Above are three pictures that illustrate the problem Alexander faced Saturday in its Class DD Section V semi-final playoff game against Avon in Honeoye Falls.
The problem's name is Joe Sotak, the 155-pound, 5'9" stick of butter who led the Avon offense to a tally of 26 points over four quarters of whack-a-mole.
When Sotak could be caught, he proved impossible to hold.
The senior QB was seven for 10 passing for 96 yards and a TD. He also rushed for 147 yards and two TDs on 22 carries.
In the sequence above, Sotak pumps but doesn't throw as Rick Amico and Derrick Busch appear to be closing in for the sack. Sotak glided a step or two forward, causing Amico and Busch to whiff, then lofted a pass just over the heads of Tristan Aldinger and Cody Trzecieski to where only Avon's Zack Loomis could catch it as he stood on the three-yard line. Loomis needed only turn and take a couple of steps into the end zone.
The Trojans managed to cross the goal line once all afternoon, and that score didn't come until the 4th quarter.
A bad snap prevented Alexander from putting at least three on the board in the first half.
Final, 26-7.
Alexander finishes with a 5-3 record while Avon advances to face Clyde-Savannah in the Class DD final next week.
"It wasn't the result we were expecting tonight," said Head Coach Tim Sawyer. "We had a good week of preparation; however, Avon controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage. Avon played physical and fast tonight.
"Our overall body of work for the season has been quite good," he added. "We won some big games along the way. I hate to see the seniors go, but they have left their foot print on this program over the past two years."
Just before the end of the half, with the Trojans down 12-0, an Alexander player got a hand on Joe Sotak and nearly dragged him to the ground, but Sotak spun away and turned what looked like a certain sack into about a 30-yard gain, all the way down to the two-yard line. The gain, however, was negated by a block to the back foul later in Sotak's run.
Tristan Aldinger scores for Alexander
Tristan Aldinger with the ball
Jared Browne at QB
Action early in the second half
Jared Browne with a pass
Avon's star running back Brandon Mynter was mostly contained by the Alexander defense.
Head Coach Tim Sawyer
Alexander HS grad Matt Szymaski, home on leave from the Marines, attended Saturday's game.
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