HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: CORNING STARTS FAST ON WAY TO SEASON-OPENING WIN (24 PHOTOS) (2024-09-13)

Southern Tier Sports Report
CORNING — Gavin Walker returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and the Corning Hawks were off to the races, on their way to a 60-6 win over Rochester Edison Tech on Friday night.

“Good start,” Corning coach Mike Johnston Jr. said. “We run back the opening kickoff. Gavin Walker, he’s been a kid in our porgram the first couple of years. He went and golfed last year, got him back playing football and what a way to start the year.”

Corning scored in all three phases of the game in the win, as the defense had a pair of pick sixes in the game with Dylan Brewster and Liam Gill each returning interceptions for scores in the win.

“Dylan Brester and Liam Gill had pick sixes. Brewster intercpted a screen pass and ran it back and Liam Gill had an acrobatic play. He tipped it up to himself. What a great way to get off on the right foot.

“It was 60-0 at the half and everyone got a chance to play.”

The backups were in the game before halftime, giving everyone playing time in the win.

After nearly a month of preparation the Hawks were ready for the game.

“We were excited from the standpoint, we went four weeks, had an intra school practice with Waerly, a defending state champ, and went against Owego and Forks, both very tough. We have played some good competition and that’s made us ready.”

The atmosphere was electric to start the season.

“Our crowd was huge,” Johnston Jr. said. “And, our student section was unbelievable. Our band, they filled their part of the stadium as well. Great crowd for an opening night.”

Walker got Corning on the board just 12 seconds in and James Freeman ran in the two-point try.

Clayton Smith ran in from 44 yards out one minute later and he had the two-point run. Brenden Jardin-Reed had a one-yard run at 8:11 and Smith had the two-point run.

Freeman had a two-yard run and Smith had the two-point run at 4:20 and Brewster had the pick six at 1:09 of the opening quarter and Reilly Wells had the two-point run.

Freeman scored from a yard out at 8:11 of the second quarter and Wells had the two-point run and Tahj Haynes ran from six yards out at 5:19 and Wells had the two-point run. Gill had the 70-yard pick six wth 13 seconds left in the half and Wells had the two-point run.

Edison Tech scored with 7:13 left in the game on a one-yard run.

Smith ran for 87 yards in the game and Jardin-Reed ran for 49. Freeman ran for 26 and Walker ran for 17.

Corning is at Union-Endicott next Friday night.
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PHOTOS BY SHEILA SUTTON

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