Varsity Football 2007 - Pembroke vs. LeRoy

LeRoy Oatkan Knights defeat Pembroke Dragons
14-9 for 2007 Section 5 Class C title
Recap by Brian Hillabush - Batavia Daily News Sports

ROCHESTER - When Brady Bonacquisti suffered a concussion in last week's win over Bishop Kearney, it was unclear if he was even going to play in the Section 5 Class C football title game at PAETEC Park Friday night.

But the senior wasn't going to sit. He got cleared to play on Wednesday and went on to win the Most Valuable Player award in leading top-seeded Le Roy to a hard fought 14-9 win over No. 2 Pembroke.

"I had a doctor clear me on Wednesday and it was out of my mind," said the senior, who rushed for 73 yards on 24 carries and also had eight tackles and a fumble recovery. "They said the chances of me getting another one was not likely, about as much as it would be next
week. After that, I was at ease."

The sectional championship is the second in a row and 13th overall for the Oatkan Knights. Bonacquisti was also the MVP last year.

"I was telling all the guys that every (sectional title) is great, but I'm a senior and this one is even better," Bonacquisti said.

Le Roy improves to 10-0 and moves on to face Cleveland Hill of Section 6, which beat Falconer 16-14 at Ralph Wilson Stadium Friday. It is the first sectional title for Cleveland Hill since 2000.

The Dragons end the year with a share of the Genesee Region League title and an 8-2 record.

"This is real tough because it is my last night school game," said Pembroke linebacker Jared Dent, who was the game's Outstanding Defensive Back. "We have to keep our heads up and hopefully next year's team will be right back here."

With two teams that pride themselves on defense, it was clearly a defensive battle. Pembroke received the opening kickoff and couldn't get a drive going. A poor punt gave the Oatkan Knights excellent field position at the Dragons 29-yard line.

Ian Humphrey - the Outstanding Offensive Back of the game - ran it in from 24 yards out on the second play from scrimmage to give Le Roy a 7-0 lead.

The Oatkan Knight defense caused another punt and Le Roy marched right down the field. A Travis Fenstermaker pass was intercepted by Pembroke's Mike McKenrick in the end zone to kill the threat.

Some penalties hurt a Le Roy drive and a Ken Babcock punt forced the Oatkan Knights to punt the ball away with 8 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter. Pembroke quickly moved the ball as McKenrick had an 11-yard scamper and then tossed a 17-yard pass to Babcock deep into Le Roy territory. Joe Striegel nailed a 39-yard field goal a few plays later to cut the Le Roy advantage to 7-3.

After Pembroke stopped the Oatkan Knights on a fourth-and-1, the Dragons fumbled the ball away at the Le Roy 20-yard line and Mike Humphrey recovered. But Le Roy put the ball on the ground and Cody Chittenden recovered. Pembroke fumbled the ball away and it went
to the half 7-3

Uncharacteristic mistakes and penalties wound up hurting Le Roy on the opening drive of the second half. After Fenstermaker and Mike Humphrey hooked up on a 14-yard pass on a third-and-5, a holding call and a lateral that went out of bounds set up a fourth-and-19, so Le Roy had to punt the ball away.

Pembroke's offense was held again because Le Roy's defensive line had it's best series of the game, and was forced to punt the ball away.

"We knew we had to bring our A-game," said lineman Marcus Epps. "They were talking about how their line was better than ours and we had to show them they weren't."

Pembroke's second bad punt of the game wound up leading to the biggest score of the game.
A bad snap led to Striegel scrambling around a couple of would-be tacklers to get off a short punt that was downed at the Pembroke 34-yard line.

The Oatkan Knights chipped away, moving the ball down to the 1-yard line on 11 plays. On that 11th play, Bonacquisti slipped and was downed for a 2-yard loss, setting up a fourth-and-goal from the 3. Fenstermaker found a wide-open Mike Humphrey in the end zone for the touchdown.

"It was at the last second during the time out," Humphrey said. "They called the play and we went with it. (Fenstermaker) faked the handoff and I was wide open in the end zone. He made the perfect throw."

That left Pembroke with just 3:33 to try and get two scores. McKenrick had two 6-yard runs and a 14-yarder before McKenrick found Babcock on a long pass. But McKenrick's attempt at a touchdown pass in the end zone with 1:44 was intercepted by Fenstermaker.

Le Roy had 1 1/2 minutes to run out the clock, but a fumbled snap went into the end zone and was recovered by Chittenden with just 33 seconds left in the game. But Pembroke could not recover the onside kick, and Le Roy held on.

