2002 Chenango Forks Varsity Football

Poised Forks wins

Jenks carries senior-laden Devils past Solvay

ENDICOTT -- The record will reflect yet another victory in a football season chock full of them for Chenango Forks.  

But this latest victory, 35-21 Friday night over Solvay in a Class B state quarterfinal at Union-Endicott, was the first of its kind for these 2002 Blue Devils.

Introduced to a fourth-quarter deficit in large part due to an uncharacteristic bout with butterfingers, Forks responded in championship fashion with three splendid scoring drives in as many possessions when anything short of that could have meant the end.

The Blue Devils (11-0) advanced to a semifinal at 11 a.m. next Saturday in the Carrier Dome against the winner of today's quarterfinal pitting Section 5's Bath (9-0) against Section's 6 Olean (10-0).

Fullback Kelsey Jenks battered the Bearcats with season highs of 36 carries, 217 yards and four touchdowns. His scores included one from 16 yards to help Forks pull even with 9:47 remaining, and another from 12 yards with 5:02 left that put the Devils on top to stay.

"Chenango Forks, they're a great team, they're strong up front and Jenks can just keep pounding you all day long," Solvay coach Al Merola said. "They wear you down."

"What can you say about Kelsey?" Forks quarterback Matt Juriga said. "He's a great running back. It's his first year playing running back in a while, and look at him. He just breaks tackles like it's nothing."

Forks, leader by 14-6 to open the third quarter, fumbled away the football at its 34-yard line on its first play-- the team's second of four lost fumbles of the night. But linebacker Matt Blackman rescued Forks from that jam by intercepting a pass after Solvay had driven to the 15.

The next Blue Devils possession went nowhere, and Solvay took over after a punt at Forks' 45. Five plays later, tailback Jamie Romano raced 34 yards for a touchdown, breaking two tackles along the way, and quarterback Sam Cavallaro added the two-point conversion pass to wide-open tight end Jeff Francey.

It was a 14-14 ballgame with 4:35 to play in the third.

Three plays into Forks' ensuing drive, quarterback Chris Spencer kept the football on an option toward Forks' sideline. Hit hard on the play, the ball was jarred loose and Solvay's James Ayers picked up the loose ball at the 21-yard line and ran in for the score.

Forks coaches protested the call, claiming Spencer was on the ground before the ball was free. Nonetheless, Mike Wall converted the point-after kick and Forks, which had the vast majority of its opponents put away by that juncture all season, trailed by 21-14 with 3:14 remaining in the third.

"(Senior center Juan Mendoza) spoke up in the huddle and said, 'Guys, we've got to come together. We know we're better than this, we've gotten some bad breaks but if we come together, we can take it,' " Forks' Jake Frisch said.

Juriga said, "We had to keep our composure. I looked around the huddle before we scored the touchdown to tie it up and I saw 11 seniors, I knew we'd all been playing together so long ... I didn't have a doubt in my mind that we'd come back. I feel that confident about this team.

"When we play right and we execute, I think it shows a lot about our character."

From that point forward, the Blue Devils dominated.

The drive for the tying points began at Forks' 31 and required eight plays, one a tidy 14-yard pass from Juriga to Drew Batty. On the scoring play, the offensive front opened a substantial hole for Jenks to rush 16 yards and score virtually untouched.

Forks' defense then forced a punt, and the Devils took over at their 32 with 8:25 left. This drive lasted eight plays, featured a 29-yard rush by Jenks on which he ran through one potential tackler and flattened another, and ended when Jenks took advantage of another huge hole in the heart of the the line and scored from the 12.

Tim Batty's PAT kick had the Devils ahead by 28-21.

Solvay took possession at its 42-yard line but, after an 8-yard pass play from Cavallaro to Francey, Blue Devils safety Nick Mirabito intercepted a second-down pass at the 17-yard line and returned the ball to midfield. It was atonement for Mirabito, whose fumble on a punt return opened the door for Solvay's second-quarter score.

Following five consecutive runs by Jenks, Juriga faked inside to Jenks and, with a cast of defenders biting on the fake, Juriga kept outside for an 11-yard scoring run with 1:17 remaining that put this one away.

