NYSPHSAA FOOTBALL: CORNING TOPS UTICA PROCTOR TO WIN HOME OPENER (24 PHOTOS) (September 11, 2026)

Southern Tier Sports Report
CORNING — The Corning Hawks won their home opener on Friday night 36-14 over Utica Proctor.

Jayden Craft got the Hawks off to a fast start retuning the opening kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown to get the Hawks off to a fast start. He had three kick returns for over 100 yards on the game.

Defensively Mikey Johnston, Keegan Kelly and Caleb McGee all had interceptions in the game.

“We had four starters not play today, We were relying on Mikey Johstnon and Keegan Kelly in the backfield as sophomores and Caleb McGee stepped up as well,” Corning coach Mike Johnston Jr. said. “Those three are all sophomores, all had an interception, Keegan and Mikey both rushed for over 100 yards. Just total team effort, give credit to the line they led the way. Defensively first series they moved the ball on us, then we tightened up. We had a good goal line stand. 

“Did a lot of really good things, really proud of Jayden Craft. Kid that filled in on kick return for those guys that were hurt and runs back the opening kickoff 70 yards and had two other big kick returns that put him over 100 plus yards on KO returns on night.”

Keegan VanCise and Cam Anderson each had six tackles in the game and Ryan Yeoman, Bradley Rhodes and Chase Really all had four tackles. 

Johnston ran for 125 yards and two scores on 16 carries and Kelly ran for 113 yards and a score on 14 carries. Casey Hale ran for 74 yards on 13 carries and Nate Bretch had five carries for 39 yards, while Jacob Deneka had 27 yards on four carries. 

It was next man up for the Hawks in the game.

“That’s true, we literally in the first quarter of the game against CNS lose our entire backfield, Jay Richards and Johnny Graham are two huge parts of our program on offense and defense and special teams and they go down,” Johnston Jr. said. “These guys who played for us last year as sophomores and are now juniors and we were expecting big things and we had to look to other guys. You can look at the defensive stats. Can Anderson had quite a few tackles, Keegan VanCise. The defensive side those three guys again Caleb and Keegan and Mikey all had an interception we know our young kids are pretty decent if they continue to grow they will be even better. 

“Casey Hale two games in a row has had a couple of touchdowns and he had one called back tonight that was like a 45 yards run. Casey Hale and Cam Anderson are probably our two vocal leaders and we look to those guys with our young group of kids. We have 10 seniors and the rest are ninth, 10th and 11th graders. We know the future is bright and we just have to keep plugging along and learn from our mistakes.”

For Johnston Jr. it was not just a special night as a coach, it was also special as a father watching his son come through with a big game.

“He’s the first one to give all the credit to the lineman,” Johnston Jr. said. “I am proud of him as a dad, he’s a team player, he doesn’t need the credit, he’ll be the first do deflect and give the credit to his teammates. “Our JVs were 8-0 last year we have a really good 9th, 10th and 11th grade class. Expect big things as we move forward. Just have to find a way to stay healthy. I think Utica Proctor is very athletic. They run a lot of good stuff and have won a lot of games with their coaching staff. For us to get the victory was big.”

Corning hosts Binghamton at 6 p.m. next Friday. 
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PHOTOS BY SHEILA SUTTON

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