SECTION IV FLAG FOOTBALL: WAVERLY PULLS AWAY EARLY IN 60-18 WIN OVER CHENANGO VALLEY (24 PHOTOS) (2024-04-13)
BY TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportWAVERLY — Waverly scored on all six of first-half possession to race out to a 40-6 halftime lead on its way to a 60-18 win over Chenango Valley in Section IV girls flag football action on a cold and windy Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
The Wolverines, now 3-0, piled up 400 yards in total offense, including 328 yards on the ground.
Senior QB Paige Robinson rushed for 137 yards and three TDs on just five carries, and completed 6 of 10 passes for 72 yards, and two TDs.
“We just keep getting a little bit better each game,” said Waverly coach Dave Shaw.
“I told you last week, we had to work on throwing the ball, and I thought we really threw the ball well tonight, even in the cold and the wind,” he noted. “Paige Robinson continues to get better and better, and the receivers understand it more and more every day.
“If defenses are going to try to take the run away, and we can throw like that, we’re going to be tough to stop.
“The option is tough, we executed well again on that,” added Shaw. “And, Paige did a good job of spreading the wealth around.”
CV picked up two first downs on the first possession of the game, but tackles-for-losses by freshman Lauryn Welles, and sophomore Mira Kittle put the Warriors in a 4th-and-goal at the Waverly 27.
On fourth down, sophomore Claire Clonch picked off a CV pass and returned it 39 yards to the CV 21.
On Waverly’s first offensive play, senior Erica Ryck broke loose around right end on a 21-yard TD run with 19:35 remaining (game have two 25-minutes halves) in the first half. Robinson’s pass to senior Ashlen Croft for the extra point made it 7-0.
After a CV three-and-out, Croft returned a Warrior punt 25 yards to the CV 30.
On Waverly’s second offensive play of the game, Robinson ripped off a 30-yard TD run with 17:09 remaining in the half. Senior Ally Barrett’s run for conversion made it 14-0.
Waverly struck again with 13:33 left in the half on a 4-yard TD run by Barrett to make it 20-0.
A minute later, CV got on the board on a 55-yard TD run to close the gap to 20-6 with 12:25 left in the half.
Waverly answered quickly with Robinson capping a six-play drive with a 24-yard TD run. Eighth-grader Kaylin Twedt’s run for conversion made it 27-6 with 9:17 left in the half.
On its next possession, CV turned the ball over on downs at midfield, and two plays later, Robinson connected with Croft on a 33-yard TD pass. Robinson’s pass to Ryck (a 13-yard completion following a penalty that wiped out Waverly’s first conversion attempt) made it 34-6 with 5:11 left in the half.
CV picked up a first down on its next possession, but turned the ball over on downs at the Waverly 30. Five plays later, Robinson found Twedt on fourth-and-goal for an 11-yard TD pass with 25 seconds remaining in the half to extend the lead to 40-6.
Robinson laid to rest to any second-half comeback on the first play after the half, when she busted loose up the middle on a 60-yard TD run. Her pass to Croft on the conversion made it 47-6 just 15 seconds after the intermission.
CV drove deep into Waverly territory on its next possession, but Barrett came up with an interception near the goal line, and raced 78 yards for a TD. Junior Brinn Cooney tacked on the conversion run to make it 54-6 with 17:23 left in the game.
CV put together a pair of scoring drives against Waverly’s reserves, and Waverly’s second-team offense also put together a quick scoring driving consisting of a 24-yard run by sophomore Brilynn Belles, and a 16-yard TD run by Welles.
Belles gained 44 yards on four carries for the Wolverines, while Ryck had 31 yards and one TD on two carries, Twedt had 29 yards on four carries, Cooney had 24 yards on two carries, Barrett had 20 yards and one TD on six carries, sophomore Avalynn Boots had 18 yards on one carry, Welles added 16 yards and a TD one carry, and senior Brenae Tedesco chipped in with nine yards on one carry.
Croft led Waverly with three catches for 39 yards, and two TDs, while Ryck had two receptions for 24 yards, and Twedt had one catch for 12 yards, and one TD.
Clonch led Waverly with six flag pulls, while Kittle had five, Tedesco added four, and Welles, and sophomore Elona Holmes each had three. Clonch, Barrett, and sophomore Lea Cole each had an interception.
“Defensively, I thought we did a good job again pulling flags. We got a lot of girls in there,” said Shaw, who pointed out the stellar play of inside linebackers Kittle and Clonch.
“I had no idea what I would have to do on defense, but as I watch more of these teams, that’s where you play defense,” he said. “Those two girls are physical, and are doing a good job of controlling the middle; and that’s huge.”
The Wolverines are off to a 3-0 start, and have outscored their oppositions 142-43.
“We had no idea what to expect as far as what we were going to be able to accomplish this season,” said Shaw.
“Owego and Maine-Endwell are really good, but if we keep working, and keep getting better, I think we can compete with them.
“Our goal was to finish in the top four, and be one of the teams in the playoffs,” noted Shaw. “I think we have a legitimate shot at that if we keep working, and keep improving on the little things; and that’s pretty cool with it being our first year.
“The girls continue to work hard, and do everything we ask,” he added. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Waverly returns to action Wednesday night when it hosts Norwich.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly senior Ally Barrett returns an interception 78 yards for a TD. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
