SECTION IV FOOTBALL: SVEC FALLS TO DEFENDING STATE CHAMPIONS (2019-09-13)

Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR — SVEC scored the game's first points, but defending Class C state champion Susquehanna Valley responded with 43 points in the second and third quarter to roll to a 55-6 Section IV non-division win here Friday night.

The Eagles' James Sutherlin scored on a 9-yard run following a Saber turnover, but Hayden King tied the score at six a 1-yard plunge. Both teams' PAT kicks were blocked.

"We came out of the gate strong and were able to capitalize on a turnover and punch one in," SVEC head coach Mike Chaffee said.

In the second quarter, Logan Haskell threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to King and a 29-yarder to Matt Fiorentino, and Mitchell Knapp tallied on an 18-yard run to give Sus Valley a 28-6 halftime advantage.

"Going into half, we still felt like we could play with the," said Chaffee. "We had some dropped balls and missed opportunities that we thought we could clean up, and get our QB some more protection.

"The third quarter, they proved us wrong and showed us why they are the defending state champs."

Mason McCormack scored on a 3-yard run, Haskell took one in from 34 yards out and Brendan Hoffman scored from the one in the third period as SV pushed its lead to 49-6.

Hoffman tacked on a 31-yard run early in the final frame.

SVEC's offense struggled, being held to minus-23 yards rushing. Quarterback Matthew Byrne went 10-for-29 for 110 yards passing with one interception. Morse caught two passes for 44 yards, Nick Thomas had four receptions for 43 yards, Sutherlin had three for 14 and Kolden Foster made one grab for nine yards.

Nash Whitmore led the defense with nine tackles while Morse and Sutherlin had 6 1/2 each, and Thomas made six.

"This doesn't affect our season so we are putting it behind us and moving on to Walton," Chaffee said.

SVEC (0-2) visits the Warriors (1-0) Friday.

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IN PHOTO 1: SVEC's Matthew Byrne. ... Photos courtesy of Justin A. Wilcox