Game 8 - 2002 Chenango Forks Varsity Football

Articles courtesy of the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin and
the Oneonta Daily Star

The Binghamton Press and the Oneonta Daily Star had some preview articles in Friday's paper...

Football: Desperate B-G/A hopes to trip Forks

Bears need win, help to advance

BY MIKE MANGAN
Press & Sun-Bulletin

Chenango Forks can complete a unbeaten regular season when it travels to Bainbridge-Guilford/Afton for a Division IV game at 7 tonight.

The Blue Devils (7-0, 4-0 Division IV)), ranked second in the state in Class B according to the New York State Sports Writers Association, are coming off an impressive 27-7 victory over previously unbeaten Elmira Notre Dame.

In that game, Forks limited the Crusaders to 153 yards of total offense.

The Blue Devils will face a Bears team whose three losses are to teams with a combined 20-1 record (Walton, Norwich and Elmira Notre Dame).

"We're playing a team whose strengths are very similar to us," Forks coach Kelsey Green said. "They're very strong right up front (on the offensive and defensive lines) and they have two good running backs in (Jon) Zieno and (Garrett) George that can move the ball.

"This is a good team to play before the playoffs. Even though we're in the playoffs, we want to go in playing the type of football we've been playing."

Though mathematically alive, it appears very likely B-G/A (4-3, 3-1) will miss the Section 4 Class B playoffs. The Bears would need to beat Forks and hope Elmira Notre Dame loses to winless Waverly tonight.

Regardless of his team's playoff prospects, B-G/A coach Steve Rice is looking forward to playing Forks.

"We've tried to impress upon our kids that as inconsistently as we've played this season, we have a chance to tie for the division title, which would be quite an accomplishment," Rice said. "It's going to be a matter of whether we can figure a way to stop the numerous weapons they have and not give up too many big plays."

Oneonta Daily Star - Friday October 25th

In another game that could have an impact on the Class B playoff picture, B-G/A (4-3, 3-1) plays host to Chenango Forks (7-0, 4-0) in a Division IV game at 7 tonight.

If the Bears upset Forks — ranked second in the state in Class B — they'll likely qualify for next weekend's four-team Class B playoffs.

However, Forks has dominated every team it has played this season, including a 56-7 victory over Oneonta in Week 2 and a 27-7 victory over Elmira Notre Dame (6-1) last week.

B-G/A's ground game is led by Jon Zieno, Garrett George and Josh Miller. Zieno has rushed for 727 yards, George 420 and Miller 393.

Forks overpowers B-G/Afton

Blue Devils still undefeated

BY STAFF REPORTS - Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

Chenango Forks appears ready for the Class B playoffs after manhandling host Bainbridge-Guilford/Afton, 34-0, Friday night in a Section 4 Football Conference game.

It was the third shutout of the season for the Blue Devils (8-0), who are ranked second among Class B schools by the New York State Sports Writers Association.

Forks won the Division IV title with a 5-0 record while B-G/Afton (4-4) fell to 3-2 in the division.

Led by Kelsey Jenks' 17 carries for 159 yards, the Blue Devils amassed 334 rushing yards in pounding the Bears, who ran for 139.

Forks scored on its first possession a little over three minutes into the game. Quarterback Matt Juriga's 1-yard run capped a six-play, 67-yard drive. Jenks started the drive with three carries for 66 yards.

Juriga's 31-yard pass to Nick Mirabito about 3 1/2 minutes into the second quarter gave Forks a two-TD cushion. Forks took possession on its 3 and drove the length of the field in eight plays.

During the drive Mirabito ran 23 yards and Juriga rushed for another 24.

The Blue Devils would score twice more in the quarter to take a 27-0 halftime lead, Chris Spencer scored on an 8-yard run and Jenks added a 3-yard TD scamper.

"We didn't stay very disciplined on our responsibilities," B-G/Afton coach Steve Rice said. "It was very physical, both ways."

Forks used many of its reserves through the second half. The Bears' deepest penetration was inside Forks' 5 late in the game. B-G/Afton never drew closer than the Blue Devils' 38 in the first half.

Jenks' 159 yards rushing was his third 100-yard game and comes a week after running 173 yards against Elmira Notre Dame.

Chenango Forks also shut out Elmira Free Academy, 20-0, in the season opener and beat Seton Catholic Central, 49-0, two weeks ago.