Section V Class A – A loose ball between Brockport’s Shane Hogan and Canandaigua’s Mike Zimmerman in the first quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, November 7 2015.
Section V Class A – Brockport’s Antonio Alvarez catches a pass for a touchdown chased by Canandaigua’s Leamon Casteen in the second quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, November 7 2015.
Since Brockport had Canandaigua’s number this season, the Blue Devils can now say they are No. 1.
Brockport, a first-time finalist in the Section V playoffs, defeated Canandaigua 28-7 Saturday night during the Class A final at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester.
Cory Gross ran for two touchdowns and Ashton Scott threw a touchdown pass in the first half for the Blue Devils (9-1), who were the No. 1 seed in the Class A tournament and defeated Canandaigua during the regular season.
“It’s a great feeling to get over the hump and be the champions for once,” Gross said. “It’s a credit to these guys for working so hard.”
Now a first-time state quarterfinalist, Brockport faces Section VI champion South Park of the Buffalo region, 6 p.m. Nov. 14 in Rochester. The Blue Devils had seen their season end during sectional semifinal rounds the previous five years.
“You know, every year you think it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen and we get to semifinals six years in a row and then we get over the hump,” Brockport coach Scott Nugent said. “We just had a great performance. We had an awesome week of practice, so I thought it was possible.
“You always second-guess yourself in everything that you do, but we had a great week. It’s just an awesome season for us.”
Section V Class A – Canandaigua’s Mike Zimmerman contributes to bring down Brockport’s Cory Gross in the second quarter.
Gross, a sophomore, was named the most valuable player of the game. He finished with 88 yards on 20 carries and intercepted a pass, one of five turnovers by No. 2 seed Canandaigua (7-3).
Canandaigua committed three turnovers during the first half, including a fumble. Shane Hogan intercepted a deflected pass with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter that set up Brockport’s first score.
The Blue Devils turned to Gross to carry during the drive and he scored from three yards out after taking the snap in a “Wildcat” formation.
Brockport’s lead went to 14 points after an 18-yard reception by Antonio Alvarez with 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Blue Devils’ offense went three and out in their first possession of the second half.
Canandaigua, meanwhile, seemed to get in gear, as it scored on the team’s first possession of the second half. Joe Post, after a 27-yard reception earlier in the short drive, scored at the end of an 11-yard pass from Mitch Schaefer.
Gross helped extend Brockport’s lead to 14 points again with a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:17 remaining in the third quarter.
“He’s a very athletic running back,” Brockport two-way lineman Tyler Johnson said. “He runs hard every play, one cut and go.”
The Blue Devils already were in firm control when Jon Yaeger sprinted to the end zone during an 8-yard touchdown run with 6:55 remaining in the fourth quarter.
JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM