When state semi-final play began on Friday, Section II had 5 teams poised to advance to Syracuse and the state finals next week. By the end of Saturday's triple-header in Middletown, only one team remains. Cambridge-Salem was hoping for some company for the final game of the year, but it isn't coming.
Ravena sought to avenge last year's semi-final loss to Pleasantville, but a quirk of fate proved to be their undoing in the 2nd quarter. After a Ravena punt, everyone assumed the ball was dead, and Pleasantville would go on offense.
Lou Sdao had other ideas. He picked up the loose ball, and went 52 yards for the game winning score, as Pleasantville thwarted Ravena again, 14-6. Ravena finishes 10-3.
The most galling result came in the nightcap.
For all of his accolades as a quarterback, kick returner, and defensive back, CBA's Donald Jones is still a junior, not as polished as most hoped he was. In the 2nd quarter of CBA's game vs. Newburgh Free Academy, Jones, on defense, was called for targeting, and ejected, taking away CBA's best offensive weapon. Jones didn't use his helmet to land a shot to the head of Goldbacks receiver Jashon Thomas, but rather the shoulder pad, and that was still enough for the officials to determine targeting. Newburgh erased a 10-0 2nd quarter deficit, and upset CBA, 31-20. For Bob "The Builder" Burns, it's back to the drawing board, and Jones likely will draw detention at school for his error in judgment. It's a heat of the moment play we see on a weekly basis in the college game that almost never gets called in high school play. At least, not in Section II.
CBA finishes 12-1, having won its first state playoff game last week, and now, the goal for 2023 is to take the next step(s).
As reported yesterday, Cambridge-Salem will play Tioga next Saturday. Game time is 12 noon.
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