Game 1 - 2014 Chenango Forks Varsity Football

2014 Chenango Forks Varsity Football

Game 1 vs Johnson City

The Blue Devils dismantle the Wildcats 49-6!
Win is CF's seventeenth straight season opening victory!

Articles courtesy of the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

Second-quarter spree carries Forks past Johnson City

Kevin Stevens, Press & Sun-Bulletin

Chenango Forks defenders intercept three Johnson City passes in decisive segment of play
Forks extends the program's streak of season-opening football victories to a 17th year

TOWN OF CHENANGO - An avalanche of second-quarter points assured Chenango Forks a 17th consecutive football season-opening victory Saturday, 49-6 over an overmatched and overwhelmed Johnson City squad that managed one first down before halftime.

The Blue Devils intercepted three passes and rang up five touchdowns in a second quarter that concluded with the scoreboard reading 42-0 and the visitors' body language suggesting they'd rather have been pool-side refilling an icy beverage.

Five Forks players produced TDs, with senior fullback Ryan Bronson's 96 rushing yards and three scores heading his side in each category. As for the big guys sporting the big jersey numbers — no contest! Forks was physically superior at most every turn after the early going.

And about that second quarter?

"I guess we really showed our true potential, showed them how we play Forks football," said Bronson, one of three Forks players to pick off a second-quarter pass.

"We were getting after the quarterback, he was scrambling and making throws," said QB/DB Jack Sherwood. "Our players are athletic, making amazing interceptions. That motivated us and we kept pounding it in."

The Blue Devils, forced to punt on their first possession, got on the board when Cody Lamond raced 42 yards on an option offering for a score born of equal parts his running and textbook downfield dismissal of a defender by end James Patwell.

Thereafter, the hosts' defense took over the contest for real.

Forks stacked up Stephon McDonald for no gain on third-and-1 from JC's 25, and a punt left the Devils possession at their 39. Eleven plays later Bronson surged over the left side for a TD which, along with Sure-Shoe Tony Silvanic's second PAT success in a 7-for-7 showing made it 14-0.

Sherwood picked off Johnson City's Jake Thompson two plays into the next drive, and moments later Bronson rushed 30 yards for a TD.

Johnson City's next possession likewise lasted two plays, this time squelched by Bronson's brilliant leaping pick near midfield and return to the 23. Sophomore L.J. Watson was the beneficiary of that one, rushing in from the 14 and it was a 28-0 spread.

Then — someone say Groundhog Day? — Thompson was intercepted by Watson near midfield two plays into Johnson City's next drive, thanks in large part to Tim McDonald's charging thwack of the quarterback upon release of the football.

And do remember that name: Tim McDonald, 5-foot-8, 180-pound sophomore, No. 27. This boy played a brand of football Saturday that most certainly raised the brows of every coach on the staff.

The Devils' remaining second-quarter touchdowns were provided by Bronson on a 19-yard carry set in motion with a toss from Sherwood and abetted by a scrum of support right of tackle, and by McDonald on a 32-yard, hit-the-hole-and-go delight 18 seconds before halftime.

Along the way, Forks' offensive and defensive fronts were dismantling the opposition in ways unforeseen going into what many had pegged for a competitive contest. Instead? Johnson City, aside from being rationed that lone first down, rushed for 16 yards in the first half.

"Second quarter, we did pick it up big-time. A lot of things going right," Forks coach David Hogan said. "We got some big interceptions, big plays, and offense stuck it in when we had to. I would have to think we were handling things up front, a lot of times our guys were getting through there untouched."

Bronson said: "I really don't give credit to myself at all, I wouldn't have been doing anything without the line. They're amazing, I can't say enough about them. I thank them so much, but never enough. That's a hell of a crew."

Sherwood tacked on the winners' final touchdown courtesy of a 62-yard option keeper on Forks' first snap of the third quarter. Johnson City averted a shutout by punching one in against Blue Devils reserves 84 seconds into a thankfully speedy final quarter.

Bronson tweaked an already dinged-up ankle just before halftime and called it a day, and fellow ace linebacker/guard Hunter Luybli played perhaps the equivalent of a quarter as result of a hamstring ailment sustained mid-week.

We'll just go ahead and guess that pair will be ready next weekend, when Tioga Central's bus rolls in and delivers a pack of Tigers, many of whom contributed to the lone blemish on Forks' state-championship 2013 season.

"I think we're all looking forward to it," said Hogan, who on Saturday logged win No. 58 to open season No. 7 as head coach.

	01	02	03	04		Tot
Chenango Forks	7	35	7	0	-	49
Johnson City	0	0	0	6	-	6

CF - Cody Lamond 43y run (Silvanic kick)

CF - Ryan Bronson 1y run (Silvanic kick)

CF - Bronson 30y run (Silvanic kick)

CF - LJ Watson 14y run (Silvanic kick)

CF - Bronson 19y run (Silvanic kick)

CF - Tim McDonald 32y run (Silvanic kick)

CF - Jack Sherwood 62y run (Silvanic kick)

JC - Dominic Nadz 5y run (kick failed)

TEAM STATISTICS

	JC	CF
First Downs	8	16
Rushes-Yards	37-74	36-310
Passing Yards	93	16
Comp-Att-Int	8-15-3	3-5-0
Total Offense	52-167	41-326
Punts-Ave yards	4-8.0 ?	2-15.0 ?
Fumbles-Lost	1-0	1-1
Penalties-Yards	2-19	0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS - were not in Sunday's paper. Got CF's. Working on JC's.

