Blue Devils celebrate Title with parade

The Chenango Forks Blue Devils are still riding high after their thrilling State Title win over Rye Neck back on December 1st.  Almost two weeks later, the team braved the cold and the snow and trekked through the school's neighborhood for their championship parade.  Droves of fans lined the street, braving the elements themselves, to applaud their boys one last time.

After the parade, the team and their fans continued the party with a free lunch and autograph sessions at Moe's on Front Street.

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Forks Seniors finish careers on top

Imagine practicing every day and playing games every weekend for the better part of four months.  Your team is riding an 11-game win streak into the State Semifinals only to fall short and lose one week before the final game of the season.  That's what happened to the Chenango Forks Blue Devils in 2012 when Hornell ended their season, but this year's team, specifically the seniors, remember all too well last year's loss.

Since training camp they had one goal on their mind, State Championship.  They've achieved their goal, and for them, it's the best possible way to go out - on top.

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Spartans prove anything can happen

With most of the attention being focused on head coach Matt Gallagher's decision to go for two and the win, but what's slightly overlooked is the drive and touchdown that led to the conversion.  With just 88 seconds left to play, the Spartans needed only nine plays to march 75 yards down the field and score with four seconds left.  It took several clutch catches by Jake Sinicki and a monster grab by Alec Wisniewski.

This Maine-Endwell team never gave up and was well aware that they could make any comeback possible.

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First half deficit requires halftime inspiration

The last time the Maine-Endwell Spartans had trailed a game at halftime was in the very stadium they were playing in on Sunday.  In 2011 M-E trailed Burnt Hills at the half before making a comeback to win the first of three consecutive state titles.  In 2013, the Spartans trailed the Schalmont Sabres 14-0 at the break.  It was arguably the sloppiest half of M-E football all season.  Three fumbles, a handful of penalites, and an uphill battle in the second half.

But there's a reason this team had, to that point, won back-to-back titles.  They show no quit.  The halftime message was simple, essentially: "Go out there and play Spartan football."  That, they did.  The Spartans scored the next two touchdowns before giving up the go-ahead score with 1:28 left to play.  Kyle Gallagher and the M-E offense then covered 75 yards in 1:19 to score with 4 seconds left.  The drive was completed by a surprising two-point conversion toss from Gallagher to Darnell Woolfolk for the 22-21 win.

As exciting as the second half was for the M-E faithful, the first half was the opposite.  The change is due largely to the message at halftime.

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Two-point conversions from both sides of the ball

Two State Titles, a combined two point margins, two teams coming down to two two-point conversions.  If this were Sesame Street, this article would be "brought to you by the number 2."  The M-E Spartans scored to pull within 21-20, leaving 0:04 on the clock.  Coming out to kick the PAT, Schalmont called a timeout to ice the kicker, which Head Coach Matt Gallagher was thankful for.  He says it looked like the Sabres had a good shot of blocking the kick, so he changed the call.  The Spartans went for two and the win, and got it.

The case wasn't so for the Rye Neck Panthers, and the Chenango Forks Blue Devils can celebrate because of it.  In the Class C Title Game, Rye Neck scored to pull with 28-27 with 4:02 left to play.  The Panthers came out going for two, but the monstrous Blue Devils rush defense held strong and stopped the run in the backfield.  And the rest, as they say is history.

For the Spartans, it's back-to-back-to-back State Titles.  Chenango Forks takes home top honors in the state for the first time since 2004.

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Special Congratulations for the Spartans

Maine-Endwell alumnus, Thomas Tull, Class of '88 is part owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  To congratulate head coach Matt Gallagher and the Spartans, he had a few of his own players share their congratulations.
(Video Courtesy: Maine-Endwell School District.)
http://www.me.stier.org/PittsburghSteelersVideo.aspx

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Forks looked to the best for final drive

After stopping Rye Neck on a two-point conversion that would have given the Panthers the lead, the Chenango Forks Blue Devils needed one last drive to end the game.  Obviously, the goal was to score, but they at least needed to chew off the majority of the four minutes left on the clock.  To do so, they looked to their best lineman, their best lead blocker, and their best ball carrier.  The result?  A 32-yard Isaiah Zimmer touchdown that was called back after offsetting penalties, and a drive that stalled out with just two seconds left to play.  The Panthers took over for one chance at a Hail Mary, but the Blue Devils line was too strong, sacking Thomas Pipolo to secure the win.

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