Morrow makes plays to launch Blue Devils into title game

OGDENSBURG — Gouverneur had the right game plan for Friday night's Section 10/7 Class C semifinal playoff game against Ogdensburg Free Academy.

But top-seeded OFA had the gamebreakers to carry the Blue Devils to well-earned 21-6 victory and into next week's championship game where they will host the winner of today's game between Saranac Lake and Saranac Central.

"I thought we had a great game plan. Our line did a great job and (quarterback) Darren Fuller ran the ball extremely well," said Gouverneur coach Sean Devlin after the fourth-seeded Wildcats (3-6) fashioned a 204-113 edge in rushing yards and a decisive advantage in time of possession, which centered around Fuller rushing for 113 yards on 20 carries.

"But that Jared Morrow is just a difference maker," Devlin added. "We contained him running the ball but his passing was outstanding. On their second touchdown pass, our defensive back was right there but the pass was thrown perfectly."

Morrow, who went 8 of 16 for 132 yards and two touchdowns, made the most of his opportunities as the Blue Devils were limited to only two possessions in the second half.

The junior quarterback, who surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau last week, threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Gene Bouyer breaking behind the secondary to give OFA a 13-0 lead in the second quarter. Morrow also found Jordan Remi over the middle for a 31-yard scoring pass which changed the momentum of the matchup with 10:13 remaining in the game.

A touchdown, followed by a Morrow-to-Bouyer conversion pass which created the 21-6 margin, capped an 80-yard drive by the Blue Devils in response to a methodical Gouverneur march which consumed the first 8 minutes, 47 seconds of the third quarter.

"We knew this was going to be a tough game and it was. Gouverneur did a great job with ball control. But we were able to make just enough plays to win," said OFA coach Matt Tessmer.

"We only had two possessions in the second but we persevered tonight and we were able to get the job done," Tessmer added. "But we have to play much better next week."

Remi's sure hands led to OFA's two first-half touchdowns. He recovered an on-side kick attempt to open the game, and the Blue Devils converted off the good field position. Conor Ives slashed into the end zone from 2 yards out. Keying the drive were three pass completions between Morrow and Eric Barr, who caught five passes for 51 yards.

Remi made a leaping interception in the end zone in the second quarter to start an 80-yard drive, which was completed in a hurry as Bouyer ran under a Morrow pass and raced 48 yards for the touchdown. Bouyer also connected on the extra point.

The Wildcats coolly revived their upset hopes by going 68 yards to the end zone as running backs Zach Cummings and Dan Maloy provided clutch carries. Fuller went the last 10 yards, breaking a tackle at the line of scrimmage, and then stretching out to the reach the goal line with 35 seconds remaining in the half.

Linebacker Nick TenEyck led OFA with six tackles, Kris Folsom followed with five stops and Bouyer delivered four open field solo tackles in the second half. Alex Bush led Gouverneur with seven tackles, followed by Nico Devito with five and Jory Gotham with four.

TICONDEROGA 22, TUPPER LAKE 2

Robert Kearns scored on an 85-yard punt return in the second quarter to help the No. 2 Sentinels (5-4) open up a comfortable lead on No.3 Tupper Lake in a Section 10/7 Class D semifinal game in Ticonderoga.

Ticonderoga will play Moriah for the championship next weekend.

Todd Carr scored on a 16-yard run and then ran in a 2-point conversion to give Ticonderoga an 8-0 lead in the first quarter. Kearns scored on his punt return in the second, and then Dan Morrison added a 2-yard run 2 minutes later to give the Sentinels a 22-0 halftime lead.

Tupper Lake (3-5) scored its only points on a safety.

AUSABLE VALLEY 41, ST. LAWRENCE 0

Brad Belanger ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead the Patriots past St. Lawrence Central in a crossover game in Clintonville.

Belanger finished with 100 yards rushing, including a 52-yard touchdown for the Patriots (1-8). He also threw for 75 yards.

Jack Keenan led the Larries (2-7) with 77 yards rushing on 23 carries.