The Oatkan Knights are still ranked No. 3 in the NY Class C poll and will get a chance to move on to the state final four next Saturday at noon at PAETEC Park. Le Roy lost to Falconer in last year's Far West Regionals.

"We want it a lot," said Epps. "We are a better team this year and plan on going all the way to states. We will work hard and be prepared."

LeRoy Oatkan Knights 14, Pembroke Dragons 9
Recap by Chris Metcalf - Livingston County News Sports

ROCHESTER — The numbers don’t lie. 95 - That’s how many total yards Pembroke’s offense mustered. 4 - That’s how many first downs Pembroke managed. 2-to-1, That’s the ratio of plays Le Roy put up against the Dragons. 38-5 - That’s Brian Moran’s record in sectional play during his 18-year tenure. 12 - That’s how many sectional titles Moran and his Knights have won including last Friday’s 14-9 victory over Pembroke in the Class C title game at PAETEC Park in Rochester.

The top-seeded Knights got a first quarter touchdown from Ian Humphrey, and a fourth quarter TD from brother Mike Humphrey, as they handled the No. 2 seeded Dragons in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score might indicate.

“It was a tough game, on both sides of the football,” said coach Moran. “When our offense needed a big play, they got one. When our defense needed to make a big play, they stepped up. It was a total team effort.”

Le Roy started out strong on offense as they put together a in-your-face seven play drive that moved the ball 25 yards setting the Knights up for a second and goal at the Pembroke eight. But on their next play Pembroke’s Mike McKenrick stepped in front of a Travis Fenstermaker pass and hauled in the interception inside their own five. But, after three consecutive plays that earned nothing, Pembroke was forced to punt into a stiff breeze that only went to their own 29 giving the Knights excellent field position. Two plays later Ian Humphrey, the silky smooth senior tailback, scored from 24 yards out to give the Knights the 7-0 lead following Fenstermaker’s PAT with 3:31 left in the first.

As well as the Knights moved the ball at times against a very stingy defense, which was led by Section V Class C Player of the Year Jared Dent (19 tackles), this victory belonged to Andrew Paladino’s defense. Led by senior interior linemen John Whiting and Marcus Epps, the Knights owned the line of scrimmage throughout the first half.

Pembroke’s lone first half points came on a 39-yard field goal from Joe Striegel which was set up by a beautiful 17-yard catch from Ken Babcock off a McKenrick pass. Le Roy would decide to roll the dice and go for it on a fourth-and-one call at their own 25 with just under four minutes left in the second quarter. But the call would backfire as Brady Bonacquisti’s plunge up the middle would be stuffed by Dent and company at the Knights’ 26. But Le Roy’s defense was ready to respond. With 2:04 left in the second quarter Le Roy maintained their 7-3 lead as Mike Humphrey came up with a momentum-breaking interception in his endzone giving the Knights the ball back at their 20. Pembroke’s offense was held to just 39 yards in the first half.

“Our defense has been doing that all year,” said coach Moran. “That was a big stop before the half. They played their hearts out.” Le Roy offense was simple in the second half — give the ball to the rugged senior fullback Brady Bonacquisti and let him pound the ground game. After a Pembroke punt put the ball at the Knights’ 12, Le Roy would grind out a 12-play drive that saw Bonacquisti carry eight times for 24 yards. Although the drive would end at the Pembroke 45, it chewed up nearly six minutes of clock and took the game into the final quarter.

A poor snap on a punt during Pembroke’s next possession resulted in Striegel’s kick in traffic only going to the Dragons’ 34 setting up the Knights with excellent field position once again. Bonacquisti and Ian Humphrey would combine for seven straight carries putting the ball at the Dragons’ 15 as Le Roy was forced into a fourth-and-one call. Andrew Alexander would come up with the play-action pass reception giving the Knights the first down at the Dragons’ 10. Three plays later the Knights were again faced with a fourth down situation, this time needing to put the ball into the endzone from the three, with 3:36 left in the game.

Enter Mike Humphrey, again. A well-executed play-action pass from Fenstermaker to a wide open Humphrey would give the Knights the touchdown and a 14-3 lead. A time-out was called prior to the touchdown pass.

“It was at the last second during the time out,” said Mike Humphrey. “They called the play and we went with it. (Fenstermaker) faked the handoff and I was wide open in the end zone. He made the perfect throw.”

