Football: Canandaigua offense stifled in state quarterfinal loss to Niskayuna

The stares were blank but not hollow.

Because as the younger members of the Canandaigua Academy football team looked across the field to watch the Niskayuna celebration, notes were being taken. They were determined to remember this night, especially after hugs were shared with the handful of seniors who played their final game for the Cherry and Gray.

Friday night’s 14-7 loss to Niskayuna in the Class A state quarterfinals was difficult to accept, but the harsh reality of sports is that it must be. The loss ended the season for Canandaigua, which played splendidly on defense but struggled to generate any type of offensive rhythm against a Niskayuna defense that was relentless and physical.

“They did a great job of scheming us up and taking away our main threat,” Canandaigua coach Jeff Welch said of a Niskayuna team that scored on the third play of the game. “Our defense played incredible. They put us in good situations, but we weren’t able to capitalize.”

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The situations included two recovered fumbles by Jude York that gave the Braves short fields. But on both occasions, the Braves turned the ball over on downs and overall, couldn’t convert on fourth down on three separate drives in the first half inside the Niskayuna 10-yard line.

A game of missed opportunities?

“Absolutely,” said Welch.

But no matter what explains the loss, ending a season and for some, a high school football career, is never easy.

“You see us all hugging, we’re family,” senior lineman Justus Simpson said. “The most fun I ever had in a football season, the most love I ever had in a football season was this year.”

What it means

The Braves end their 2022 season with a 9-3 record. It’s the second straight season they’ve advanced to the state quarterfinals after advancing to the state semifinals in 2019.

In winning their fourth straight Section V title this season, Canandaigua is 39-7 over that four-season span.

“The expectation is always there,” said Welch. “We knew we had some potential but it was a very difficult road that was earned by them.”

Key play

Playing a team for the first time always comes with unknowns and on the first two plays, the Canandaigua defense did well enough to allow just five yards.

But on third-and-five, Ethan Gibson stood in the pocket until Cameron Grasso worked his way to space and Gibson’s slant caught Grasso in stride. Sixty-four yards later, Niskayuna had a 7-0 lead and from there, the defense did the rest.

The Silver Warriors were prepared for everything CA threw at them and rarely gave up space for CA playmakers to create anything. The Braves turned the ball over on downs five total times in the game and didn’t score until Tysheed Crockton broke free for a 62-yard touchdown with 56 seconds left.

But by then, Niskayuna had a 14-0 lead on Daniel Miller’s 28-yard TD reception on a fourth-down play midway through the third quarter. And when the Silver Warriors recovered the on-side kick after Crockton’s score, the game was essentially sealed.

By the numbers

Tysheed Crockton rushed for 60 yards on 17 carries and caught 5 passes for 93 yards and a TD for Canandaigua.

Drew Williamee completed 14 of 24 passes for 127 yards and a TD for the Braves.

Jude York recovered two fumbles for Canandaigua.

Niskayuna QB Ethan Gibson completed 4 of 8 passes for 164 yards and 2 TDs.

Isaiah Linyear rushed for 148 yards on 28 carries for Niskayuna.

They said it

Canandaigua coach Jeff Welch, on the growth of this young team: “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy but they put in the work and stuck together and I couldn’t be more proud of this group.”

Canandaigua senior lineman Justus Simpson, on the tradition of CA football:  “I wear 64 because of my dad. He’s my hero. He’s everything I try to be. I wouldn’t be playing football without him … I get messages from my cousin and my younger brother, he’s looking  up to me and I’m trying to be the best for him. This means so much more than just football.”

Welch, on the never-quit approach by CA this season: “That’s not in Canandaigua DNA. That was never going to be a question.”

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Canandaigua offense stifled in state quarterfinal loss to Niskayuna