GRAHAMSVILLE – The visiting Catskill/Cairo-Durham football team spoiled the Tri-Valley Bear’s home coming and senior recognition game Saturday, beating the home team 34 – 20. In a match that would give the Bears their first win of the year, both sides battled with a ferocity of a team desperate to keep from being at the bottom of the standings.

CCD jumped out to a quick lead, taking the opening kickoff in for a touchdown. After failing to convert the extra point, they kicked off to Tri-Valley for the Bears’ first possession. The home team responded with a good return, and a sustained drive which ended with a 5-yard TD run. Their extra point conversion was no good, so the game was tied 6 to 6 after each team’s opening possessions.

CCD scored again the next time they had the ball, connecting on an impressive 34-yard TD pass, adding the two-point conversion and taking the lead. Tri-Valley started another good drive, getting a couple first downs before losing the ball following a botched hand-off in the back field. CCD took advantage of the turnover and scored again, including the two-point conversion for a 22 – 6 lead.

In the first half, the two teams were a study in contrasts; Tri-Valley methodically moving the ball with a dominant running game, while CCD moved the ball through the air, relying on their passing game to score their points.   

The first half ended after another Bears’ touchdown, and 2-point conversion, after a long time-consuming drive that was marred by penalties on both sides. Regardless of that lack of flow to the game, Tri-Valley had cut into the lead, starting the second half only down 22 – 14.

The Bears first drive of the second half stalled on their own 38 and they had to punt the ball. That punt was returned all the way in for a touchdown, and even though the two-point conversion failed, CCD had taken back the momentum and widened the lead to 28 – 14.

On the following possession the Bears got a few first downs, but their drive bogged down because of a couple of pass plays that didn’t connect. The carelessness of the play was exemplified in the next series of possessions from both teams where each of them gave the ball to the other team via turnovers.

CCD finally managed to tighten up their play enough to score again to take a substantial lead of 34 to 14. That score seemed to deflate the home team, but instead of folding the Bears came back within two scores of a tied game.  But a failed on-side kick extinguished those hopes and time ran out for the Bears, falling  34 – 20 to the Mustangs.

The Bear seniors all played admirably; Spencer Scanna had two interceptions and broke up two pass attempts,James Kachelriess scored all of Tri-Valley’s 3 touchdowns, Nathan Closs, Joniel Cholula-Jimenez, Andrew Papadopoulos and Sean Woods all, contributed significantly to the Bear’s strong effort.

For CCD, Jackson Davies, scored three times,  Anthony Roeber, and Joseph Kahle also contribute a touchdown.

Tri-Valley Head coach Kevin Crudele pointed out, “Penalties and turnovers, they get you every time. But there were positives we’ll build on for next week.”