Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s Roger Markham scores a touchdown during Friday’s Class C South game against Southwestern at Bill Race Field in Falconer. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

FALCONER — It had been 27 straight victories by the Southwestern football team against its rival Falconer, so it was only fitting that when Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove ended the streak it was scoring that many points, winning 27-7 against the visiting Trojans in Class C South football action at Bill Race Field on Friday night.

“Our team, we’ve been through a lot of adversity this year with all the injuries,” Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove head coach Curt Fischer said. “I give them a lot of credit for coming out and pulling this off tonight. They’re just a great football program, but tonight was our night. But it’s over, it’s over now. We’ve got other things to take care of.”

On top of getting past its rival for the first time since 1996, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove (6-2, 5-2) clinched its spot in the Section VI Class C playoffs as the No. 4 team in C South. The Herd will travel to play the top team from the C North division.

“We’re really happy to get in the playoffs, that’s what we work for all year,” Fischer said. “That’s the main goal. When all the injuries occurred we thought it wasn’t going to be good.”

The loss knocked Southwestern (4-4, 3-4) out of the sectional playoffs, but in the early going it looked like the Trojans would continue their reign as they jumped onto the scoreboard first. Benefitting from a botched punt by the Herd, Southwestern set up in terrific field position to end the first quarter.

Southwestern’s Ayson Smith was rewarded for jumping on the loose ball in Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove territory as the target on third down and he made the most of it working to the sideline to run along the tightrope for a 22-yard touchdown and the eventual 7-0 lead.

Aside from Smith’s touchdown, it was a defensive slugfest in the first half with both teams giving nothing to their opponents and plenty of bad blood between the bitter rivals on full display.

Right in the trenches where tempers flared most the Markham brothers made their presence felt and Roger secured an interception to end the first half, but it was in the second half when they put their true mark on the game.

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s opening drive of the second half looked as if it was dead in the water on third-and-13 near midfield, but Roger Markham made something happen for the Herd. Jacob Roth connected on a quick pass to Markham who beat his first defender easily, then managed to turn on the jets quickly and found himself home free to set up the tie game at 7-7 on a 52-yard touchdown.

“Football and really any sport is just a game of momentum,” Southwestern head coach Jake Burkholder stated. “We had the momentum in the first half there with all the penalties, being up 7-0 and just moving the ball well. That momentum swing can come quick like it did and that really flipped the game on its head. It put us in a situation where you’re riding high and all of a sudden your legs are cut out from underneath you and you kind of have to start from scratch.”

The Herd then kicked Southwestern deep into its own end and the defense went right back to work forcing a quick three and out. Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove then took complete control of the game when it forced a short punt that popped right up to Zach Markham who raced in 20 yards for the 13-7 lead.

“We totally talked about how turnovers were possibly going to be the deciding factor,” Fischer said about the game. “Of course, we turn it over first. Then we got lucky with, we think we tipped it on the punt, so Zach Markham made a great play. It’s a momentum changer, but with Southwestern they’re such a big play team you just gotta be ready for anything.”

Even though there was plenty of time to work with, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove was not making it easy for the Trojans. Leading that charge was Zach Markham with 13 tackles and a tackle for loss, David Markham made 12 tackles and three for loss, Anthony Wood made 10 tackles and one for loss, Taylor Jones had nine tackles and a tipped pass and Charlie Reichenbach added eight tackles.

“They’re great athletes,” Fischer said about the Markhams. “Sometimes it’s hard to tame them, they’re really emotional. But they’re just great athletes and obviously they showed that tonight.”

In the fourth quarter, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove added touchdown runs from Roger Markham at 9 yards and Roth from 7 yards to make a memory the members of the Herd will have forever.

“It’s something that all the guys that played here in the past remember,” Burkholder said about the rivalry. “I remember my junior year was 13-12 and my senior year was 22-15. That’s stuff that you remember, it’s obviously a big game on our schedule every year and I know it’s typically the last game of the season so this one had some added implications with playoffs and all.”

Southwestern 0 7 0 0 — 7

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove 0 0 13 14 — 27

Sou–Smith 22 pass from Hayes (Lyon kick)

F/CV/MG–RMarkham 52 pass from Roth (Carlson kick)

F/CV/MG–ZMarkham 20 punt return touchdown (kick failed)

F/CV/MG–RMarkham 9 run (kick failed)

F/CV/MG–Roth 7 run (Roth run)