The senior McKenrick had two 6-yard runs and a 14-yarder before he found Babcock on a long pass. But McKenrick’s attempt at a touchdown pass in the end zone with 1:44 was intercepted by Fenstermaker, seemingly ending it. Not so fast. With Le Roy’s offense needing just one first down to run out the clock, they couldn’t get it as Fenstermaker was forced to punt deep inside his own territory. A high snap went through Fenstermaker’s outstretched hands and into the endzone where Pembroke’s Cody Chittenden fell on it for the touchdown with just 33 seconds left in the game. The two-point PAT would fall short however keeping the game at 14-9.

The Knights would finally seal it when Pembroke’s onsides kick went right into the hands of Fenstermaker giving Le Roy’s football program their 13th overall football crown, and Moran’s 12th as head coach.

“I am very proud of the way these kids played out there against a quality football team,” said Moran. “Words really cannot express how proud I am to be their coach.”

The 13th overall sectional title for the Knights put them into a tie with Cal-Mum and Clyde-Savannah for the most in Section V history. Bonacquisti, who suffered a concussion in last week’s win over Bishop Kearney, was cleared to play on Wednesday and went on to win the Most Valuable Player award for the second straight year.

“I had a doctor clear me on Wednesday and it was out of my mind,” said the senior, who rushed for 78 yards on 24 carries and also had eight tackles and a fumble recovery. “They said the chances of me getting another one was not likely, about as much as it would be next week. After that, I was at ease.” The second title feels better than the first says Bonacquisti. “I was telling all the guys that every (sectional title) is great, but I’m a senior and this one is even better,” Bonacquisti said.

Ian Humphrey posted a game-high 88 yards on 23 carries. Fenstermaker was 5-of-9 passing for 33 yards, one TD and one pick. Whiting added six tackles while Epps came in with five stops, two for losses. Mike Humphrey had a great all-around game, and by all accounts could have left with some hardware as well. Humphrey caught three passes for 25 yards and one TD on offense while recording four tackles (three solo) and one interception on defense.

“That’s what Mike does out there,” said coach Moran. “He’s been having those types of games all year. He’s a big reason why we’re holding the trophy right now. ”Going into the contest Pembroke had boasted about their interior line being able to handle Le Roy’s. “We knew we had to bring our A-game,” said Epps. “They were talking about how their line was better than ours and we had to show them they weren’t.

”Le Roy improves to 10-0 and moves on to face Cleveland Hill of Section VI, which beat Falconer 16-14 at Ralph Wilson Stadium last Friday. It is the first sectional title for Cleveland Hill since 2000. Le Roy lost to Falconer in last year’s Far West Regionals.

“We want it a lot,” said Epps. “We are a better team this year and plan on going all the way to states. We will work hard and be prepared.”Bonacquisti, who had to sit out the second half last year against Falconer because of a concussion, is looking for redemption. “We are going to give it everything we have,” said Bonacquisti. “It would be nice to get the win and keep this thing going.”

Following 10 Photos by Kris Murante - Rochester D&C Sports

LeRoy Knights Stats courtesy of the accounting firm,
B. Mase Associates LLC

Friday, November 2, 2007 (05:00 PM)
Playoff game at PAETEC Park, Rochester NY (Neutral site)
Section V Class C Final

LeRoy Oatkan Knights 14, Pembroke Dragons 9

Score	1	2	3	4	Total
Pembroke Dragons	0	3	0	6	9
LeRoy Oatkan Knights	7	0	0	7	14

Scoring	Qtr	Time	Scoring play	Pem	LeR
LeRoy	1	3:31	#21 Ian Humphrey 24 yd run (#1 Travis Fenstermaker kick)	0	7
Pembroke	2	6:09	#45 Joe Striegel 39 yd FG	3	7
LeRoy	4	3:33	#1 Travis Fenstermaker 3 yd pass to #7 Mike Humphrey (#1 Travis Fenstermaker kick)	3	14
Pembroke	4	0:33	#5 Cody Chittenden 0 yd fumble return (PAT pass failed)	9	14

Team stats	Pembroke	LeRoy
First downs	4	11
Rushing yardage	49	137
Pass completions - attempts	4-10	5-9
Passing yardage	41	31
Pass touchdowns - interceptions	0-2	1-1
Total plays	32	64
Total offense	90	168
Fumbles - lost	2-2	3-2
Penalties - yards	2-10	6-45
Defensive sacks - yards lost	1-8	2-3
Time of possession	16:56	31:04
3rd down efficiency	0 for 8	4 for 16
4th down efficiency	0 for 0	6 for 7
Punts - average	5-26.4	4-29.3

