Leading off today: Terron Johnson took a handoff and cut back for a 20-yard touchdown run with 2:55 to play, capping a dramatic comeback as No. 2
Iona Prep edged top-ranked Cardinal Hayes, 34-27, in a Saturday clash of the top teams in the NYSSWA Class AA football rankings.
Johnson's score completed a run of 24 unanswered points by the Gaels, who trailed by 27-10 following Hayes QB Rich Belin's 1-yard TD run with 9:52 to play in the third quarter.
Crew Davis started rally with a 7-yard scoring run, and Julian Guzman connected with Mamadee Sangaray from 18 yards out to pull Iona Prep within 27-24 at the end of the third quarter. Michael Messina's 35-yard field goal tied the score with 9:41 remaining.
The Cardinals drove deep into Iona Prep territory in the final minute, but the Gaels defense held firm as time expired.
Full weekend football scoreboard
NYSSWA football rankings through Oct. 8
Milestone alert
Gananda star Isabella Hoffmann reached 100 career goals in girls soccer with a hat trick in Friday's 7-0 victory over Marion. The senior added two assists.
Interesting read
After finishing ninth in the NYSPHSAA Class B cross country championships as a freshman and then sixth the following season, Aislinn Frazer had every right to look toward 2023 as potentially being her year to climb to the top step of the podium.
That never happened, as Frazer could muster no better than 38th place as a junior. Frazer spoke frankly with Newsday recently about that fall-off, including discussing being diagnosed with depression, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder.
"I did a lot of work to determine the best route towards getting better," she said. "I worked a lot with those who care about me, like my coaches, past coaches and teachers. We talked about things that I might need from them, and it really has helped. Now, my main goal is to just be sure that I'm having fun again."
So far, Frazer is checking all the boxes required for a successful scholastic finale for Friends Academy. She has broken the course record for Eisenhower Park in East Meadow twice this season, clocking 17:48.7 and then 17:23.6 for 5,000 meters.
Sec. 5 coaching icon's career winding down
The Pittsford school district honored Marty Keating, 81, on Tuesday ahead of the final home meet of his 52-year reign as the girls swimming coach. Keating's program is the 22-time defending Section 5 champion and has earned 34 titles overall. According to the district's records, Keating's teams have won more than an astounding 500 consecutive dual meets.
Keating will head off into retirement in March following his work as assistant for the boys program.
"You have no idea ... to be able to sleep in on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, I haven't done it in 52 years. It's going to be great," Keating told the Democrat and Chronicle.
