Forks

By Scott Kindberg
Jamestown Post-Journal

ROCHESTER - Southwestern football coach Jay Sirianni has always been proud of the way the Trojans have played defense.

It dates back to when he took charge of his alma mater's program in 2003.

Imagine how he feels this morning?

With a berth in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C championship game on the line Saturday afternoon, top-ranked Southwestern devoured No. 2 Chenango Forks, 21-0, in the semifinal at Marina Auto Stadium.

''We stopped them all day,'' Sirianni said.

The victory will allow the Trojans (12-0) to defend their state title at 3 p.m., next Saturday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Their opponent will be Bronxville of Section 1, which defeated Hoosick Falls, 28-27, in the other semifinal.

''Last year was a dream come true,'' said senior linebacker Will Sleggs, Southwestern's most valuable defensive player after recording 11 tackles and a sack. ''Doing it twice, I can't even describe it. It's awesome, absolutely incredible.''

Those adjectives could easily describe the heroic defensive effort by the Trojans.

Facing a team that had rushed for more than 3,300 yards this season, Southwestern bottled up the Blue Devils from start to finish. All told, the Trojans allowed just 121 yards in total offense, forced a fumble that set up its first touchdown, intercepted two passes and recorded two huge, fourth-down, red-zone sacks that ended the Blue Devils' only two good scoring chances.

Meanwhile, Southwestern senior quarterback Zack Sopak threw a pair of touchdowns to senior Levi Bursch and ran for another, which was more than enough offensive production, given the dominant effort turned in by the defense.

''I think the whole mindset was just to play hard and finish it,'' said senior defensive end Corey Carlson, who had seven tackles and a sack. ''We know that we went (to the state finals) last year as a group of juniors and we wanted to go back as seniors.''

It was clear that the Trojans weren't about to be denied.

Senior tackle Jasen Carlson recovered a fumble on Chenango Fork's third play from scrimmage and, four plays later, Sopak hooked up with Bursch on a perfectly-executed 12-yard fade pattern in the back of the end zone. Junior Jimmy Rauh booted the first of three successful extra points and Southwestern led, 7-0, less than three minutes into the game.

As it turned out, it was all the points the Trojans would need.

In fact, the Blue Devils, who have a 102-9 record since 2001, had only two successful drives in their nine possessions and both of those were thwarted by Southwestern.

Already armed with a 14-0 lead in the second half - sophomore Jake Swan's 57-yard kickoff return to start the third quarter helped set up Sopak's 4-yard TD pass to Bursch - the Trojans took Chenango Forks' best offensive shot on the next two possessions to essentially put the game away.

The first defensive gem came when Bursch ran down the Blue Devils' Rickey Bronson who broke into the clear on a quarterback keeper. The play was good for 45 yards to the Southwestern 17, but Bursch prevented a a sure touchdown.
 
''I saw how much room I had (to make up), but I didn't think he was going to score,'' Bursch said.

Still buoyed by a first down at the 17, Chenango Forks ran three more plays before Corey Carlson sacked Bronson for a 15-yard loss on fourth and four from the Southwestern 12.

''We just remained calm,'' Carlson said. ''We dig deep, trust the person next to us and hit them hard.''

Bronson gave his team another scoring opportunity when he picked off a deflected Sopak pass at the Blue Devils' 43. A 26-yard run by Tyler Rusht and a 28-yard pass from Bronson to Dan Grady gave Chenango Forks a first down at the 3. But three plays gained just one yard and then Sleggs sacked Bronson to end the threat. Junior tackle Jake Currie made nice penetration on the play, forcing Bronson to scramble, strong safety Justin Funcell forced him back to the middle of the field and Sleggs did the rest.

''Our linebackers' success is totally credited to the defensive linemen,'' Sleggs said, ''because they take on double-teams and open things wide open.''

Added Sirianni: ''That's where great defenses are made. You have to credit our front five (Currie, the Carlsons and juniors Pat Langworthy and David Tapia). They did a great job and our linebackers were able to clean up.''

Armed with all the momentum, the Trojans' final touchdown - set up by Bursch's interception - came on Sopak's 8-yard keeper with 2:53 remaining in the game.

