Photos by Steve Harrison, story by John Anderson
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
When Canisteo-Greenwood football defeated Pembroke, 28-14 on Sept. 8, the win made Section V and the state take notice.
After all, Pembroke was the defending Section V finalists.
However, Pembroke junior Tyson Totten and the offense improved and the defense was suffocating over the past few weeks.
On Saturday in the Section V 8-man football finals at Pittsford-Sutherland, Pembroke completed the climb to the top with a 40-20 win over C-G in the finals.
Both teams were looking for their first-even Section V 8-man title. C-G finishes a great season 10-1 and earned the No. 1 ranking in the state for most of the season.
Totton, the offensive MVP, wan 40 times for 376 yards and scored five touchdowns. He started the game at running back and switched to quarterback after an injury.
Canisteo-Greenwood was in striking distance at halftime, but Pembroke took a page out of the New Orleans Saints; Super Bowl playbook and recovered an onsides kick to start the third quauter and scored a big touchdown.
Pembrook moves on to the regionals to face Section III Morrisville-Eaton.
Photo gallery by Steve Harrison:
