C1 champion Byron-Bergen breaks open State Qualifier with massive 2nd half, led by 4-goal night from Farner, as Bees halt C-R’s amazing season with 4-0 shutout; Rebels wrap at 12-8-1 overall

GENESEO — Ride captain ride, upon your mystery ship. On your way to a world that others might have missed. Those are the last two lines to the catchy chorus of that hit Blues Image song back at the turn of the decade over 50 years ago, in 1970.

How does it fit the bill here exactly? — The ride that the Rebels of Cuba-Rushford has experienced since the beginning of the season has been nothing short of extraordinary. It was one that witnessed an 0-2-1 start out of the gate, and then a signature 1-0 overtime win over Bolivar-Richburg in the Brock Young Tournament back in the middle of September saw them catch fire.

It would soon turn into a frantic rollercoaster ride all the way to the end of the regular season, having lost five of their last seven to close it out. But they knew in the back of their minds that when Sectionals loomed over the horizon, it was a brand new start. It was time to wipe the slate clean.

The Rebels went on to do just that, beginning with a 5-1 rolling of Gananda to open their adventure through the Class C2 bracket. Then, two incredible fights to the finish against Keshequa in the Quarterfinals, and then their arch-rival Bolivar-Richburg in what was their fourth meeting of the campaign — both ending in 1-0 decisions, with the latter of which becoming the premier victory to send them over the top and to the Finals for the first time in school history.

On their way to a world that others might have missed.

Everything that the Rebels had worked for, night in and night out, led to that season-defining moment back on Saturday in Avon, when they went back and forth with Geneseo all game long. Because of Tanner Lewis and his incredible performance on the front line, the Rebels were able to fend off the Blue Devils in the second half to win it all in head coach Rob Wight’s first season on the sidelines, seizing that Class C2 brick all for themselves — something the program has waited a long time for.

Now, on a gelid and bitter Wednesday night back up north in Geneseo, Cuba-Rushford was presented with a chance to perhaps add more icing to the cake with a feature in the Class C State Qualifier. Their opponent was Class C1 champion Byron-Bergen, a Section V giant on the soccer field, year in and year out.

From the game’s inception, the Rebels were met by Byron-Bergen’s imposing challenge. But like their championship chess match with the Blue Devils this past weekend, chances for each team across the first 40 minutes were sparse.

Cuba-Rushford and Byron-Bergen engaged in a heavyweight midfield fight, attempting to create anything they could. But then right before the period closed up, a sting by the Bees and their leading goal-scorer, Jack Farner, saw them garner the game’s first punctuation heading into the break with a 1-0 lead.

It’s a position that the Rebels are no stranger to, as they kept digging and clawing back at Byron-Bergen through the second half.

But Farner’s first marker soon turned into a full-blown volcanic eruption, as the Byron-Bergen junior unleashed his fury against the Rebels with three more goals being scored in a span of just over six minutes in time, finishing off his hat trick along the way to aid the Bees in dancing their way to the Class C Far West Regional this weekend by putting a victorious halt on what has been an incredible journey for Cuba-Rushford with a 4-0 shutout.

“We ran into a very talented team tonight,” Rebels coach Rob Wight said. “We had our chances early at 0-0 and 1-0, but we just couldn’t capitalize. We were very organized and disciplined in the first half. Every single one of our guys did their job, and we knew that Farner was a special talent, and that you can only keep players like that quiet for so long. Good teams will find a way to make you play and they did just that.”

Along with some midfield battles that have occupied much of the first half’s time on the clock, Cuba-Rushford (12-8-1) was able to receive some good looks in the Byron-Bergen zone, with perhaps their most opportune occasion to strike stemming off a big Jake Elliott kick from about 30 yards from the Bees net along the near sideline. With his cannon of a leg, the direct kick sails straight on goal, nearly sinking it in. But a massive leap up into the air by Bees keeper Martin Macconnell kept the ball out of harm’s way for the clear.

Moments removed from the chance, Byron-Bergen marched down the field on their next offensive series against the Rebels and set up shop for the game’s first marker on the board, hitting gold with a beautiful Colin Martin pass along to his right-hand side for Farner, scoring his first to the back right corner after shedding the Cuba-Rushford defense during his dash into the zone.

Despite trailing by one, the Rebels were not out of reach by any means.

In fact, they were presented with their best opportunity of the game to create even playing ground with the Bees again, as Anderson Siegel blasted a pass straight up the field for Tanner Lewis to control. While under possession and immense pressure from the surrounding Byron-Bergen defense, Lewis overcame it all for a wide open look. On his shot, it would skid just wide of the far post and out of play.

On their next series on the offensive, the Bees kept digging. In the midst of it, more gold, as Farner went on to set the pace across the remaining portion of time in the second half by taking full advantage of everything he was presented with. As a result, the Bees junior went on a scoring spree, recording the next three goals in a span of just over six minutes near the second half’s midway mark to push what was once a one-goal lead, insurmountably.

“The game definitely had its swings, that’s for sure,” said Wight. “I thought we were able to create some chances ourselves, even after some of the changes that we decided to make at halftime. Unfortunately, if you don’t capitalize on them, great teams like Byron-Bergen will make you pay on those opportunities with some of their own. That’s exactly what they did.”

The four goals by the Bees came courtesy of 13 shots against Cuba-Rushford, as they claimed a 13-6 advantage on the attack. On the opposite end of the field, Alex Baron made nine stops for the Rebels.

The end of the line has been reached by the Rebels, as the team finishes a monumental season of boys soccer with a record of 12-8-1. The Class C2 champions will graduate nine seniors when Graduation approaches later this year in Baron, Lewis, Jake Elliott, Braeden Wight, Luke Brooks, Kaden Bell, Caden Miller, Sebastian Saulter and Tristan Clayson.

Looking back, Wight says that all the hard work that his group put in to make this happen, was second to none, as he now looks forward to building onto the foundation this year’s team has laid down.

“It was definitely a year of streaks. When we got hot, we could play with just about anyone,” he said. “I know that a new coach and a new playstyle can take some time getting used to, but I couldn’t have asked for more from these guys. The hard work and focus day in, and day out was the type of stuff coaches dream about. In the end, I’m glad that the hard work paid off, and we were able to achieve our goal. It’s a great place to start, as we look to build CRH into a top-tier soccer program.”