''I was just glad to contribute to the defense,'' Bursch said. ''When a team runs up the middle, I'm sitting back at corner and all those guys up front are doing a great job. ... I was happy to contribute to the team and set them up to do what they do best.''

What Southwestern does best is win. The Trojans' streak now stands at 28 straight. Number 29 would mean successful defense of their state championship.

''We took a big step with our program today,'' Sirianni said.

As Chenango Forks found out, Southwestern's defense never rests.

NOTES: Sopak, Southwestern's offensive most valuable player, passed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 91 yards and a TD. He was intercepted twice. ... Tapia and Carlson both had seven tackles and senior linebacker Ryan Buzzetto had six and intercepted a pass. ... Bronson led Chenango Valley with 66 yards rushing. ... Southwestern ha d a 31:42-16:18 advantage in time of possession. ... Sleggs caught four passes for 56 yards, Bursch had three for 33 and Nick Austin added three for 24. ... Southwestern defeated Croton-Harmon of Section 4, 35-7, in last year's state title game.
 

Southwestern tattoos Forks on way back to title game

By Keith McShea
BUFFALO NEWS 

ROCHESTER ? The fans of Chenango Forks brought some banners with them to Marina Auto Stadium ready to taunt a team from Jamestown. One banner asked: "James-who?"

"They didn't know our name," said Southwestern senior Ryan Buzzetto. "But they know our name now. Definitely."

Southwestern continued to brand itself as one of the top programs in the state as it beat one that is definitely on that list. The defending Class C state champions shut out Chenango Forks, 21-0, to earn a second straight trip to the state championships a few more exits down the Thruway.

Southwestern (12-0) is headed back to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse for next Saturday's 3 p.m. Class C championship game. It will face Section I champion Bronxville (12-0) of Westchester County, which beat Section II (Albany area) champion Hoosick Falls, 28-27, Saturday afternoon.

"I think our guys took a little bit of offense to the signs that said, "Jamestown who?' and "Jamestown this,' " said Southwestern coach ? and alum ? Jay Sirianni. "We're not Jamestown. I think there was a little confusion there ? our name is Southwestern, and we're proud to wear that on our jerseys and our kids did a nice job today."

A crowd of about 1,000 in the downtown Rochester stadium watched Southwestern (which is referred to as Jamestown-Southwestern as an identifier in the state rankings, which caused the confusion) come up with tremendous defensive stops against a Blue Devils program which dropped from Class B to Class C this year, a move the Trojans made a year ago.

Chenango Forks (11-1) has won six of its nine state semifinals and owns two state titles. It won its eighth Section IV (Binghamton area) championship in the last nine years by running down opponents ? it only attempted 12 passes all season.

"They have a great program ? any program in the state is going to model itself after Forks," said Sirianni. "Our defense just stepped up big. [Forks] played smashmouth football. We're more of a finesse team, but we can get down and dirty, too. Our defense refused to let them run up and down the field all day. They did a great job up front."

Southwestern had 15 first downs while it limited Forks to four. It outgained Forks, 262-121, and forced the Blue Devils to throw three passes (it completed one) and call for others as the Trojans had two sacks.

"They kept us off-balance ? we couldn't get anything going," said Forks coach David Hogan. "We had a couple of big plays, but we just couldn't put two or three or four together. That's what we were looking to do and we just weren't able to do it."

Southwestern senior quarterback Zack Sopak was effective on the ground (25 carries for 91 yards) and through the air despite two interceptions (10 for 19 for 113 yards). He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

Forks' first possession ended with a fumble, and four plays later Southwestern took a 7-0 lead it would hold at halftime. A pretty pass by Sopak on third-and-5 resulted in a pretty falling catch by Levi Bursch for a 12-yard score.

On Southwestern's first drive of the second half, Sopak hit Bursch again on a 4-yard pass on third-and-goal ? to complete a 32-yard drive that was set up with a 57-yard kickoff return by Jake Swan.

From there, the Trojan defense took over. On fourth-and-4 at the Southwestern 12, Corey Carlson ended the Blue Devils' third-quarter threat with a sack. On fourth-and-goal at the 2, Will Sleggs had a sack. Bursch had an interception that would lead to Sopak's 8-yard run with 2:53 left.
 
