Intro- The 2002 Chenango Forks football team entered
the season with high expectations for themselves. Returning a large number of
starters on offense and defense from a team whose only loss came in the state
title game is a good way to have success. However, games against tough teams
such as Elmira Free Academy, Oneonta, and Elmira Notre Dame would have to be
won before the Blue Devils could advance to the state playoffs.
(All information on this blog is adapted from the fantastic website http://www.forksfootball.com/main.html. The website has information on almost every Chenango Forks game from 2001 to the present, and includes statistics, news articles, pictures and more. All credit goes to the owner of the website for usage of the statistics and pictures and their affiliated sources)
(All information on this blog is adapted from the fantastic website http://www.forksfootball.com/main.html. The website has information on almost every Chenango Forks game from 2001 to the present, and includes statistics, news articles, pictures and more. All credit goes to the owner of the website for usage of the statistics and pictures and their affiliated sources)
The 2002 Chenango Forks Football Team
2002- Offense – The biggest change in the 2002 offense was the moving of former offensive tackle and Kelsey Jenks to fullback for his senior season. The move paid off brilliantly, as Jenks would rush for 1502 yards in 13 games, good for 2nd best in school history at the time. At quarterback, Seniors Matt Juriga and Chris Spencer both returned, and continued to both play in games, although by the end of the year the coaching staff stuck with Juriga as the primary QB. The 2002 offense was very prolific, scoring 450 points in 13 games, (34ppg) rushing for 3837 yards (295 yards per game). Blue Devil QB’s also combined to throw for 812 yards, a major improvement compared to the previous year (62 yards per game)
Kelsey Jenks moved to fullback his senior season. Despite never playing running back before, he responded with 1502 yards rushing and a 1st team all state season at running back
2002- Defense- The 2002 defense was one of the most prolific in the entire southern tier, regardless of enrollment size, allowing only 8.2 points per game, 78 yards rushing per game, and 144 yards total per game. The defensive line was headed by the play of Kelsey Jenks at the nose guard, along with Senior defensive ends Jake Frisch and Nick Tarnowski, and returning safeties Juriga and Spencer, along with the brothers Tim and Drew Batty at the corner positions. The defense pitched 3 shutouts and limited all but 3 opponents to a single digit point total.
Steve Bronson (#77) and other Blue Devils defenders were dominant in the 2002 season, allowing under 80 yards rushing per game and 144 total yards per game
2002- Results – The senior laden squad put together a
dominant season, capturing the schools 2nd consecutive Section 4
class B title, but ultimately fell in the most agonizing way possible: a loss
in the state title game by a last second field goal, a 22-21 loss to Harrison. There were several notable games beforehand, however,
including a 35-21 state quarterfinal win in which Kelsey Jenks rushed for 217
yards on 36 carries, a 20-0 opening day win over defending Class A champion Elmira Free Academy, and a 39-7 battering of Oneonta in the sectional semifinal in which the Blue Devils defense limited the Yellow Jackets to -6 yards of offense in the first half, including -38 yards rushing.The team would lose 22 seniors, a large number of which were starters, including 3 1st team all state players, Jenks, Jake Frisch, and Juan Mendoza. Few outside of the town of Chenango would have predicted next years Blue Devils to contend for a divisional title, let alone a chance to finally add to the only thing the Blue Devils we're missing the past two seasons.
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