The six-game winning streak that lifted the Penfield Patriots to its first Section V Football championship is over, after being turned back during high school football state tournament play.
Buffalo Bennett went into the lead early in the second quarter of a Class AA regional Nov. 22, and went on to defeat Penfield 26-14 at All High Stadium.
The Tigers from Section VI (10-1) expanded their five-point lead at halftime to 13 and watched that advantage go to six with 3:29 remaining in the fourth quarter inside the old stadium in Buffalo.
Penfield (7-5), a longshot to win the Section V championship the team earned last weekend, tried to takedown a borderline state powerhouse at Bennett’s homefield. This was Penfield’s first appearance in a state tournament.
Bennett, a state semifinalist in 2023, won a state title in 2022 and lost in the 2021 final.
Player of the game
Jack Valentine, Bennett: A running back in his senior year, who scored three rushing touchdowns, including one that went for 20 yards with less than two minutes remaining. Valentine delivered two runs that gained chunks of yards earlier in that drive, when the Tigers hoped to run time off the clock.
Play of the game
This was a moment that was wiped out by a penalty against Penfield. The Patriots had the ball on fourth down and 10 yards to go at the Bennett 38 late in the third quarter, when their two best players on this night connected.
Penfield quarterback Dominic Giunta threw a pass to wide open tight end Ronan Boyle, a strong-looking senior listed at 6 feet-5 inches and 211 pounds. Boyle made the catch, seemed to be knocked off his feet but maintained his balance to drag tacklers to the Bennett 3-, 2 or maybe 1-yard line. But a holding penalty against the Patriots wiped out the play and led to a punt on the final play of the third quarter.
What’s next
The Penfield Patriots are out of the state tournament after the season-ending loss. Bennett advanced to the semifinal round, where the Tigers face Syracuse Christian Brothers Academy on Nov. 29 at Cicero-North Syracuse.
Check back for updates to this story. Below, is how the game unfolded:
Buffalo Bennett 26, Penfield 14 – Final
The Tigers win this state quarterfinal round game for the fourth time in five years.
Buffalo Bennett 26, Penfield 14
4th quarter – 1:37
Touchdown, Bennett. Jimmy Valentine 20-yard run. Valentine picked up chunks of yards during two carries earlier in the drive. Conversion attempt failed.
Buffalo Bennett 20, Penfield 14
4th quarter – 3:29
Touchdown, Penfield. Dominic Giunta jumps into end zone from the one-yard line. Conversion kick is good. The Patriots rebound to score after another potential pass for a touchdown was dropped.
Buffalo Bennett 20, Penfield 7
4th quarter – 5:00
Penfield recovers a fumble at the Bennett 46.
Buffalo Bennett 20, Penfield 7
4th quarter – 5:16
Penfield turns the ball over on downs at the Bennett 44.
Buffalo Bennett 20, Penfield 7
End of 3rd quarter
Penfield puts together a drive from midfield, but a holding penalty wipes out a long catch and carry by Ronan Boyle to about the Bennett 1-yard line. The Patriots punt from midfield.
Buffalo Bennett 20, Penfield 7
3rd quarter – 4:11
Touchdown and conversion pass, Bennett. Jimmy Valentine leans into the end zone from the one-yard line. Carl Barnes completes pass for 2-point conversion. The Tigers turned an interception made by Jack Eskridge IV into points. Eskridge made two key catches during the drive.
Buffalo Bennett 12, Penfield 7
Halftime
A 36-yard field goal attempt in the final minute of the first half is no good. Penfield moves from its 28-yard line to the Bennett 19 during the final five minutes of the half. The Patriots missed a potential touchdown earlier in the drive after a receiver drops the ball in the end zone.
Buffalo Bennett 12, Penfield 7
2nd quarter – 5:03
Touchdown, Bennett. Dontre Hampton takes a swing pass 87 yards for a touchdown. Conversion run attempt failed.
Penfield 7, Buffalo Bennett 6
2nd quarter – 10:34
Touchdown and conversion kick, Penfield. Dominic Giunta fakes handoff, rolls left five-yard pass to Ronan Boyle.
Buffalo Bennett 6, Penfield 0
End of 1st quarter
Penfield and Bennett have traded punts since the Section VI champions have scored. Penfield has the ball at the Bennett 15-yard line.
Buffalo Bennett 6, Penfield –
1st quarter – 7:03
Touchdown, Bennett. Jimmy Valentine into the end zone on a carry from the 3-yard line. The Section VI champion’s offense pushed its way 64 yards for the score.
Penfield 0, Buffalo Bennett 0
Coin toss
Penfield running back Zane Kropman is out after suffering a high ankle sprain last week against Pittsford in the Section V Class AA final.
Penfield football photos
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Penfield underdog run ends in Buffalo during state quarterfinals
Reporting by James Johnson, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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