Varsity Football: Homer Trojans Repeat as Section III Class B Champions After Beating Indian River (Photos Included)

A special thank you goes to Visions Federal Credit Union for partnering with us to provide the greater Cortland County community with additional sports coverage

Homer Football wins 2022 Section III Class B Championship Title. (Photo Source: Kaitlyn Hession).

The second-seeded Homer Trojans football team was crowned sectional champions for the second-straight year after defeating top seeded Indian River in the Section III Class B Championship game Sunday afternoon.

Homer won the game with a final score of 14-0 at the newly renovated JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse. 

“We just beat a team that top to bottom probably has more raw talent than us,” said Homer Head Coach Gary Podsiedlik. “The reality is that these kids committed to everything we planned out. We just had the best three weeks of practice all year. They don’t want this season to end. They believe in each other and are busting their tails.”

Homer’s points were scored by Sam Sorenson (Two rushing touchdowns) and Laramy Velazquez-Ramires (Two extra-point kicks).

One of Sorenson’s touchdowns was an 82-yard run to the endzone. 

Homer's Sam Sorenson breaks loose. (Photo Source: Kaitlyn Hession).

When asked about that specific play, Sorenson said, “I saw my scheme and I took it. I had to beat one guy, then I felt another guy right on my back. He reached and grabbed my jersey, so I kicked it into another gear I didn’t know I had, and ran into the corner of the endzone. Before I knew it, I was in.”    

Sorenson recorded a total of 187 rushing yards in the game. 

Homer’s defense was able to stand strong, and held Indian River scoreless in this game. Homer’s only loss of the regular season was against Indian River, where the Trojans lost by a score of 14-36.

Homer’s defense was led by Logan Stauber (9 tackles), Sam Sorenson (5 tackles & 1 assist), Jeffrey Stauber (5 tackles & 3 assists), and Hunter Riehlman (4 tackles & 2 assists).  

Homer's defense makes a stop. (Photo Source: Kaitlyn Hession).

When asked about how he felt about Homer’s defense of play throughout the game, coach Podsiedlik said, “We are feeling phenomenal. Our players believed in something we introduced to stop that offense, and we stopped it. It was just kids listening and doing exactly what they were coached to do.” 

Here is a score breakdown of yesterday’s game: 

Team1st2nd3rd4thFinal
Homer707014
Indian River00000

 

With this sectional championship win, the Trojans now hold an overall record of 9-1 and will be playing in the Class B State Tournament. 

According to the latest state rankings from the New York State Sportswriter Association, Homer is currently ranked eighth in the state for Class B.

Homer will begin its state title run when they play Maine-Endwell (Section IV Champions) in the regional round of the tournament this Saturday (Nov. 19) at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Here are some photos of yesterday’s championship game (photos provided by Kaitlyn Hession):

A special thank you goes to Visions Federal Credit Union for partnering with us to provide the greater Cortland County community with additional sports coverage