01 02 03 04   Tot
Chenango Forks 0 0 0 0 - 0
Southwestern 7 0 7 7 - 21
  • S - Levi Bursch 12y pass from Zack Sopak (J. Rauh kick)
  • S - Bursch 4y pass from Sopak (J. Rauh kick)
  • S - Sopak 8y run (J. Rauh kick)

TEAM STATISTICS 

Southwestern CF
First Downs 15 4
Rushes-Yards 43-149 29-115
Passing Yards 123 28
Comp-Att-Int 10-19-2 1-3-2
Total Offense 62-272 32-143
Punts-Ave yards 3-29.0 4-37.0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 6-46 3-15
.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Southwestern rushing

  • Sopak 23-91,  TD
  • John Mistretta 15-38
  • Bursch 5-20

Chenango Forks rushing

  • Rickey Bronson 9-66
  • Tyler Lusht 5-27
  • Jordan Barnett 7-11
  • Lukas Aston 1-6
  • Ryan Lusht 4-3
  • Jimmy Miller 3-2

Southwestern passing

  • Sopak 10-for-19, 123y, 2 int

Chenango Forks passing

  • Bronson 1-for-1, 28y, 0 int
  • DJ Smith 0-for-2, 0y, 2 int

Southwestern receiving

  • Will Sleggs 4-57
  • Bursch 3-33, 2 TD
  • Nick Austin 3-23

Chenango Forks receiving:  

  • Dan Grady 1-28

Preview Articles: 

Forks faces Southwestern, and its 27-game winning streak

By Kevin Stevens
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
 
Successful passage through the semifinal round of Class C state playoffs will hinge on Chenango Forks' ability to halt the longest active win streak in New York high school football.
 
Kickoff for the contest pitting Forks against Southwestern High of Jamestown is scheduled for noon Saturday at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester.
 
Southwestern (11-0), four-touchdown winner in last season's state final, has strung 27 victories over the last three seasons. The Trojans have topped Class C rankings all season. Forks (11-0) is ranked second.
 
The winner will advance to the title game, scheduled for 3 p.m. a week from Saturday in the Carrier Dome, against either Bronxville or Hoosick Falls.
 
High-quality pass defense figures to be a must for Forks against a team that, in the opening half of last weekend's semifinal, completed as many passes (11) as the Blue Devils have attempted this season.
 
"The scariest thing is the way they spread you all out," Forks coach David Hogan said. "The quarterback gets in the shotgun and fires away, and to 4-5-6 receivers, so it's not like you can target just one."
 
Southwestern quarterback Zack Sopak, last season's New York State Sports Writers Association Player of the Year in Class C, has passed for 1,515 yards and 15 touchdowns on 61-percent accuracy. In addition, he's rushed for 685 yards and 10 TDs.
 
Senior running back Levi Bursch (6-2, 205 pounds) has rushed 91 times for 813 yards and nine TDs, and has been Sopak's No. 1 receiving target. His 31 receptions have gone for an average gain of 18 yards. Another back, John Mistretta (5-8, 195) has rushed for 784 yards and 13 TDs.
 
"We'll have to mix things up and try to get to (Sopak), disguise ways to get to him," Hogan said. "He gets the ball and he gets rid of it, and he also seems to be very dangerous carrying it. He may be their scariest running back."
 
In addition to pressure from 6-foot-4 ends Dan Grady and Mike Szymokowicz, Forks secondary members -- corners Rickey Bronson and Jimmy Miller, and safties Tyler Lusht and D.J. Smith heading the rotation -- had best be prepared for their toughest test of the season.
 
"They're good. They definitely deserve to be No. 1 in the state," Forks fullback/linebacker Jordan Barnett said of Southwestern. "The quarterback is really good, really quick."
 
"One of the keys is, we have to control the ball, keep the ball out of their hands," Hogan said. "We have to sustain drives, and we have to finish those drives with scores, too."
 
The Blue Devils have four ball carriers who've rushed for season totals ranging from 595 to 657 yards -- brothers Tyler and Ryan Lusht, Miller and Barnett. Another running threat is quarterback Bronson, capable of prolonging possessions with tough-yardage gains as well as breaking the big play.
 
