SECTION 4 FOOTBALL: CONKLIN COMES UP BIG OFF THE BENCH TO LEAD ELMIRA PAST CORNING (24 PHOTOS) (2025-10-17)

Southern Tier Sports Report
ELMIRA — Zach Conklin came off the bench and threw for 215 yards and three scores as the Elmira football team beat Corning 34-8 on Friday.

The win gives Elmira the division title and they will host the sectional final this year.

“It was very special, a rival game to have home field advantage for the playoffs, you have got to love it,” senior back Dash Harris said. “The energy out there tonight from the start to finish was amazing, that’s what we need every game from our guys.

“It means a lot to have home field advantage. Coaches were saying to us all week how if we win this game it would be the first time in Express history to play a Friday night game (for the sectional championship) on our new field and we put that in our minds and used it as motivation to win this game.”

It was Corning who struck first as Clayton Smith scored on a three-yard run with 8:30 left in the half. Tahj Haynes had the two-point run and it was 8-0 Hawks.

Elmira answered as Daeshuan Harris had a long run down to the one-yard line, then scored on a one-yard run with 6:06 left in the half. Ben Guyette hit the extra point and it was 8-7 Corning.

Harris had 124 yards on seven carries, all in the first half.

Ryan Goble was hit on his first pass attempt and had to leave the game. Conklin, a senior who had been replaced at quarterback by Goble a week ago, returned to the lineup and he hit Julian Colon on an 82 yard pass and catch. Guyette hit the extra point with 3:33 left int he half to put Elmira up 14-8.

Elmira got a defensive stop and Conklin threw a perfect pass to Arius Bradbury for a 56-yard toucdhown with 30 seconds left in the half. Guyette hit the kick.

In the third quarter Colon hauled in a 42-yard pass from Conklin with 6:12 left int he corner. The kick was blocked and it was 27-8 Elmira.

Colon capped the scoring with a 13-yard run with 6:53 left in the game. Guyette hit the kick.

Conklin was 5-for-6 for 215 yards and three scores. Colon had three grabs for 143 yards, Bradbury had the 56-yard catch and Cayden Wright had a 16-yard catch.

Along with the 124 on the ground from Harris, the Express got 49 yards from Julius Mulligan and Colon ran for 23, while Bradbury ran for 21.

Haynes ran for 63 yards on eight carries and Smith ran for 52 on 14 carries. Mike Lutton had 43 yards on 13 carries and John Graham ran for 34 yards on nine carries. Ashton Neally had a 13-yard run.

Cooper Bange threw for 29 yards, with the catch by Dylan Brewster. Grey Clune had an interception for Elmira in the game.
————
PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES

PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:


Print Friendly Version