Mustangs lose in semifinals 70-60

CALEDONIA--The Penn Yan varsity football team fell to the Livonia Bulldogs in the sectional semifinal game Saturday, Oct. 31 at Caledonia-Mumford. The final score was 70-60, with the Mustangs ending their season with a 5-4 record.
The first quarter opened with a shootout as Penn Yan jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The score came on a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tanner Irwin to wideout Austin Fingar.
Livonia ran the ball to a score of their own on their first offensive drive to tie the game. Ru O'Malley scored Penn Yan's next touchdown on a five-yard rush to take a 14-8 lead, but Livonia would again tie the game on their next drive.
Irwin connected with Sean Emerson for a 59-yard touchdown pass to go up 20-14, but the Bulldogs took the lead on their following drive 22-20 on a 42-yard touchdown rush.
Penn Yan was forced to punt to open the second quarter, but Livonia scored on another rushing touchdown to take a 30-20 lead. The teams each continued exchanging scores in the second quarter, taking a 42-40 Livonia lead into halftime.
Penn Yan kept the game close throughout the third, with Livonia leading 56-54 going into the fourth quarter. Livonia managed to pull away to a 70-60 score in the fourth, as the Mustangs recovered a fumble with 2:27 left in the game. Penn Yan drove into Livonia territory, but an interception sealed the Livonia victory at 70-60.
Tanner Irwin was 31 for 52 with 487 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also had 44 yards rushing with two touchdowns. Sean Emerson had nine receptions with 201 yards and two touchdowns. Austin Fingar caught seven passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Sean Stape took eight passes with two touchdowns and 153 yards.
Dylan Stape had 17 tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Also on defense, Fingar and Sean Stape had 14 tackles, Riley Marsh added 13.


Photos by: Tom Linnan