"There was never any panic-- except maybe by me," Forks coach Kelsey Green said. "The kids, they just have a lot of confidence in themselves and in each other."

Devils ground Solvay
Chenango Forks star back runs for 217 yards in win over Bearcats Friday night.

November 16, 2002

Endicott -A three-touchdown, fourth-quarter spree rallied mistake-prone Chenango Forks to a 35-21 victory over Solvay in a Class B state football quarterfinal Friday night at Union-Endicott High School's Ty Cobb Stadium

The Bearcats' Jamie Ayers picked up a fumbled football and returned it 21 yards for a score with 3:14 remaining in the third quarter to help Solvay to a 21-14 lead.

But Forks followed the lead of fullback Kelsey Jenks - who rushed for 119 of his 217-yard total after Ayers' TD - to a berth in the state semifinals for a second consecutive season.

Forks (11-0) fell 14-7 to Peru in last year's Class B final.

"Their experience being in this tournament before, I think, gives them a little edge on us," said Solvay coach Al Merola (10-1), Section 3 champion for the first time since 1979.

Jenks, a 229-pound senior moved this year from tackle to fullback, also had a season-high four touchdowns. Forks, leader by 14-6 to open the third quarter, fumbled away the football at its 34-yard line on its first play from scrimmage - the team's second of four lost fumbles of the night. But linebacker Matt Blackman intercepted a pass after Solvay had driven to the 15.

The next Blue Devils possession went nowhere, and Solvay took over after a punt at Forks' 45-yard line. Five plays later, tailback Jamie Romano raced 34 yards for a touchdown, breaking two tackles along the way, and quarterback Sam Cavallaro added the two-point pass to wide-open tight end Jeff Francey.

Three plays into Forks' ensuing drive, quarterback Chris Spencer kept the football on an option toward Forks' sideline. Hit hard on the play, the ball was jarred loose and Solvay's Ayers picked up the loose ball at the 21-yard line and ran in for the score. Mike Wall tacked on the PAT kick for a 21-14 advantage.

Forks then drove down the field and scored on a 16-yard run by Jenks.

The Devils defense then forced a punt, and took over at their 32 with 8:25 left. This drive lasted eight plays and ended when Jenks scored from the 12 with 5:02 to play.

Tim Batty's PAT kick had the Devils ahead by 28-21.

Solvay took possession at its 42-yard line but, after an 8-yard pass play from Cavallaro to Francey, Blue Devils safety Nick Mirabito intercepted a second-down pass at the 17-yard line and returned the ball to midfield.

Following five consecutive runs by Jenks, Juriga faked inside to Jenks and, with a cast of defenders biting on the fake, Juriga kept outside for an 11-yard scoring run with 1:17 remaining that put this one away.

"Somebody's got to lose in this tournament," Merola said. "Sooner or later, I guess if you play long enough somebody's going to end up losing. I don't want our guys to go out on a bad note. They played hard all year, won 10 football games - that's more than our school has ever won.

"I think maybe we're going to be back here next year. We've got a lot of young kids back, and I think we're going to have a good team next year."

Solvay's first points of the night were scored with 8:18 to play in the second quarter when, on the first play after Forks fumbled away a punt return at its 29-yard line, Cavallaro delivered a perfect pass between two defenders to Wall in the corner of the end zone to draw the Bearcats within 7-6.

Photo caption: Chenango Forks Kelsey Jenks prepares for contact with Solvay's Jeff Francey in the first quarter of Friday's state Class B quarterfinal at Ty Cobb Stadium in Endicott. Jenks rushed for season-highs of 36 carries for 217 yards and four touchdowns in Forks' 35-21 victory. Jim Sanchez - Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin photo

Vestal, Forks have defense in common

Golden Bears, Blue Devils rely on stuffing opponents
Thursday November 14, 2002

Section 4 Class A champion EFA, the lone common opponent of both Forks and Vestal, was blanked 20-0 by Forks on opening day, and fell to Vestal by 17-6 in Week 6.

That is, a combined six points in those two losses by a squad that averaged 28.8 in its remaining eight outings, all victories.

Senko will not dispute the "Defense wins championships" adage one bit as it applies to Forks and Vestal.

"I really think defense is both teams' forte," he said. "They're both outstanding defensively."

