Jamestown’s Chase Bonta is stopped by Lancaster’s Brandon Buderewski during the Section 6 Class AA championship game Friday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Pajama photo: Tim Frank
Red & Green’s Carson Panebianco ran into the end zone and scored a touchdown to end the first half. Pajama photo: Tim Frank
Jamestown’s Chase Bonta is stopped by Lancaster’s Brandon Buderewski during the Section 6 Class AA championship game Friday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Pajama photo: Tim Frank
ORCHARD PARK — The distance from Lancaster High School to Highmark Stadium is more than 32 miles in the shade.
The Legends still felt comfortable, especially with quarterback Alex Krupa and his flashy collection of receivers.
Krupa completed 19 of 28 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns to the gang, making his final pass with 3 minutes, 21 seconds left to lead second-ranked Lancaster to four points. They defeated No. 1 Jamestown 28-21. Home of the Buffalo Bills.
With the win, the Legends (9-2), who have appeared in nine consecutive sectional finals, advance to the Far West Regional. That game is scheduled for next Friday at SUNY Brockport.
Advice for Lancaster’s Section V opponents: Better prepare for an aerial circus.
Red & Green’s Carson Panebianco ran into the end zone and scored a touchdown to end the first half. Pajama photo: Tim Frank
In addition to Gang, who scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter and had seven catches for 89 yards, senior Justin Hartwig had seven receptions for 176 yards, along with Blake Minsterman and Daniel Ahern. He recorded a total of five receptions. 64 yard catch.
For the Red & Green, who finished the season 6-5, they couldn’t find a way to consistently handle players with those skills.
But it wasn’t without a fight.
Jamestown turned the ball over on its first three possessions (a fumble, an interception deep in Lancaster territory, and a down), but the defense kept the red and green in the game, and after Andrew’s 1-yard TD run, just They led 7-0. Moberg early in the first quarter.
In fact, it took eight plays for Jamestown to stop Lancaster on fourth down at its own 42-yard line — highlighted by two passes from Dominic Gonzalez to Carson Panebianco. Chase Bonta capped off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown plunge. Jaron Cotter’s extra point shot made it 7-7 with 4:41 left in the second quarter.
Thanks to Jericho Sagard’s big interception, this won’t be the last time Gonzalez and Panebianco make a big splash. Jericho Sagard’s long return from the sideline gave Jamestown a first down with two seconds left in the Lancaster 23, clinching the victory one play later. break.
Miraculously, it worked.
Under pressure, González rolled to his right and floated a pass toward Panebianco, who was standing near the goal line, but appeared to be double covered. However, the ball hit the waiting arm of Panebianco. He took a step into the end zone for a touchdown. Cotter scored the extra point and the Red and Green went into the locker room with a 14-7 lead.
After the break, Lancaster used Krupa’s arm to set up a 17-yard touchdown pass to Gang, who completed a short touchdown run, then set up a 53-yard TD pass to Gang, the final pass. came out with 3 minutes, 21 seconds left in the game.
Jamestown had one final possession after scoring a second-half touchdown on Bonta’s 2-yard run with 5:15 left in the fourth quarter, but a holding call invalidated the red zone trip and Gonzalez hit Hartwig. was picked off. It was his eighth interception of the season.
NOTES: Bonta led the Red & Green’s ground attack with 142 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries, while Gonazares completed 17 of 27 passes for 173 yards. … Panebianco caught five passes for 74 yards and Aiden Sameulson had five receptions for 62 yards. … Panebianco recorded nine tackles and Cole Bloomquist added eight tackles.
Jamestown 0 14 0 7 — 21
Lancaster 7 0 7 14 — 28
Ran-Moberg 1 run (Schlesinger kick)
Jam Bonta 5 runs (cotter kick)
Jam Panebianco 23 Pass from Gonzalez (cotter kick)
Langan 17 Pass from Krupa (Schlesinger kick)
Langan 1 run (Schlesinger kick)
Jam Bonta 1 run (cotter kick)
Langan 53 Pass from Krupa (Schlesinger kick)
