Football

Unadilla Valley 27, Oxford 14

NEW BERLIN – Unadilla Valley shook off an early deficit to rally for its first win of the season Friday night against visiting Oxford.

Emotions ran a bit higher on this evening as the Storm players and coaching staff took the field hoping to honor the passing of former head coach Jack Loeffler, who was still working with the football program as recently as the preseason. “After the game, I said to the kids, ‘we did it,’” said UV coach Mark Segina. “It was pretty emotional for all of us.”

Oxford drove for a touchdown early in the first quarter, a four-yard tote by senior Nik Hansen, and forced a UV turnover later in the quarter. It was the first of two first-quarter turnovers by the host club, who survived both miscues unscathed.

UV’s Mason Fernette recovered an Oxford fumble early into the second quarter, and that set the stage for the Storm’s first scoring drive. Ryan Postma hit Brett Hanslmaier on a pair of slant passes, the latter going for 18 yards and a TD. Late in the half, UV took the lead for good when Postma threw his second TD strike to Hanslmaier, this one covering 15 yards.

UV extended the lead behind the running of junior Alex Avolio. Avolio, who finished with 140 yards, ran 40 yards for his team’s third touchdown.