The Trojans have the rare distinction of having two reigning Players of the Year on their roster. Jasen Carlson, 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, was so recognized by the New York State Football Coaches Association.
 
Southwestern is coached by Jay Sirianni, who has won 65 of 75 games in seven seasons heading his alma mater. He has two brothers in the coaching fraternity: Nick, a first-year assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs; and Mike, seventh-year head man at Washington & Jefferson College in suburban Pittsburgh.

Forks' football consistency breeds success

Devils seek berth in Class C final

Kevin Stevens
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

In the infantile stages of Chenango Forks' football juggernaut, Chris Spencer proudly sported red helmet, red socks and jersey No. 7. Presently, he's the twenty-something fellow on the sideline relaying play calls via headset to the spotters above.

And so, erstwhile QB/DB and current junior varsity offensive coordinator, what of this Blue Devils Empire has changed from beginning of decade to end?

"The coaching staff is different in that Dave Hogan is head coach and Kelsey Green is an assistant, but no one really acts as if they're the head coach. They do it all together, and that hasn't changed," said Spencer, subject of a classic photo, circa 2001 in the Carrier Dome, celebrating the program's first state semifinal victory.

"Offensively and defensively, it's still the same. There are a few wrinkles, but it's still grind-it-out football, don't throw unless we have to."

The philosophy has stood time's test, and remains in place as the Blue Devils enter the semifinal round of state playoffs for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.

Forks will oppose Southwestern High of Jamestown, noon Saturday at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, one victory shy of reaching a seventh state final this decade.

Hogan and Green traded hats to start the 2008 season, and new this year is the program's enrollment-driven drop to Class C from Class B. Otherwise?

Go ahead, try and identify a discernible difference between the modus operandi of that ground-breaking 2001 Forks squad that went 12-1 and the 2009 squad so hungry to conclude its season rejoicing next weekend under the Carrier Dome's roof.

The Blue Devils block, and tackle, and special-team, and prepare in superior fashion. They are patient, confident that the system -- and the athletes charged with executing all that go into the system -- are equal to any task.

And, as Spencer has experienced from both sides of the whistle's shrill pitch, they remain supremely coached-up.

"Probably consistency in the coaching staff," he said, citing the root of 102 victories in the last 110 Chenango Forks football games. "And it's a staff of guys who continue to work their butts off in the offseason. These are guys who've been at it 20-30 years or whatever, yet they're still eager to learn.


"Another thing is, the coaches get the absolute most out of the kids who come out for the team. In part, that's because the coaches care a great deal about every kid, regardless of the kid's role -- first team or fourth team -- and that's on and off the field."


The varsity staff has been in place throughout.

Hogan is in his second year as head man, succeeding architect Kelsey Green, who remains as active and passionate and fiery as ever. Dave Chickanosky continues -- at characteristic high volume -- to oversee line play and defense, and John Petley has been a constant as contributor of behind-the scenes you-name-it.

Together, in concert with coaches such as Spencer at the lower levels, they have maintained a level of program excellence matched by precious few statewide.

How the Blue Devils go about matters offensively is at once simplistic yet sophisticated.

Spencer estimates that Forks runs maybe five or six offensive plays in the average game.

"Dave sometimes jokes that he's getting really creative when he runs the same play but to the opposite direction," he said. "So, maybe 5-6 plays a game, but giving the opponent an assortment of looks on those 5-6 plays."

Those plays begin with a quarterback. In Saturday's case it is Rickey Bronson, who must make play calls at the line of scrimmage, and in an instant adjust according to a read of 2-3 defenders reads on a given option play.

"You've got to make quick decisions, and even if it's the wrong one, you've got to be decisive," Spencer said. "And a quarterback gets banged around in that offense. The quarterback is a running back. The quarterback has to be an athlete back there."

To operate as a ball carrier in Forks' offense is to know that quite likely, statistical success will be widely distributed. This season, the one-through-four rushing leaders range from 657 yards gained to 595.

Defensively, it's all about team, about tending to singular responsibilities adding up to ... well ... 37 points allowed in 11 games this season, seven shutouts.

