LEROY - If Mike Farabella’s first play from scrimmage is any indication as to what the Le Roy football team is going to do this postseason, a state title is in the works.

Mark Bennetti handed the ball to Farabella on the first play of the game and the senior back rumbled 59 yards for a touchdown. From there, the Oatkan Knights went on to dominate Letchworth on all sides of the ball in a 39-0 victory.

“After that play, I knew it was going to be a good night,” said Farabella, who rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. “As long as our linemen held their blocks, I knew everything would be fine.”

Top-seeded Le Roy showed why they are ranked second in New York state, improving to 8-0. “This is a good way to start (a run towards a state title),” Bennetti said. “There is a different approach you have to take to sectionals. I think we definitely stepped it up tonight.”

After Farabella’s quick score, Letchworth went three-and-out. The Oatkan Knights needed a little more time to score on the next drive, showing a ball-control offense that went 49 yards on 13 plays with Farabella running it in from four yards out. Bennetti threw two key passes on the drive, one to Kevin Brady for 10 yards and another to Craig Tiberio for 14 yards on a third-and-6.

“I think our pass routes are getting better,” Bennetti said. “I’m making better reads than I used to and we are
playing more as a unit.”

“It’s nice to be balanced,” Le Roy coach Brian Moran said. “We are very fortunate to have some athletes that can run the ball, some that can pass the ball and some that can catch the ball. When you have that at this level, it’s an advantage.”

Le Roy opened the third quarter with another drive that resulted in seven points after Bennetti hooked up with Justin Casper on an 8-yard touchdown pass.

Trailing 20-0, the Indians needed a big play, and that’s exactly what they got. Quarterback Jeff Marcy eluded a potential sack, then scrambled and found a wide open Weston Weaver for what looked like a 45-yard touchdown pass. But the officials said Marcy was past the line of scrimmage when he threw the ball.

Mike Alexander sacked Marcy on the next play and the Indians wound up punting the ball away. Le Roy drove again in the closing seconds of the half, and a 34-yard Farabella run set up a Justin Casper 1-yard scoring plunge.

The Oatkan Knights scored on their sixth straight possession when Casper had a 12-yard touchdown run.
Mike Frew — who had 92 yards on six carries — had a 75-yard touchdown run late in the game.

Brady Bonacquisti had seven tackles and Casper had a pair of sacks to lead a Le Roy defense that completely
shut down Letchworth. The Indians end up 3-5, but improved a lot this season and seem to have the program headed in the right direction.

“I’m proud of my kids; the effort is there,” Letchworth coach Tim McMullen said. “They are good kids. They put their butt on the line for me and that’s all I can ask.”

Le Roy (8-0) moves on to face rival Caledonia-Mumford, the fourth seed. The Red Raiders (6-2) beat No. 5
Bishop Kearney 44-18 Friday. Le Roy won the Week 2 game 20-0 in Caledonia.

“Caledonia/Le Roy is always a war,” Moran said. “You get focused during the week and you get yourself mentally ready to play, and show up on Friday.”