Burnt Hills Football Falls Short in State Class A Championship

Junior fullback Nick Sorrenti helped Maine-Endwell score 20 second-half points and rally past Burnt Hills, 27-20, to win the New York State Class A football championship at the Carrier Dome on Friday afternoon.

Burnt Hills had a 20-7 lead at halftime, but Sorrenti reached the end zone three times in the second half to propel Maine-Endwell.

Luis Uceta gave Maine-Endwell a 7-0 advantage in the first quarter with a five-yard run. Then Eric Dillon put Burnt Hills on the scoreboard catching a four-yard pass from quarterback Ryan McDonnell to deadlock the game.

Daniel Porter raced 81 yards for a touchdown and Tom Ruppel was on the receiving end of a three-yard pass from McDonnell and Burnt Hills went ahead, 20-7, at the halfway mark.

And then it was all Maine-Endwell.

Sorrenti scored from four yards away to cut the deficit to 20-14. Sorrenti made more noise going three yards for the score and Maine-Endwell was ahead, 21-20.

Finally, Sorrenti put the finishing touches on a victory going 29 yards and Maine-Endwell began to celebrate.

Uceta, the game's MVP, gained 117 yards on 16 carries while Porter, who earned the Most Valuable Offensive Back, led the Burnt Hills charge gaining 121 yards on seven rushes. Dylan Wydronkowski was the Most Valuable Defensive Back and Jack Guba, named Burnt Hills' Sportsmanship Award recipient.

In the previous week, Maine-Endwell got the best of previously top-ranked and defending champion Aquinas of Rochester, 19-16.

Maine-Endwell (Section IV) finishes at 12-0. Burnt Hills ends 11-2, winning the Section II Class A championship four years in a row and five out of the last six times plus appearing in the state finals (2008, 2009 and 2011).

Coach Matt Shell's squad also played in the state semifinals in 2010 and fell short.

Article by Mike Collar