HS Football: Late TD Pass Propels Fredonia Over Golden Cougars

The start of Friday's non-league high school football game between Fredonia and Falconer-Cassadaga Valley was delayed by 90 minutes due to severe weather that crossed the region. The contest at Brocton Central School was worth the wait, and both teams provided some late electricity of their own. In the end, it was Fredonia who came up with the big plays in the closing minutes and won by a score of 24-19 in a game broadcast on WDOE.

Falconer-Cassadaga Valley (2-2) scored the game's first touchdown late in the 1st quarter when senior quarterback Connor Crabtree connected with senior running back Robbie Penhollow on a 19-yard touchdown pass. Fredonia (4-0) responded immediately with a four-play, 66-yard scoring drive. Joell Colon, the Hillbillies' senior tailback, accounted for all the yards on the drive and found paydirt on an 8-yard run to tie the game at 6-6. Fredonia grabbed its first lead late in the 2nd quarter on a big defensive play. Dalton Gardner stepped in front of a Crabtree pass and took it back the other way, 53 yards for a touchdown and a 12-6 lead. That lead was short-lived, as the Golden Cougars took advantage of a short field after the kickoff and tied the game at 12-12 with a 7-yard Crabtree run with 10 seconds left in the half. The Billies grabbed the lead back in the 3rd quarter, as junior Jake Skinner plunged into the end zone on a 2-yard run to make it an 18-12 game. The score stayed that way until late in the 4th quarter. Falconer-Cassadaga Valley capped a nine-play, 65-yard march with Penhollow's second touchdown of the night. His 7-yard run, followed by a successful extra point, put the Golden Cougars ahead 19-18 with 2:27 remaining. But it was the Billies who had the last laugh. Senior quarterback Trey Swartz directed a quick 60-yard drive that culminated with the biggest play of the game: a 42-yard touchdown pass to Skinner, his second touchdown of the game, with 1:45 left. Fredonia's defense then held on for the victory.

Friday's game was a showcase for running backs Joell Colon and Robbie Penhollow. Colon led Fredonia's offense with 16 rushes for 174 yards and a touchdown before he left the game in the 3rd quarter with an injury. Penhollow carried the ball 17 times for 80 yards and had two receptions for 41 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Golden Cougars. Also for Fredonia, Dalton Gardner had 56 yards rushing in addition to his interception return for a touchdown, while Trey Swartz went 2-for-8 for 60 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. For Falconer-Cassadaga Valley, Connor Crabtree went 7-for-17 passing for 93 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions, and added 56 yards rushing on 13 carries and a touchdown.

Photos by Ron Szot