SYRACUSE -- While Herkimer was celebrating a Section III Championship with a 28-14 win over Utica Notre Dame on Saturday at the Carrier Dome, members of the Skaneateles football team were sitting the stands after watching a game they had longed to play in.
"We just wanted to come out and see what it would be like," said Skaneateles Lineman Garrett Navaroli, "we just wanted to be as much a part of it as we could, and just kind of give our support for both teams and just let them know that we are hurt by it but but at the same time it's nice to come out here and see that the guys are still at work.
Herkimer and Utica Notre Dame had no idea if they'd be playing each other at all until late Thursday when a higher court upheld Section Three's decision to suspend Skaneateles for improper recruiting. Skaneateles' Head Coach, former SU Star Tim Green had resigned from the team earlier in the week hoping that would allow the Lakers to play, but it would be Herkimer moving on to State Regionals, while the undefeated Lakers were in the stands or at home.
"We told ourselves we were going to play whoever shows up, and we did," said Herkimer Quarterback Sean Crandall, "we weren't worried about the other team,we just did what we had to do."
"We said let's just take care of what we need to take care of," said Head Coach Alan Steele, "and obviously our kids rose above all the nonsense and brought home a Section Championship."
When asked if his team will ever ponder what might have happened if they had played Skaneateles, Coach Steele said "No. But it's who we should have played."