Pembroke

Rushing

Name	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng
#21 Mike McKenrick	12	44	3.7	14
#45 Joe Striegel	9	5	0.6	3
#25 Mike Dibble	1	0	0.0	0
Total:	22	49	2.2	14

LeRoy

Rushing

Name	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
#21 Ian Humphrey	23	89	3.9	24	1
#33 Brady Bonacquisti	24	74	3.1	12	0
#1 Travis Fenstermaker	6	-10	-1.7	4	0
Total:	55	137	2.5	24	1

Passing

Name	Cmp	Att	Yds	TD	Int
#21 Mike McKenrick	4	10	41	0	2

Passing

Name	Cmp	Att	Yds	TD	Int
#1 Travis Fenstermaker	5	9	31	1	1

Receiving

Name	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng
#86 Ken Babcock	3	40	13.3	17
#45 Joe Striegel	1	1	1.0	1
Total:	4	41	10.3	17

Receiving

Name	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
#7 Mike Humphrey	3	22	7.3	11	1
#24 Andrew Alexander	1	5	5.0	5	0
#33 Brady Bonacquisti	1	4	4.0	4	0
Total:	5	31	6.2	11	1

Fumbles

Name	Fum	FL	FR
#21 Mike McKenrick	1	1	0
#35 Matt Humel	0	0	1
#5 Cody Chittenden	0	0	1
Team	0	1	0
Total:	2	2	2

Fumbles

Name	Fum	FL	FR
#1 Travis Fenstermaker	2	1	0
#33 Brady Bonacquisti	0	0	1
#54 Travis Pangrazio	0	0	1
Team	0	1	0
Total:	3	2	3

Kicking

Name	FG	FGA	Lng	XP	Pts
#45 Joe Striegel	1	1	39	0	3

Kicking

Name	FG	FGA	Lng	XP	Pts
#1 Travis Fenstermaker	0	0	0	2	2

Punting

Name	Num	Yds	Avg	Lng	I20
#45 Joe Striegel	5	132	26.4	34	1

Punting

Name	Num	Yds	Avg	Lng	I20
#1 Travis Fenstermaker	4	117	29.3	39	0

Kickoffs

Name	Num	Yds	Avg	Lng
#45 Joe Striegel	3	110	36.7	52

Kickoffs

Name	Num	Yds	Avg	Lng
#1 Travis Fenstermaker	2	97	48.5	51
#78 John Whiting	1	11	11.0	11
Total:	3	108	36.0	51

Kickoff returns

Name	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
#45 Joe Striegel	2	36	18.0	25	0

Kickoff returns

Name	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng
#7 Mike Humphrey	1	16	16.0	16
#13 Quentin Humphrey	1	4	4.0	4
Total:	2	20	10.0	16

Punt returns

Name	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
#21 Mike McKenrick	1	9	9.0	9	0

Punt returns

Name	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng
#1 Travis Fenstermaker	2	26	13.0	19
#7 Mike Humphrey	2	13	6.5	7
Total:	4	39	9.8	19

Defense

Name	Tkl	Ast	Sac	TFL	Int
#55 Jared Dent	14	6	0.0	0.0	0
#71 Graham Jensen	13	5	0.0	0.0	0
#86 Ken Babcock	9	1	1.0	2.0	0
#21 Mike McKenrick	7	3	0.0	1.0	1
#10 David Kleckler	3	1	0.0	0.0	0
#72 Tom Windnagle	3	0	0.0	0.0	0
#79 Josh Hanel	3	1	0.0	0.0	0
#5 Cody Chittenden	3	0	0.0	0.0	0
#36 Jordan Terkel	3	0	0.0	0.0	0
#65 Mike Wells	3	0	0.0	0.0	0
#45 Joe Striegel	2	0	0.0	0.0	0
#35 Matt Humel	2	1	0.0	0.0	0
#56 Wade Bontrager	2	0	0.0	0.0	0
#25 Mike Dibble	1	1	0.0	0.0	0
#73 Matt Klotzbach	1	0	0.0	0.0	0
#70 Tim King	1	1	0.0	0.0	0
#31 John Bailey	1	0	0.0	0.0	0
Total:	71	20	1.0	3.0	1

