HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: MISSED OPPORTUNITIES PROVE COSTLY AS CORNING FALLS TO VESTAL (24 PHOTOS) (2022-09-23)
By Brian FeesSouthern Tier Sports ReportCORNING — The Corning Hawks controlled the clock for much of the first half, but they found themselves trailing Vestal 7-6 at the break.
Miscues and missed opportunities proved costly on Friday night as Corning fell to the Golden Bears 15-12.
“We had four drives in the first half we controlled the clock and we shot ourselves in the foot, it’s not okay,” Corning coach Mike Johnston Jr. said.
To end the first half Corning had a bad snap that halted a drive after blocking a Vestal field goal, the Hawks got the ball deep in Vestal territory, but the drive ended with Vestal picking off a pass at the one-yard line.
While Vestal came in with an 0-2 record, Johnston knew the record didn’t tell the whole story of a Golden Bears team that lost the two games by a combined nine points.
“I told you guys they are the best 0-2 team in Section 4, and it’s not close,” Johnston Jr. said. “I think their running back, the (Liam) Nealy kid, was up to speed tonight.
“We are going to watch film and we are going to find a way to make the moving parts better and coach them up. The kids are awesome, they’ll work at it. They are hungry, they want to get better.”
Sophomore James Freeman gave Corning the early lead, scoring with 1:57 left in the opening quarter on a 19-yard touchdown catch from Brady Hughes. The two-point try failed and Corning led 6-0 after one quarter.
However, Vestal started the second quarter just 13 seconds in with a touchdown and hit the extra point to make it 7-6 at the break.
Logan Booker gave the Hawks the lead back in the third-quarter with a one-yard touchdown, but the two-point try failed and it was 12-7 Hawks.
Vestal scored with 10 minutes left in the game and got the two-point try to take the 15-12 lead on the way to the victory.
Booker ran for 149 yards on 28 carries in the game for the Hawks and Brody Wolfe ran for 58 yards on 14 carries.
AJ Thomas ran for 23 yards on eight carries, while Freeman ran for 10 yards on five carries.
Booker had three catches for 43 yards and Freeman had the 19-yard touchdown catch.
Hughes was 4-for-6 passing for 62 yards.
For Corning it was mistakes that cost them, though the defense stepped up in the game. However, things don’t get any easier schedule wise for the Hawks.
“I thought our defense was better tonight,” Johnston Jr. said. “That was a good thing, we played some bend, but don’t break, but we are a work in progress. It’s not any easier. We are going to play Union Endicott next week at U-E then Elmira at home, who is strong, then we go to Victor on the road. It doesn’t get any easier the next couple of games, so we just have to get better.”
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IN TOP PHOTO: Corning's James Freeman hauls in a touchdown catch against Vestal on Friday. . . PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY
