Toronto’s Nate Karaffa rushes past multiple Wellsville defenders on Friday. (Photo by Andrew Grimm)

TORONTO — Josh Franke’s message all week to his Toronto football team has been to simply control what it can control.

The Red Knights did just that during senior night Friday at Clark Hinkle Field, dispatching arch-rival Wellsville 37-0 to claim the Joe Scarabino/Corky Heaton Trophy.

“Once we got our feet underneath us and got settled in, things took off from there,” first-year Toronto coach Josh Franke said. “The offense was clicking on all cylinders, and the defense played really well. It is one of those things where everything kind of came together here at the end of the season, which is what you want to see.”

The win wraps up a 4-6 regular season and keeps Toronto’s slim Division VII playoff hopes alive, pending on outcomes of games today.

“The kids want it,” Franke said of a playoff spot. “They came out and did their part like we said, and now it’s not in our hands.”

Senior quarterback Nate Karaffa broke a school record for the second-straight week, this time eclipsing the career pass touchdown mark previously held by Michael Paris and Bobby Petras (29 each).

With 2:02 left in the game, Karaffa found Kobe Herrick with a screen pass, and he broke free for a 57-yard score, giving Karaffa touchdown No. 30.

“He’s just an amazing athlete that can do it all,” Franke said of Karaffa. “We’re really happy for him.”

He finished 9 of 12 passing for 166 and three scores, adding another 51 and an additional touchdown on the ground on eight carries.

Wellsville, which drops the curtain at 2-8, did not complete a pass in the game and finished with just 36 total yards, all on the ground. Derrick Suggs ran for 40 yards.

“Turnovers hurt,” Wellsville coach Robert Ramsey said. “On both sides of the ball it was a very sloppy football game tonight. We just didn’t step up to the plate tonight, and it is a shame for our seniors.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Karaffa raced through the Tigers defense for a 26-yard scoring run a minute into the second quarter. He then found Zach Stackhouse for a 62-yard score to make it 12-0.

On the ensuing Wellsville possession, Valen Krzyston’s pass was intercepted by Tristan Thomas, and he returned it 31 yards to score.

With 17 seconds left in the first half, Karaffa found Stackhouse for a 15-yard score to make it a 24-0 lead at the break.

Stackhouse, who finished with three catches for 77 yards and the two scores, added a rushing touchdown by taking a direct snap and charging 37 yards to make it 30-0. Herrick’s late catch-and-run capped the scoring.

Toronto 37, Wellsville 0

Wellsville 0-0-0-0 — 0

Toronto 0-24-6-7 — 37

T: Karaffa 26 run (pass failed), 11:00

T: Stackhouse 62 pass from Karaffa (run failed), 7:42

T: Thomas 31 interception return (kick failed), 7:21

T: Stackhouse 15 pass from Karaffa (pass failed), :17

T: Stackhouse 37 run (pass failed), 1:04

T: Herrick 57 pass from Karaffa (Wright kick), 2:02

RUSHING: Wellsville 41-36 (Suggs 22-40; Tice 7-17; Krzyston 7-(-28); Ramsey 4-(-2); Sarge 1-9). Toronto 26-151-2 (Dozier 9-66; Karaffa 8-51-1; Herrick 5-(-6); Stackhouse 2-34-1; Thomas 1-5; Sninchak 1-1).

PASSING: Wellsville 0-5-0-0-1 (Krzyston 0-2-0-0-1; Suggs 0-3-0-0-0). Toronto 9-13-166-3-0 (Karaffa 9-12-166-3-0; Wright 0-1-0-0-0).

RECEIVING: Wellsville 0-0; Toronto 9-166-3 (Stackhouse 3-77-2; Herrick 2-55-1; Thomas 2-18; Sninchak 2-16).

FIRST DOWNS: Wellsville 4; Toronto 4.

FUMBLES-LOST: Wellsville 8-3; Toronto 3-1.

PENALTIES-YARDS: Wellsville 7-70; Toronto 5-60.

PUNTS: Wellsville 8-26.5; Toronto 2-45.