Chester looks for revenge in state championship

By Nathan Mayberg
CHESTER — The Chester Hambletonians are under no illusions about their opponent this Saturday in the Class D state title football game in Syracuse.

They will face two-time defending state champions Randolph of western New York, where snow brought life to a near halt last week.

Randolph beat Chester in the state championship last year 42-13 and Chester hasn't forgot.

This year, there is a focus and a determination Chester players say, to avenge the loss and deny Randolph a three-peat.

Chester has accomplished a three-peat of their own. This is their third trip to the state championship in four years. In 2011, they lost to Letchworth in the finals.

"We definitely want to bring one home for the community," senior quarterback Vinny Aloi said while taking a break from practice on Tuesday at the Chester Commons Park football field.

"It's not enough just to be there anymore," Aloi said.

At 6'5 and with a growling play call that could compete with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, Aloi looks like the prototypical quarterback.

At practice on Tuesday, Aloi squared up his shoulders for throws while practicing plays, delivering the ball to his wide receivers over and over again with a quick, crisp burst of pinpoint precision.

Aloi has the look of a college quarterback. This year, he set the Section 9 record for most touchdowns in a season with 32 and has just two interceptions.

But the team has been charging the ground lately, beating Tuckahoe 36-21 and Cambridge/Salem 47-14 on the heels of their speedy senior running back Angel Suarez.

Suarez has rushed for more than 700 yards in the first two games of the playoffs including a 411-yard, five-touchdown running performance against Cambridge-Salem last Friday in which he also caught a touchdown pass.

Suarez gives all of the credit to his offensive line, a force that has been able to outmuscle its opponents thus far.

A tough, determined competitor, Suarez said Chester "can't overlook (Randolph) this year...everyone's gotta show up."

Suarez expects the same competitive fire from his teammates that he gives of himself. "We gotta hit hard every single play. We can't take one play off."

Chester head coach Ron Stover said the strength of Suarez is "his power." Suarez is an "incredibly strong human being. The kid lives in the gym," he said.

Stover said that Aloi's game has improved this year with his ability to read defenses.

Aloi has four receivers to pick from.

With a stealth pass and run threat, Chester could be dangerous this Saturday.

In addition to their offensive line, Chester features two backs who block for Suarez, including Chris Battiato Jr. who plays fullback and linebacker. Battiato said he "couldn't ask for a better runner to block for" than Suarez. "He is a good north to south runner" and "a good team player," Battiato said.

That line also plays defense for Chester and will be meeting their match this week in Randolph, Stover says boasts a big front line. "They are a no fooling around team," Stover said about the Randolph line. "They come right at you."

Chester's line includes Matthew Saavedra, a towering guard and tackle who played against Randolph last year. "We need to step it up," Saavedrea said. The team needs to play "physical and fast."

Saavedra said the offensive line's goal is to continue "blocking our hardest for (Suarez) and making sure the holes are big."

So far, Randolph has had to win two close games to get to the championship. They won their first game of the playoffs by a touchdown and their last round by 12 points.

Stover thinks his team has a better chance to win the state championship this year due to their experience. "They've been there already so they are not going to be awed by the dome."

Stover is speaking of the Carrier Dome, where the Syracuse Orangemen play.

Still, Stover said his team is "fighting an uphill battle" to defeat Randolph.

But they know they will need their best performance.

Chester has shown its resolve already. The team lost its first two games of the year before embarking on its current 10 game winning streak.

"We just had to come together," Stover said. The team lost a lot of its seniors from last year and had to regroup.

Stover built the football program at Chester from the ground up since arriving in 2001 when there was no program. After two years of coaching a jayvee team, Stover began coaching its new varsity squad.

Stover, who grew up in Westchester County playing football at Irvington, went on to coach at Westchester high schools like Sleepy Hollow and JFK in Somers before arriving in Chester.

The coach said the team is "very focused" this year, which he hopes will take the team to the next step.

"Sometimes you get happy to get to this game. This time we want to win."

For the team to win, Battiato said they need to "leave everything out on the field because it's our last game win or lose."

"We just gotta want it more," Suarez said.

Reporter Nathan Mayberg can be reached at 845-469-9000 ext. 359 or by emailing comm.reporter@strausnews.com