The Blue Devils (10-0), which will oppose Solvay (10-0) in a Class B state quarterfinal at 5 p.m. Friday at Union-Endicott, has limited its opponents to five points per game, with coordinator Dave Chickanosky overseeing all things defense.

The Golden Bears (9-1), preparing for a Class AA quarterfinal against Syracuse Corcoran (9-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday at U-E, has surrendered 6.8 per game under the watchful eye of coordinator Tank Anderson.

For each team, it has been an encore performance.

A season ago, each brought 10-0 records into intersectional play, Forks having allowed 83 points and Vestal 47. Both teams claimed the 2001 Section 4 championships with underclassmen aplenty -- seven players returned to each starting defense.

"They're both mature teams," Senko said. "They've been together so long and they function so well together.

"Vestal's defense, they're quick. There were times they went by us like we didn't see them. Vestal's not big at all, but they have no fear, those kids.

"With Vestal, the quickness of their linebackers is the difference. They run that 4-4 and they swarm. Forks, they're more of a zone-type defense, but it is tough getting through those zones.

"I think they're about equal."

It is far from coincidence that Broome County's two premier defenses will be suiting up for Week 10.

"I think that's what you'll see in the playoffs," Forks coach Kelsey Green said. "I don't think you'll see many wild shootouts. Every team still playing at this point has a legitimate defense."

Forks brings dominating game to state quarterfinals
Thursday November 14, 2002

"They're tougher than anyone we've played," Bearcats coach Al Merola said of Chenango Forks, Solvay's opponent for a Class B state quarterfinal at 5 today at Union-Endicott. "They're just so physical and they've got some big, strong kids.

"They just pound you."

The Blue Devils (10-0), ranked second behind defending state champion Peru since the start of the season, have won their 10 games by an average score of 37-5. The rushing game has favored Forks by 306 yards to 50 per game.

No Forks opponent this season has gained 200 yards of offense.

"I think both teams have some assets up front, some big, strong kids," Merola said. "But while we have 250- and 260-pounders, we don't have the 6-foot-3 kids like they have."

The Forks-Solvay winner advances to the semifinal round and a meeting with either Bath (9-0) or Olean (10-0) at 11 a.m. next Saturday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

Solvay (10-0) claimed the Section 3 (Syracuse-area) championship with a 14-12 slip past Oneida on Sunday, a victory sewed up with a huge defensive play in the waning moments.

Oneida scored a touchdown to draw within 14-12, but on the two-point conversion attempt, Bearcats safety Jamie Romano hustled over and tipped away a pass targeted for what appeared to be a receiver free in the back of the end zone.

Romano is the son of Al Romano, who played fullback under Merola at Solvay and went on to be named All-America as middle guard for the University of Pittsburgh's 1976 national champions.

The younger Romano, 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, is a speedster who has rushed for 891 yards this season.

"Al was a man among boys, and he's raised his boys to be real good football players," Merola said.

The Bearcats' rushing leader is 160-pound Stan Grobsmith, who has gained 942 yards and averaged a shade over 10 yards per carry. He will return after a one-game suspension due to a school-related incident. Another two-way starter who was suspended for the Oneida game, tight end/linebacker Jeff Francey, is also expected back.

"They like to run it," Forks coach Kelsey Green said of Solvay. "They've got a big offensive front, we're looking at 260, 275 and 285 pounds across the front. They like to line up and pound at you with small, very, very quick backs.

"Size-wise, offensively they're bigger. Defensively, they go with a different cast, they go with quickness and they're not as big."

Chenango Forks' offense has grown increasingly reliant on Kelsey Jenks, who was converted this season to fullback from tackle. Jenks has rushed 144 times for 1,041 yards and 21 touchdowns this year. Over the last four games, he has averaged 150 yards and scored nine TDs.

"They tell me they have a really good option game, but we haven't seen all that much of it," Merola said.

"Jenks is a tyrant. He looks to be kind of a team leader. He's just such an aggressive kid as a nose tackle. He comes so hard up all the time, really creates a problem up the middle. And as a fullback, he's deceptively fast. He can break it when he gets past the line of scrimmage."

This season presents a more challenging set of circumstances for the playoff quarterfinalists, who move from the comfortable sanctuary of the Carrier Dome -- where they'd settled in recent years -- out into the elements of Ty Cobb Stadium.

