By TIM TAYLORValley Sports Report
CONKLIN — Susquehanna Valley’s vaunted rushing attack and its rock solid defense, aided by strong winds and a steady rain, turned away Waverly, 20-13, in the Section IV Class C flag football championship game at Susquehanna Valley High School here Saturday.
The adverse weather clearly affected the Wolverines’ passing game, but coach Dave Shaw refused to use it as an excuse.
“Both teams had to play in it, and I just thought it was kind of just like every time we've played them,” he said. “They're a hell of a good team and I thought both teams competed, and they just probably made one or two more plays than we did.”
The Sabers scored on their first possession of the game and first possession of the second half to set the stage for theri first sectional title in the program’s four-year history.
Sus Valley’s Gracie Wallace scored on a 52-yard run at 10:52 of the third quarter to break a 7-7 deadlock. The PAT pass failed, but officials ruled for a replay and Wallace scored on a run to make it 14-7.
The Sabers, whose only two losses this season have come against Class B teams, never trailed. After stopping Waverly’s initial possession of the game, SV drove downfield and scored on Madeline Miller’s 1-yard quarterback keeper at 6:10. Miller completed the PAT pass to Madison Lewis for a 7-0 lead.
The Wolverines would regroup to tie the score late in the second quarter. Brilynn Belles scored on a 1-yard QB keeper, then hit Mira Kittle with the PAT pass to tie the game with 42 seconds remaining in the half.
After Sus Valley regained the lead in the third period, Waverly responded with a TD as Belles found an open Elizabeth Robinson, who twisted her way into the endzone for the score. The PAT pass was incomplete, leaving the Sabers clinging to a 14-13 lead with 7:11 to go in the quarter.
Wallace scored on a 7-yard run just six seconds into the final stanza. The PAT run was unsuccessful, leaving the hosts with a 20-13 advantage.
The Sabers’ defense, which had only given up multiple TDs to Class B foes Binghamton and Maine-Endwell during the regular season, and Owego in the playoffs, ended a Waverly threat late in the game when Amanat Dhillon intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards to the Wolverines’ 4.
Waverly had 178 yards of offense.
Belles was 13-for-30 through the air for 74 yards with one TD and two interceptions. She also ran for 15 yards and a TD on seven carries.
Kittle had six carries for 56 yards and caught four passes for another 20 before leaving the game in the second half with a knee injury.
Olmsted ran the ball five times for 31 yards and had three receptions for 22 more. Robinson caught four passes for 18 yards and a TD, Ellie Cole had one reception for eight yards, Maci Wheeler had one catch for six yards, and Lauryn Welles had three rushes for two yards.
“That doesn't help,” Shaw said of the injury to one of his top competitors. “You know, it just wasn't meant to be, I guess. Sometimes it's meant to be, sometimes it's not. “
Waverly finishes the season with an 11-3 record. The three losses to SV (twice) and Syracuse Henninger came by a combined total of 18 points. The Wolverines are 0-5-1 against Sus Valley and only one loss has come by more than seven points.
“I couldn't be any prouder of this team,” said Shaw. “We had a phenomenal year. Getting to this game, we beat some good teams along the way. We had a great year. Our senior leadership was tremendous. We’re going to lose some really key seniors and we're just going to continue to work and try to continue to build this thing.”
Sus Valley (11-2) hosts three-time Section III champion Oneida (16-1) in the state quarterfinals on Wednesday.
——————
IN PHOTO 1: Elizabeth Robinson. IN TOP PHOTO: Mira Kittle (13) and Mackenzie Olmsted. … PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
