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New York rallies for Big 30 victory
By: GREG CLARK
Era Sports Writer
Flags of all types were flying Saturday night at Bradford’s Parkway Field as New York rallied for a 22-21 victory over Pennsylvania in the 34th annual Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic football game.
There were the patriotic flags in honor of former Empire State player Sgt. Jason Denfrund and there were those nasty yellow varieties as the teams combined for 16 penalties for 185 total yards.
The message from the Big 30 committee members to the participants at the banquet Thursday was sportsmanship, but some of the players didn’t get the memo as there were six unsportsmanlike conduct infractions and the constant exchange of unpleasantries after virtually every play.
Pennsylvania started its first possession of the contest at its own 18 and marched to the New York 15 on two first-down runs of 14 yards and eight yards by E.J. Moore (Bradford), and a 34-yard keeper by quarterback Calvin Grumley (Johnsonburg). The drive stalled when Jesse Hanner (Franklinville) recovered a fumble at the 15.
The New Yorkers then moved the chains once on an 11-yard run by Paul Myszka (Hinsdale), but were forced to punt as the Keystoners took over at their own 40.
A 15-yard penalty pushed the pigskin back to the 25 and then two plays later Chris Grace (Allegany-Limestone) stripped the ball carrier at the 43 and toted it down to the 27.
A couple of five-yarders by Matt Crandall (Cattaraugus-Little Valley) gave New York a first down at the 13, and then Crandall utilized blocks by John Hastings (Allegany-Limestone) and Jerome Skinner (Olean) to score from five yards out. Crandall booted the extra point and it was 7-0 with 5:02 left in the opening quarter.
The Pennsylvanians then marched from their own 35 to the enemy 19 on aerials by Grumley to Ben Paul (Warren) of 11 yards and 10 yards, and a 19-yarder to Moore, but Matt McCarthy (West Valley) picked off Grumley's next attempt at the 15 and brought it out to the 24.
After the combatants traded punts, New York commenced from its own 24 and converted a risky fourth-and-one at the 33 when quarterback Andrew Reynolds’ (Cattaraugus-Little Valley) two-yard plunge received a generous spot at the 35.
Following a 17-yard burst by Crandall, the Empire Staters were confronted with a fourth-and-two at the Pennsy 33.
Reynolds found Ron Malicki (Pioneer) at the 18 and the 6-5, 210-pound tight end rumbled to paydirt. Crandall again tacked on the PAT and it was 14-0 with 3:47 remaining in the half.
On the Commonwealth’s next snap from its own 20, Grumley demonstrated why the 5-10, 180-pounder is headed for Penn State on a baseball scholarship as the southpaw fired a perfect strike to Paul, who hauled in the aerial in full stride at the New York 42 and took it to the house. Grumley launched the extra point and the year-old Bradford High scoreboard read 14-7 with 3:30 left.
On New York's final turn of the half, Nick Jackson (Randolph) used two straight arms on a 26-yard jaunt to midfield. The possession fizzled back at the 43 and then the infield fly rule could've been called on a pop-up nine-yard punt to the Pennsy 48.
A 12-yard run by Chris Cavallari (Coudersport) netted a first down at the New York 32 before an incompletion culminated the first 30 minutes of action.
New York began the second half at its own 29 and traveled deep into Keystone territory on a 19-yard pass from Reynolds to Malicki, an eight-yard run by Crandall and a 16-yard draw to Crandall.
On a first-and-10 from the 16, Bryan Fite (Cattaraugus-Little Valley) advanced to the 10 before Jim Milbrandt (Bradford) recovered his fumble.
A 13-yard hookup from Grumley to Moore, a 10-yard scamper by Grumley and a 17-yard pass to Paul advanced the sticks on three successive plays, but Pennsy had to punt to the New York 39.
On the very next snap Nathan Weber (Johnsonburg) pounced on a loose ball at the New York 31.
Sandwiched between 25 yards in Keystone penalties, Cavallari ran for 20 and then QB Bryan Dempsey (St. Marys) located Colby Brookens (Port Allegany) for 13 more.
Dempsey's one-yard sneak was good for a first down on a fourth-and-inches from the 21 and Cavallari’s five-yard burst on a fourth-and-two set up a first-and-goal at the 7.
Three plays later from the 2, Cavallari knifed through a hole on the left side and Grumley drilled the PAT for a 14-all deadlock with 1:30 remaining in the third stanza.
New York’s next possession, which saw each team earn a 15-yard misconduct penalty, ended in a punt as Pennsy broke huddle at its own 11 with 14:02 left.
On a third-and-five from the 16, Tommy Morris (Bradford) snagged a Grumley missile at his own 46 and carried to the opposite 46 for a 38-yard gain.
After running for a six-yard first down pickup at the NY 33, Grumley suffered a hamstring injury on a 20-yard keeper and would not return to the Classic.
Paul assumed the Pennsylvania reins and handed off to Moore for three straight four-yard gains to the 1-yard line. Two plays later Paul called his own #17 and culminated the 12-play, 89-yard sojourn with a one-yard dive.
Subbing for the wounded Grumley, Eric Freer (Otto-Eldred) blasted the extra point halfway to Duke Center for a 21-14 advantage with 8:41 remaining.
New York then rolled the dice on a fourth-and-one at its own 30 but came up empty when quarterback Derek Edwards (Cuba-Rushford) was stoned by the middle of the Pennsy defensive line.
The Keystoners couldn't take advantage of their excellent field position when Brian Johnson (Cuba-Rushford) stepped in front of a screen pass at the New York 41.
A 10-yard penalty, a nine-yard run by Crandall, a 23-yard pass from Reynolds to Malicki and a 14-yard burst by Crandall presented New York with a first-and-goal at the 5.
After netting just one yard on the ensuing three hikes, Crandall raced around right end untouched into the end zone.
New York disdained the conventional PAT and went for the two-pointer. After a fake to Crandall into the gut of the defense, Reynolds dropped back into the pocket and found a wide-open Malicki in the middle of the end zone for the eventual game-winner with 2:01 left.
Pennsylvania had one last gasp, but faced a third-and-six at the 28. Paul fired a pass to the left sideline that was batted by a New York defender into the hands of Brookens. The 36-yard gain and the following 15-yard unsportsmanlike set the chains at the Empire 21 with under a minute to play.
A 10-yard penalty and a sack by Clifton Krotz (Cattaraugus-Little Valley) reversed the ball to the Pennsy 46 with 15.4 ticks showing.
On a second-and-Wellsville to go, Paul’s desperation heave was fallen to Grace at the 15 and the six-foot, 175-pounder ran out the clock inside Pennsy territory.
Crandall rushed for 136 yards on 25 carries and scored 14 points, while Malicki caught four passes for 88 yards and tallied the other eight points for New York. Grumley was 9-for-15 for 195 yards through the air, ran 15 times for 90 yards and Paul had five receptions for 121 yards for Pennsylvania.
New York’s victory improves its all-time record in the series to 18-14-2 and ends a three-game Keystone winning streak.
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