"You can't make mistakes against a team like this," Waverly running back Kevin Gorman said after a 21-0 playoff loss to the Devils. "They're second in the state for a reason. You make a mistake, they'll take advantage."

On Saturday, Forks will go head-to-head with a Southwestern program boasting a state-best 27 consecutive victories.

"This is definitely our toughest game, especially since they're No. 1 in the state," fullback/linebacker Jordan Barnett said.

Come high noon, it'll be a pack of Blue Devils bent on keeping alive hopes of the program's first state title since making it back-to-back 13-0 seasons in 2004.
 
Semi Showdown - Top-Ranked Trojans Meet No. 2 Chenango-Forks

By Scott Kindberg
Jamestown Post-Journal
 
It's cool, but not cold - at least by November standards - and the defending state champion and top-ranked Southwestern Trojans gather in the end zone at Charles A. Lawson Field after Wednesday night's practice.
 
Three days away from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C semifinal football game, the Trojans (11-0) hardly look unnerved by the task at hand.
 
Then, again, that's hardly surprising to Coach Jay Sirianni.
 
''I think it's one of those things where people expected them here, expected them to do this, expected them to do that,'' he said. ''I think they've been under a great deal of pressure, but you couldn't tell. They're a loose bunch and they just enjoy playing football.''
 
That enjoyment will be put to the test at noon Saturday against No. 2 Chenango Forks (11-0) at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester.
 
''They've got to be one of the best, if not the best, programs in the state,'' the Sirianni said. ''When you try and model your program after somebody else's, you look at someone like this.''
 
Few could dispute those sentiments.
 
Heading into Saturday's showdown, the Blue Devils have put up some staggering numbers, especially in the last nine seasons.
 
Since 2001, the Blue Devils have posted a 102-8 record, advanced to the state title game six times (all as a Class B school) and were unbeaten state champions in 2003 and 2004.
 
It's a resume that is rivaled by few.
 
But past accomplishment doesn't guarantee anything.
 
''All that matters is what happens on Saturday,'' Sirianni said. ''What has happened in the past doesn't really do anything. It's not going to win the game. ... It's two teams that are going to go after one another and try and extend their season.''
 
The winner advances to the state championship game at 3 p.m,, Nov. 28 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
 
''We're trying to build ourselves up to that,'' Sirianni said.

So far, so good.
 
The Trojans enter Saturday's game with a 27-game winning streak and a 65-10 record since Sirianni took over the program to start the 2003 season. A year ago, Southwestern surprised some with its run to the state title - a 35-7 victory over Croton-Harmon of Section 4 - but this season the Trojans have had a figurative target on their jerseys.
 
And, in all instances, they've responded.
 
Making effective use of both the run and the pass, Southwestern is difficult to defend.
 
Leading the way is senior quarterback Zack Sopak, the reigning New York State Sportswriters Association Player of the Year. Through the air, he has completed 83-of-135 passes for 1,515 yards and 15 touchdowns. Senior Levi Bursch is his favorite target (31 receptions, 558 yards, seven TDs). Junior Nick Austin (23-499-4) and senior Will Sleggs (18-264-2) are also capable receivers.
 
Bursch is also Southwestern's leading rusher (91 carries, 813 yards, nine touchdowns), followed by junior John Mistretta (135-784-13) and Sopak (97-685-10). Last week in a 28-14 victory over Letchworth of Section 5, the Trojans made effective use of the run and the pass, particularly in the first half when they built a 21-0 lead.
 
Defensively, Southwestern is led by senior linebacker Ryan Buzzetto with 96 tackles. Sleggs is second with 90 stops, followed by senior defensive end Corey Carlson (73) and junior tackle Pat Langworthy (59). Senior tackle Jasen Carlson, who has an scholarship on the table from the University at Buffalo, anchors both lines.
 
"We did a nice job defensively (against Letchworth),'' Sirianni said. "Obviously, we have to do a better job of defending the pass. I was impressed with how our defense played and the intensity we played with in the first half. I just wish we could have kept it up through the entire game.''
 