Johnson City rushing

Stephen McDonald 18-43
Jake Thompson 18-43
Dominic Nadz 2-9, 1 TD
Kenny Johns 2-3
Shafeeq Hosea 1-0
Numbers are from the Press. The totals here do not match the Team Totals

Chenango Forks rushing

Ryan Bronson 17-96, 3 TDs

Jack Sherwood 5-72, 1 TD

LJ Watson 7-44, 1 TD

Cody Lamond 1-43, 1 TD

Tim McDonald 2-33, 1 TD

Isaiah Roman 1-12

Dylan Studer 1-11

Gunnar Giordani 1-3

Tyler Wilson 1-(-4)

Johnson City passing

Jake Thompson 8-for-15, 93y, 0 TDs, 3 int.

Chenango Forks passing

Jack Sherwood 3-for-5, 16y, 0 TDs, 0 int.

Johnson City receiving

Kenny Johns 3-36
Adam Korutz 2-32
Dominic Nadz 2-21
Stephen McDonald 1-4

Chenango Forks receiving:

LJ Watson 1-11
Ryan Bronson 1-3
Dylan Studer 1-2

JV Score: Chenango Forks 14, Johnson City 6 (CF now 1-0)

Preview Article(s)

Chenango Forks eyes extension of season-opening streak
Kevin Stevens, Press & Sun-Bulletin

State champion Blue Devils have dispatched of 16 straight opponents in football openers

Johnson City will seek to halt Chenango Forks’ streak of 16 consecutive wins in football season openers when the two meet Saturday on the Blue Devils’ turf. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and rain gear would advised for this one among other Saturday contests throughout the Southern Tier.

These programs have not come together since opening the 2005 season, with Forks coming from a three-point halftime deficit to win by 26-9. The Blue Devils have strung 46 consecutive wins against Broome County opposition.

“That’s a very consistently sound football team. We’ll have to be fundamentally sound in order to compete with them and to beat them,” Wildcats coach Fred Deinhardt said. “I think it’ll be a great test out of the gate. Any time you get to play anybody who was a state champion the previous year is a great challenge.”

Forks closed the 2013 season on an 11-game win streak capped by a 28-27 slip past Rye Neck for the Class C state title. Johnson City is amply stocked with players who contributed to last season’s 6-4 record and nearly 30-per-game scoring clip.

As for an early indicator to determine the Devils’ progress to date, coach David Hogan said: “If our offensive line can do a fine job against Johnson City I think we’ll be headed in the right direction. And I can say the same thing about our defensive front.”

A concern of Forks has been the physical status of senior Ryan Bronson. An all-state linebacker and starting fullback, Bronson rolled an ankle early on in preseason. He was a go as of Thursday, though at something short of 100-percent capacity, Hogan said.

Chenango Forks football season preview
Kevin Stevens, Press & Sun-Bulletin

CLASS C, DIVISION IV

LAST SEASON: 12-1

Third-year varsity player Jack Sherwood moves in at quarterback to set in motion an offense replete with playmakers.

Ryan Bronson takes over the critical fullback spot, though was slowed early on by an ankle injury sustained on the first day in full pads. L.J. Watson established his presence last year as a freshman. He’ll play primarily halfback, but some fullback as well. Dylan Studer, Cody Lamond and Isaiah Roman figure into the halfback picture, with Tim McDonald another possibility at fullback. James Pattwell and Gunnar Giordani are the primary wideouts.

The results of that group will be directly tied to the effectiveness of a crew up front to be led by returning starters Ryan Ehrets at center and first-team all-state performer Hunter Luybli at guard. John Hardy has some experience at tackle, where Mason Rowe and Allan-Michael Rios will also play. Nick Gibson and Caleb Gould competed for the other guard spot, and Jake Osterhout can play either guard or tackle. Tight ends are Tony Silvanic and Trevor Borchardt, with Robert Story available there or split wide.

“We think we have the kids who can do it, they’re just going to have to improve,” coach David Hogan said of the front.

The Blue Devils’ “TNT” defensive interior is a four-for-three proposition led by Hardy, Rios, Gould and Osterhout. Silvanic has sewed up the start on one end, with Story, Borchardt and McDonald chasing the other. Unquestioned leaders of the defense are first-team all-stater Bronson and Luybli, as sound a linebacking pair as will be found this season. Watson, Lamond, Studer and Sherwood head secondary candidates, with Pattwell and Roman ready for the call.

Post-game Midweek Article(s):

Fifth Quarter: Forks' offensive front shows its stuff

Kevin Stevens, Mike Mangan, Andrew Legare and Joe Mink - Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

Chenango Forks extended its win streak against Broome County opposition to 47 games with Saturday's 49-6 roll past Johnson City. But perhaps the most impressive number to come out of that contest: Zero.

That was the number of penalties assessed the Blue Devils, New York's reigning Class C champion— and in Game 1!

The contest marked the debut as Forks' starting quarterback for Jack Sherwood, who said afterward, "Not going to lie, I had the jitters this morning. But by kickoff they were all gone, we were ready to get down to it."

Sherwood and the remainder of the ball handlers benefitted from a Grade-A showing by those doing the blocking: Tackles Mason Rowe and John Hardy, guards Nick Gibson, Hunter Luybli and Caleb Gould, center Ryan Ehrets, ends Robert Story and Tony Silvanic, and Allan-Michael Rios. The latter filled in for Luybli, who was limited by a hamstring ailment, and was in the tackle rotation.

"They did what they needed to do, created huge holes for the running backs," Sherwood said. "Ryan Bronson would score and he'd say, 'This wasn't me, this was you guys up front.' And it definitely was. Just getting physical and pushing their guys back. It was really impressive."

As for the 42-0 count at halftime? 42-0? "I was a little surprised, but we knew we had a lot of talent and I think we definitely put that on display," said Bronson, who rushed for three TDs.