"You just keep your fingers crossed and hope you have a state quarterfinal where kids can use their skills," Merola said. "We're flirting with disaster outdoors this time of year."

Solvay faces big obstacle
Unbeaten Chenango Forks has outscored foes 366-50 so far this season.

November 15, 2002

Considering that unbeaten Chenango Forks has compiled a 22-1 record over the past two seasons, a big challenge awaits the Section 3 champion Solvay (10-0) at Union-Endicott High School today. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

Chenango Forks, which has outscored 10 foes 366-50, lost last year's state Class B title game 14-7 to Peru at the Carrier Dome. This year, Forks is No. 2 state-ranked behind Peru (10-0), while Solvay is No. 5.

"This is the most physical team we'll play all season," Solvay coach Al Merola said.

What should help the Bearcats' chances is the return of quick-footed 160-pound senior halfback Stan Grobsmith, Solvay's rushing leader with 92 carries for 942 yards (10.2 average). Grobsmith and tight end/linebacker Jeff Francey were suspended for last week's 14-12 Section 3 title victory over Oneida for violating school rules. Both should return today.

Besides Grobsmith, the versatile Solvay backfield also counts on the throwing of quarterback Sam Cavallaro plus the rushing of junior halfback Jamie Romano (114 carries, 891 yards).

Solvay will need exceptional play from its line, both ways, to top the Blue Devils, who have allowed foes to rush for just over 50 yards per game.

Biggest key to victory for Chenango Forks will likely be fullback-defensive lineman Kelsey Jenks, a 6-2, 229-pound first team all-state player as a junior. Jenks has rushed 144 times for 1,041 yards in 2002.

Two more returning all-state players for the Forks are two-way linemen Juan Mendoza and Jake Frisch. 

From the "5th Quarter" - Nov 19, 2002

JENKS EVER IMPROVING

In the wake of Chenango Forks' come-from-behind 35-21 win over Solvay in a Class B quarterfinal Friday night, Blue Devils coach Kelsey Green was asked:Just how wise a move was it to convert Kelsey Jenks from tackle to fullback.

"Once in a while, you do something right," Green replied with a laugh.

Jenks, a mainstay in the middle of the defensive line for three consecutive seasons, debuted at running back with a mere five-carry, 15-yard outing on opening day at Elmira Free Academy. Since that day, he has rushed for 1,243 yards (7.1 yards per carry) and scored 25 touchdowns.

On Friday night, Solvay -- 10-0 and ranked fifth to Forks' second to start the game -- took a 21-14 lead on a 21-yard fumble return for a score and the PAT kick with 3:14 to play in the third quarter.

From that point, Jenks carried the football 16 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

He finished with 36 carries for 217 yards and four TDs -- all season highs.

"Every game is his best game, that's the way it's going," Green said. "The competition stepped up, and with everything on the line, he ran like a man tonight. He really did.

"We love that kid."

An example of Jenks' presence making his teammates better came on the Blue Devils' last scoring play. On second-and-7 from Solvay's 11-yard line, quarterback Matt Juriga faked a handoff through the middle to Jenks -- who'd carried the football on the team's previous seven plays. The defense bit hard, and Juriga had clear sailing around right end.

"That's the option," Juriga said. "You've got to play one of them. I made a good read and happened to score."

Of the comeback from their first fourth-quarter deficit of the season, Forks' Jake Frisch said, "Zach (Tarnowski) got hurt and (Chris) Spencer was hurting a little bit, but we all picked it up and said we were going to win it for them so they could get another week with us.

"We knew we could come back. We come together when things get harder."

Added Green:"We were there (behind) a couple times last year, and the response you saw tonight was the response we've gotten every time from these kids. Even in the final last year (a 14-7 loss to Peru), we got down but we played like hell to come back." ...

The possibility of a Forks-Peru rematch in the Class B title game was headed off when Lansingburgh scored a 22-18 win over Peru in the quarterfinals.

Section 2 (Albany area) champion Lansingburgh had outscored its first 10 opponents by an aggregate 618 to 79. Marcel Youngs rushed for 104 yards against Peru, giving him 1,242 yards -- and 29 TDs -- on the season.