It's no secret what Chenango Forks does offensively. In 11 games, the Blue Devils have thrown exactly 11 passes. By contrast, they've rushed the ball 518 times for 3,357 yards. Four different running backs have in the range of 600 yards rushing.
 
On defense, Chenango Forks has yielded only 37 points, and has posted seven shutouts, including four of the last five games.
 
Two unbeaten teams and two different offensive approaches. It figures to be quite a game.
 
"We're still playing football and we hope to be playing football next week,'' Sirianni said.
 

Post-game Midweek Article:    

Fifth Quarter:

Kevin Stevens - Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
 

Take away the run and Forks didn't have legs to stand on

Heading into Saturday's Class C state semifinal, Chenango Forks football teams had put points on the scoreboard in 43 consecutive games.

Then came the encounter with top-ranked, defending state champion Southwestern High of Jamestown and a 21-0 setback, in which the Trojans[] became the first team to blank Forks since Corning East posted a 14-0 victory in Week 2 of the 2006 season.

The formula for success?

"We were going to stop the run, and by committing ourselves to that, we wanted to put them in a situation where they'd have to throw, which is not a comfortable situation to be in when you're a running team," Southwestern coach Jay Sirianni said.

Through 11 consecutive victories this season, the Blue Devils had averaged 29.7 points to their opponents' 3.36, and Forks had rushed for an average of 305 yards per game. At the midway point of Saturday's contest, Forks had been limited to 23 rushing yards.

Of the Devils' 115-yard rushing total for the game, 62 percent came on two carries-- a 45-yard gain by quarterback Rickey Bronson and a 26-yarder by Tyler Lusht.

"The biggest thing was, they just stopped our run," Bronson said of the outcome. "I'm sure they watched film on us. Our run just wasn't there today. It wasn't that we were outmatched or we were overpowered, it's just that they executed their game plan. What they were told to do, they did."

"We couldn't get anything going," Forks coach David Hogan said. "We had a couple of big plays, but we just couldn't put two or three or four together.

"I thought their front line was pretty stout, and we had a hard time moving them, especially when they were in a five (a five-man front). I thought their inside linebackers played pretty well, too."

Among the most conspicuous defenders were 305-pound tackle Jason Carlson, 185-pound linebacker Will Sleggs -- recognized as the Trojans' defensive MVP in the semi -- and 240-pound Jake Currie, who played both end and nose guard.

Sirianni said that Currie didn't become a full-time defensive starter until the eighth or ninth game of the season, when a teammate was sidelined by injury.

Carlson recovered a fumbled pitch on Forks' third play from scrimmage, and Southwestern took the lead four plays later. Thereafter, three of the next four Forks possessions were of the three-and-out variety.

Southwestern (12-0) advances to the final, scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, to take on Bronxville (12-0). The Trojans have won 28 consecutive games, the longest active streak in New York high school football.

The Blue Devils' defense was none-too-shabby against a Southwestern offense run by reigning Class C state Player of the Year Zack Sopak, the top dual-threat quarterback Forks ran into all season.

Southwestern's scoring drives covered 29 yards (following the fumble), 32 yards (after a long return of the second-half kickoff) and 17 yards (set up by an intercepted pass).

"Overall, we were pretty satisfied with the way our defense played, especially considering that they had the ball a good majority of the game," said Hogan, referencing time of possession that favored the Trojans, 31 minutes, 42 seconds to 16:18.

"Forks' defense is very, very good," Sirianni said. "Those kids play extremely hard and that's what you expect out of a program like that."

Chenango Forks' MVPs were Bronson on offense and linebacker Jordan Barnett on defense. The Sportsmanship Award went to Forks lineman Adam Jeavons.

"We had a lot of shutouts this year, and now we know how it feels to be shut out," Barnett said.

Forks was denied a seventh state-final appearance this decade, but, as Hogan said, will nonetheless take a good deal of positive from the season.

"You're disappointed because you fell short of your goal and that's going to hurt for a while, but it doesn't last forever," he said. "They're going to have a lot of good memories and a lot of good friendships, too. Some of my best buddies are guys I played high school football with and I think this is going to be the same case.

"It's a whole lot more than football to us. It always has been. It's about being a family and I think most of the kids buy into that, no doubt."
 
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