MIDDLETOWN – The Fonda-Fultonville team has made it into a state championship. With grit, determination and an exceptional offense, they defeated Section 9’s James I O’Neill with a score of 33-7. rnrnAfter a scoreless first quarter, the Braves ignited their offense in the second. Freshman quarterback, Keegan Croucher, threw an incredible 50-yard pass to Karsen Bulan who then led the team down the field. The drive ended with a goal-line TD run by Peyton Webber. A penalty forced Fonda-Fultonville backwards but they were still able to execute a 2-point conversion, with Croucher connecting to Brady Melious, to take an 8-0 lead.rnrnThe Raiders quickly answered back as Chad Haley threw an 84-yard touchdown pass to Marek Arbogast, bringing the score to 8-7. But the Braves were just getting started. rnrnDuring the second half, Fonda-Fultonville blitzed O’Neill, scoring an impressive 25 unanswered points. “Our coaches made some adjustments and we just came out and executed them,” says Bulan. “We eliminated our mistakes and took advantage of the opportunities we had.” rnrnBulan notched a 62-yard touchdown pass from Croucher, followed by an incredible 78-yard TD run by senior Jose Vargas. But it wasn’t just the offense that secured this win for the Braves. Vargas made a key interception in the end zone, stopping O’Neill’s momentum and giving his team the boost they needed. “It’s all about having faith in your teammates and doing your job every play,” says Vargas. “That helped us take back the momentum and push to finish the game.” rnrnHead coach Mike Mancini praises his team’s defense and how they were able to shut down O’Neill’s passing attack. “Our defensive line and outside linebackers played an exceptional game, getting after their quarterback,” Mancini says. “It was really fun to watch.” rnrnFonda-Fultonville’s offense was led by a strong team effort, with multiple players stepping up to make plays. “We have a lot of different players on this team who can play a lot of different positions,” Bulan explains. “If one guy goes down, the next guy steps up. Our line holds it down in the trenches and our QB is only a freshman, but he throws as well as any senior.” rnrnIn the fourth quarter, with just seconds left on the clock, Vargas broke through the middle for a 21-yard touchdown run, sealing the deal for Fonda-Fultonville. Now, with a total of seven points allowed in their two state playoff games, the Braves are heading to Syracuse to compete for the Class C state championship. rnrnTheir opponent, Waverly, has had an equally impressive run through the playoffs. With a record of 12-1, they defeated Section 6’s Salamanca 42-0 in the semifinals. On Saturday, Fonda-Fultonville will face Waverly in what is sure to be an unforgettable match-up.
Strong Second Half Performance Leads Fonda-Fultonville Football Team to Victory in Class C State Semifinals against O’Neill
