‘Cats enter playoffs on two-game losing streak after loss to Reading

by William Belson

Last Friday your ‘Cats ended their regular season by facing the non-league Reading Rangers for yet another fierce battle for victory. At stake were prizes for both sides: for the Big Blue varsity a redeeming win, and for Reading the title of being undefeated in their regular season. Pittsford did not get its redeeming win, losing on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs, 29-21.

The varsity came out strong as usual, starting the game by kicking off to the Rangers only to get the ball on their second defensive play, as junior Kurtis Brackman pummeled the Ranger QB and forced a fumble recovered by junior Zac Broughman. The ‘Cats scored a few plays later on a run by senior RB Chase Weber.

The Rangers got the ball and put in a good series, but not a good enough; they gave up the ball on fourth down. After a couple of non-successful drives by both teams, the ‘Cats marched the ball down the field from the 50-yard line and used some trickery, scoring a TD on a reverse to senior split end Jacob Gier.

The Rangers finally showed what they were made of by scoring on a big play in the second quarter At the end of the first half the score was 14-7, home team. This first half lead can be credited to “blocking execution, defense, and big plays,” explained QB Garet Lee.

The second half started off with Reading kicking to P-ford and showing why they were the Big 8 champions. As the ‘Cats started their first offensive series of the second half they were over powered by the Rangers defense and had a hard time moving the ball down the field, punting on fourth down. However, Pittsford rebounded after a defensive stop of their own to put some more points on the board. The boys in blue were on their own 30-yard line and scored on a 70-yard run by Lee. Reading finally had a dominating defensive series, then went to work on offense and scored on two big plays. The capped their second straight score with a two-point conversion to make the score at the end the third quarter 22-21, Reading.

The ‘Cats couldn’t punch the ball in through the fourth quarter, while Reading capped their scoring with a 15-yard run late in the game. The Big Blue didn’t give up, though, and fought their way down the field via a long pass from Lee to junior WR Seth Weber, but couldn’t tie it up.

This game was one of the hardest game that the ‘Cats have played all season and were just that close to winning. “Reading made too many big plays on offense, and sometimes when you play great teams like Reading, the game hinges on the small things instead of the big things. The kids played hard; I’m proud of them,” explained Coach Burger.

Next week Pittsford faces Colon again but this time it will all be laid on the line to decide who will go further on in state the playoffs and whose season will end. “It will be a better game because coach said they’ve improved a lot. We have, too, and it will be nice playing at home,” said Broughman. Will the ‘Cats beat the Magi again and live to play another week? Or will their hope of a district title go be spoiled?