Defense

Name	Tkl	Ast	Sac	TFL	Int
#33 Brady Bonacquisti	8	4	0.0	0.5	1
#78 John Whiting	6	2	0.0	0.5	0
#79 Marcus Epps	5	1	2.0	2.0	0
#24 Andrew Alexander	3	0	0.0	0.0	0
#21 Ian Humphrey	3	1	0.0	0.0	0
#51 Jordan Casper	3	1	0.0	0.0	0
#1 Travis Fenstermaker	2	1	0.0	0.0	0
#7 Mike Humphrey	2	0	0.0	0.0	1
#70 Chuck Brandes	2	0	0.0	0.0	0
#28 Chris Andrews	1	1	0.0	0.0	0
#31 Kory Cosimeno	1	1	0.0	0.0	0
Total:	36	12	2.0	3.0	2

SECTION 5 CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIP 2007
Quarters - Alexander	Semis - Bishop Kearney	Finals - Pembroke

NEW YORK STATE CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIP 2007
Quarters - Cleveland Hill	Semis - Bishop Ludden



Knights defend Section 5 Class C gridiron crown with 14-9 win over the Pembroke Dragons Head Coach Brian Moran earns 12th team title since 1989; Knights join Cal-Mum and Clyde-Savannah with 13 sectional crowns; Brady Bonacquisti named Game MVP for 2nd straight year; Marcus Epps (Off. Lineman) , Ian Humphrey (Off. Back), and Josh Risewick (Sportsmanship) also honored in defensive battle.

Game recap by James Johnson - Rochester D&C Sports
ROCHESTER - It's no surprise to see the LeRoy Oatkan Knights dominate, including Section V football playoff games. Led by Brady Bonacquisti, the Oatkan Knights showed Friday night that they also know how to win even when they're not dominating. A composed effort was what the Oatkan Knights needed as top-seeded LeRoy overcame rare mistakes to hold off Pembroke, 14-9 in the Section V Class C final at PAETEC Park. Ian Humphrey and his younger brother, Mike, scored touchdowns in each half, while LeRoy's defense made sure that three turnovers by the Oatkan Knights (10-0) were not too costly. LeRoy moves into the Class C state quarterfinal to face Cleveland Hill (8-2) of Section VI (Buffalo area) at noon next Saturday at PAETEC Park. "It was too close (but) I'm just excited right now,'' LeRoy two-way lineman Marcus Epps said. "When we get into tough situations we have leaders who get everybody focused. "We just play and get the job done." LeRoy held a 7-3 lead in the first half when No. 2 seed Pembroke twice had the ball inside the 30-yard line. Mike Humphrey intercepted a pass at the goal line and Bonacquisti, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, recovered a fumble to snuff the threats. The Oatkan Knights scored their insurance points by capitalizing on a short Pembroke punt, set up by a fumbled snap. Mike Humphrey caught a 3-yard pass from Travis Fenstermaker with 3:33 remaining to put LeRoy ahead 14-3.









The TD became important when a fumbled snap during a LeRoy punt was recovered by Pembroke's Cody Chittenden with 33 seconds to play. Pembroke attempted a 2-point conversion, but Mike McKenrick's pass fell incomplete. LeRoy then recovered the ensuing onside kick. "It wasn't a pretty win, it was one of the hardest-hitting games I've been in,'' 160-pound LeRoy senior Ian Humphrey said after he finished with a game-high 88 rushing yards on 23 carries. "Neither running back did much because of the great line play on the defensive side. "At halftime we talked about how some of us have thought about winning sectionals since we were 5 years old. We all gathered together and said we're not going to let that goal down now.'' The Dragons (8-2), who hoped to win their first sectional title, mustered 51 yards of offense during the second half. They finished with a total of 95. Pembroke lost to LeRoy 21-14 in last year's Class C semifinal. "Our defense played a stellar game,'' Pembroke coach Norman Foster said after the Dragons allowed 168 yards of offense. "Our offense had a tough time against a talented team up front. "We couldn't even get around the edges. (LeRoy ends John Whiting and Jordan Casper) don't get the amount of credit that they should. Our tackles couldn't handle those guys.'' This is Section V title No. 13 for LeRoy, which ties the record shared by Clyde-Savannah and Caledonia-Mumford. Ian Humphrey scored the first points on a 24-yard run that began through the middle of Pembroke's defense with 3:31 remaining in the first quarter. Pembroke cut LeRoy's lead midway in the second quarter when Joe Strieger kicked a 39-yard field goal. Both defenses then dug in and were stingy until LeRoy capitalized on Pembroke's mistake during a punt.