Chris Metcalf
LCAA’S FINEST
GREIGSVILLE – Looking to possibly seal the game with a 27-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter, York/Pavilion football coach Kurt Schneider decided to roll the dice and go for it.
Facing a fourth and eight at the Notre Dame 10, the Golden Knights put the offense back on the field, hoping for a little ‘KPO’ mojo.
Boom Schackalacka!
Sophomore QB Parker Bonefede dropped back right and threw short left where a wide-open Carl Szczech caught the ball and ran untouched 10 yards for the game-clinching touchdown during top-seeded York/Pavilion’s 28-14 victory over No. 5 Notre Dame in a Section V Class D semifinal Friday night.
Not gonna lie, this one wasn’t pretty, but when you haven’t won a sectional football title in over 30 years, it doesn’t have to be.
And the Golden Knights (8-1) will have that opportunity next Friday night when they take on No. 3 Canisteo-Greenwood.
The Chargers defeated No. 2 Avon 20-6 in the other semi.
Y/P’s Jake Pangrazio is known as a big play receiver.
Following Friday night’s performance, it has now changed to a big game performer.
After both teams traded possessions on their opening drives, the 6-foot-4 senior Pangrazio and the Golden Knights’ offense drew first blood when he capped off a quick 5-play, 53-yard scoring drive with a 21-yard scoring reception from Parker Bonefede.
On the drive, Pangrazio started the spark with a 15-yard reception, and then after another catch, Y/P moved closer to the end zone after Pangrazio was hit late by the ND defense.
Pangrazio’s touchdown came on a quick slant from Bonefede as he beat the defender to the inside for the go-ahead score.
Joe Bauer’s kick made it 7-0 with 3:53 left in the first period.
Notre Dame would get on the board in the second period thanks to a few Y/P miscues and some outstanding QB play from Jay Antinore who led the 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive with some solid passing and also fancy footwork that ultimately led to a 1-yard QB sneak with 3:51 left in the first half.
His 20-yard pass to Ryan Fitzpatrick set up the Fighting Irish inside the five.
Notre Dame would tack on the PAT pass to take the 8-7 lead.
Back came Y/P, and back came Pangrazio.
After a huge kick-off return by Liam Ezard gave Y/P the ball at the ND 46, seven plays later Pangrazio was in the end zone again when he made an athletic catch on a Bonefede pass on a crucial third and goal from the 12 for the go-ahead score.
On the drive, Joe Bauer’s 20-yard reception moved the first down chains for the Golden Knights.
Y/P led 13-8 at the intermission.
In the second half, York/Pavilion’s defense had Carl Szczech’s back.
After fumbling the ball early in the second half of a 13-8 game, two plays later Y/P’s trio of Liam Ezard, Ryan Brady and Brennan Royce gang tackled the ND runner forcing a fumble that gave the Golden Knights the ball back at the Y/P 46.
One play later, Szczech darted 54 yards for the momentum-changing touchdown that pushed the lead to 20-8 with 10:12 left in the third.
Antinore would creep the Fighting Irish back into it.
And the QB would once again use his legs to do so as he scrambled around several would-be defenders on his way for the 30-yard touchdown run that cut the deficit to 20-14 with 7:09 left in the third.
Bonefede was super efficient yet again at the helm as he finished 9-of-13 passing for 123 yards and three TDs.
Szczech finished with 17 carries for 108 yards and two TDs while Pangrazio caught four passes for 60 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, Ryan Brady had five tackles, a forced fumble and two sacks while Brennan Royce added five tackles and two defended passes. ‘Big’ Joe Munoz was all over the field with five tackles and four QB hurries.
Tyler Brady added three tackles, three passes defended and one interception. Tyler leads Y/P this season with seven INT’s.
This was the third meeting between the two programs with Y/P winning both previous match-ups 20-12 on Sept. 1 and 25-18 on Oct. 5.
This would complete the sweep.
It would also give York/Pavilion a shot at the big prize as they take on No. 3 Canisteo-Greenwood for the block.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night at SUNY Brockport College.
“Another Friday night and another gutty performance from the boys, not an easy job to beat a team three times in a year, and credit to ND, they are a good squad who played well and gave us a great battle all year,” coach Schneider said. “We obviously have some things to clean up, we had too many mistakes, but we still found a way to pull out the win in the end and that’s really all that matters. Always, we are going to enjoy the evening and then it’s back to the grind.”
Lindsey Meys Photography
