The CBA football team put an exclamation point on the 2023 season, defeating Carmel 31-14 to win the Class AA New York State Title at the JMA Wireless Dome on Sunday night.
The Dome was filled with a sea of purple and gold, as the undefeated Brothers (14-0) won the school’s third State Championship in football. CBA captured the Class A State Title most recently in 2021, and the Class AA Crown in 2004.
Junior Darien Williams, named the game’s MVP, was on the receiving end of three Porter Matt TD passes. The first one was a perfectly thrown 78-yard strike on the Brothers first possession of the game to give CBA a 7-0 lead with 11:38 remaining in the first quarter. After Carmel missed on a 35-yard field goal, Matt found senior Jason Brunson on a five-yard TD toss to up the lead to 14-0 with 5:17 remaining in the first quarter. It was the Matt-Williams show again to end the quarter, as the two connected on a 65-yard TD, and CBA led 21-0. Carmel scored a late first half touchdown, as the Brothers went into the lockerroom with a 21-7 lead.
Matt and Williams connected for the Brothers only touchdown of the second half, a 48-yard pass down the right side of the field that sent CBA up 28-7 with 7:18 left in the third quarter. Senior kicker Everett Gilchrist was perfect on all four PATS. With 1:35 left in the game, Gilchrist put the icing on the cake with a 38-yard field goal.
Williams finished the night with seven receptions for 234 yards, while Matt, capped off his CBA career with a career-high 400 yards passing.
Seniors Syair Torrence and Andrew Cooney both recorded interceptions, while Anthony Kirkman recovered a fumble.
CBA was a No. 1 seed heading into Sectionals. The Brothers coasted through the playoffs, defeating Henninger, 59-12 and Liverpool 53-7; before prevailing over Cicero North Syracuse 34-7 for the Sectional Championship.
The first stop on the road to the State Title was a trip to Vestal, where the Brothers topped Elmira-Southside 49-20. The following week CBA knocked off defending State Champion Bennett 21-8 to punch their ticket to the Dome and the big dance.
“I am extremely proud of all that this team accomplished,” President Matt Keough shared. “Throughout the year, they won not only on the field, but in how they represented themselves, their families, their team, and our school. This was made possible through the leadership of a fantastic group of seniors and an extraordinary coaching staff. I’m also proud of our cheerleaders and our entire student body. They packed the stands each week, not just to watch football, but to be a part of a community. It’s a football win and a school win.”
The CBA coaching staff (l-r): CJ Carbone ’17, Ryan Jones, Josh Brown ’15, Bob Battaglia ’76, Kyle Robinson ’11, Brian Bruno ’95, Leo Massaro ’91, Casey Brown (head coach), Quan Williams, Bruce Williams ’05, Gideon Dixon Sr., Gideon Dixon Jr. ’14, Henry Zachary, Brandon Cloutier ’18, Jon Williams, Jeff Merola, and Jim Giufre.
Pictured are senior football players (l-r): Sean Cavanaugh, Jason Brunson, Syair Torrence, Leo Massaro, Jamier Handford, Re’Mir Ratchford, Everett Gilchrist, Nijel Graham, Ryan Storie, Porter Matt, Andy Cooney, Dean Webster and Ben Paul.
