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NEW YORK STATE FOOTBALL: SVEC TO FACE REGIONAL TEST (2021-11-19)

By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — The SVEC football team will look to cap an unbeaten season when it takes on Spackenkill in an 8-man regional final at Binghamton Alumni Stadium here this evening.

The Eagles' high-powered offense and stingy defense have set the stage for an 8-0 record to this point in the season. Only one team, Groton, has made it into the end zone more than once and that second touchdown occurred late during SVEC's 50-12 romp in the Section IV championship game last week.

Whitney Point scored on its first possession in a 60-6 season opening loss and Moravia scored once in a 64-6 setback just five days later.

SVEC drubbed Edison, 64-0, 15 days later, then thumped Newfield, 60-0, 13 days after that.

The Eagles next traveled to Wellsville in Section V nine days later and won 48-8, then defeated Tri-Valley from Section IX, 46-8, at home six days after that.

Despite its impressive season, SVEC was only seeded third for sectionals. The Eagles set about showing everyone that was a misnomer as they crushed No. 2 Greene, 56-0 — at Greene — to set up a meeting with top-seeded Groton.

SVEC's 448 points came primarily from three players — senior tight end Devin Beach, senior running back Hunter Haynes and senior quarterback Nick Thomas.

Beach and Haynes have been dangerous as both runners and receivers. Beach has 29 carries for 642 yards and nine TDs, and has caught 10 passes for 254 yards and eight TDs. Haynes has 45 rushes for 569 yards and seven TDs and 10 receptions for 171 yards and four TDs.

Thomas went 32-for-48 through the air for 770 yards with 15 TDs — and just one interception. He carried the ball 51 times for 687 yards and 13 TDs.

Other contributors to the offense are Pavel Jofre (33-242, 2 TDs rushing / 1-4 receiving), Jacek Teribury (15-141, 3 TDs rushing / 7-87, 1 TD receiving), Logan Jewell (10-129, 1 TD rushing / 3-127, 1 TD receiving), Kam Smith (1 TD)

Defensively, Beach has made 36 tackles (8 1/2 for losses), Seth McBride has 25 tackles and three interceptions, Thomas has 23, Jofre has 21, Smith has 19 1/2 tackles, Tyler Knickerbocker has 18 1/2 tackles, Hunter Harmon has 18 tackles, Tyler Stahl has 17 1/2 tackles (7 1/2 for losses), and John Hammond has 17.

Also contributing are Eliot Walter with 13 1/2 tackles, Teribury with 12 1/2 tackles, Haynes and Jacek Stahl have 11 tackles apiece, Jewell has 9 1/2 tackles and three interceptions, Tyler Doster has 5 1/2 tackles and two interceptions.

If there's any weak spot in the SVEC game plan it's pass defense. The Eagles were burned twice early in games on TD passes where the receiver was left unguarded. Of the other TDs they've surrendered, three came late in the fourth quarter and another was a kickoff return.

Spackenkill's offense is fairly evenly balanced (1,506 yards rushing / 1,410 yards passing) but the aerial attack is the Spartans' strength. Senior QB Anthony Hoyt is 101-for-161 with 21 TDs and five picks.

"Offensively they like to throw the ball a lot, they take deep shots frequently throughout the game," SVEC coach Mike Chaffee said. "We will need to pressure the QB and remember our assignments in the secondary."

"Our kids need to play together and execute the game plan and we should come out on top."

Kevin Mullins, a 6-foot senior, is Hoyt's primary target with 32 receptions for 688 yards and 10 TDs. Antonio Lopez has 24 catches for 370 yards and five TDs; Steven Ciancio has 12 grabs for 210 yards and one TD; Dominick Fraser has caught 15 aerials for 187 yards and three TDs; and Kole Dominick has a dozen receptions178 yards and two scores. Dan Collins junior, a 6-3, 215-pound sophomore, has only caught three passes, but two have gone for TDs.

Hunter Gent leads the team in rushing, picking up 690 yards on 81 carries with 10 TDs to his credit. When Hoyt keeps the ball, he has gained 451 yards on 66 runs and scored four times. Collins has toted the rock 58 times for 312 yards and six TDs.

The Spartans (7-1)dropped their season opener to Sullivan West, but avenged their only setback with a 54-12 romp in the Section IX championship game.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.

NOTE: Complete stats were not available for the Wellsville game.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA BEACH.

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