CALEDONIA - The Le Roy football team is one of the favorites to win the state title in Class C. But in order for the Oatkan Knights to win that title, they had some growing up to do. After squeaking out a win over Batavia last week, Mike Farabella and company grew up a lot in a 20-0 win over rival Caledonia-Mumford at Hamilton Field Friday.

"I thought they were two great tests and I thought we grew up today," Le Roy coach Brian Moran said. "We
have some young people and some people playing in different positions and today they really grew up. The
important thing is to put these two games behind us and keep getting better every week."

It was a classic Le Roy/Cal-Mum battle in the first half as both teams' defenses dominated play. Farabella
- who came into the game leading the Livingston Conference in rushing - was held in check, only gaining 36 yards on 11 carries. Le Roy did the same thing to Red Raiders back Aaron Hallett, completely stopping him after he rushed for 26 yards on his first two carries of the game. Neither team had made it into the opposing red zone until there was 24 seconds left in the opening half.

Le Roy had to punt the ball away and the Red Raiders botched the snap on their second play from scrimmage.
Marcus Epps recovered the fumble, giving the Oatkan Knights a first down at the Cal-Mum 20. "When the ball was dropped, I saw the ball and I knew it was my responsibility to jump on it. I had to do what I had to do," said Epps, who had six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and the fumble recovery.

Farabella had a short gainer and then Craig Tiberio made a spectacular catch of a Mark Bennetti pass in the end zone for the first score of the game with just 12 seconds to play in the first half. "We had 24 seconds left in the half and it was a key turnover," Moran said. "More importantly, it was important to take that opportunity and score. They made a great play and that's what you need sometimes." That was it. Le Roy had all the momentum from that point on.

(September 10, 2005) - CALEDONIA - The trophy presentation wasn't even over and already the scoreboard at Hamilton Field was shut down.

Who needs to see Visitor 20, Home 0 any longer than necessary. Especially when the visitor is the longtime rival LeRoy Oatkan Knights. Not that those wearing the white and black of the Oatkan Knights needed a scoreboard to tell them of their domination.

Taking advantage of a turnover just 24 seconds before halftime, LeRoy needed just two plays to score. Buoyed by the unexpected touchdown, the Oatkan Knights then steamrolled the Red Raiders in the second half to post their second win in a row in the storied 71-game rivalry.

"This has to be one of the five best rivalries in New York state, and this win is really big," said LeRoy junior quarterback Mark Bennetti, who tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, then scored on a 1-yard keeper on the first possession of the second half for a 14-0 lead in the third quarter.

When senior workhorse running back Mike Farabella scored on a 15-yard scamper late in the third quarter, LeRoy was rolling to victory and a 2-0 record. "We're undersized and they've got a real good football team," said Cal-Mum coach Mike Monacelli, whose team slipped to 1-1. "It was a typical Cal-Mum/LeRoy game. No one tries to get too fancy."

What the Oatkan Knights were was opportunistic. Cal-Mum senior quarterback Brandon Erhard was content to run out the clock with just 24 seconds left in the first half but fumbled the snap. Sophomore defensive lineman Marcus Epps shot through and smothered the loose ball at the Cal-Mum 19.

"I penetrated through and when I saw the ball, it was like tunnel vision," Epps said. "I just saw red around everything and the ball was the only thing in my sight." Two plays later Bennetti lofted a perfect pass to the right corner of the end zone, where Tiberio eluded senior cornerback Aaron Hallett and made a diving catch.

"At first I didn't think I would get it because he (Hallett) had inside position on me," said Tiberio, who maintained perfect concentration on the ball while fighting through Hallett. The 7-0 lead quickly became 14-0 as LeRoy took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 66 yards on nine plays.

"Who's to say they would have come out like that if they hadn't scored right before the half," Monacelli said.
Farabella and his offensive linemen did most of the work. He darted 61 yards down the left sideline of the first play from scrimmage, then carried six more times to take the ball to the one. From there, Bennetti leaped over for the touchdown.

"I think the touchdown before the half gave us a lot of momentum but the real turning point was when we came out and scored to start the second half," Bennetti said. "Farabella's run was big." The LeRoy defense forced a three-and-out punt on Cal-Mum's next possession, then delivered the knockout punch.

Starting on the Red Raiders' 36, LeRoy needed just six plays to score, with Farabella running through a big hole straight up the middle for a 15-yard touchdown jaunt. "I thought we did a good job at halftime making some adjustments up front," LeRoy coach Brian Moran said. "Our line got off the ball well, did some things they needed to do and opened some holes."

Cal-Mum finally moved into LeRoy territory as the third quarter ended, its first visit across midfield since the opening drive, but the march ended on an interception by junior defensive back Alex DiFrancisco. "Our kids are going to get better," Monacelli said. "It's easy to dress the day after a win. There are 13 pages in the album. This is just the second page. We'll flip the page and deal with the third page."