Published: October 04, 2009 08:50 pm      

H.S. FOOTBALL: Oh, so close in Middleport

Allegany-Limestone wins defensive battle over Roy-Hart’s improving Rams

MIDDLEPORT — Royalton-Hartland won many battles on Friday night, but ultimately lost the war against visiting Allegany-Limestone.

The Gators cashed in on two Connor King to Cody Grove touchdown passes to slip past Royalton-Hartland, 14-6, topping Section VI Class C football action.

A defensive battle that went down to the wire, the Rams trailed by just 7-6 at the half and looked poised to hand the Gators (1-3 C North, 2-3 overall) their fourth straight division loss of the season.

Led by senior battering Ram Ryan Brigham, Roy-Hart’s defense gave held the Gators and their quality quarterback King (8-for-15, 75 yards, 2 TDs) all they could muster under a full moon at Bruno Pacini Field.

King hit Grove with a 21-yard touchdown pass and Brad Costa booted the extra point to give A-L a 7-0 first quarter lead.

The Rams (1-4 C North, 1-4 overall) bounced back just before halftime with a touchdown of their own. Sophomore Connor Baker engineered a 69-yard drive that culminated with a great throw to senior wide receiver Jeff Swick, who went high to haul in the 19-yard TD pass. Baker’s two-point conversion pass bounced in and out of his receiver’s hands and the Gators led, 7-6 at halftime.

Brigham and the rest of the Purple People Eaters defense came up like Billy Fucilla in the third quarter. The Rams stopped the Gators on three straight drives that began with promising field position in Rams territory and ended with fourth-down stops.

A late interception by Zach Tanner gave Allegany-Limestone great field position. King hit Grove on a 10-yard slant and (arriving at halftime) Gators varsity soccer player Zach Gelen booted the extra point to round out the scoring.

The Rams drove to midfield before stallling. Pinning the Gators at their own 6, the Rams needed one final defensive stop to get the ball back, but King scrambled for a first down and then took a knee to run out the clock.

“Everyone played a great game. The close ones are tough to swallow, but the team continues to grow and show heart,” said Rams head coach Chris Smith.

“It takes to a team to climb a mountain and everyone on this team continues to push us to reach our highest potential. I could not be prouder of the way we played. If we take care of the little things, the big things take care of themselves.”

Brigham said the Rams worked hard at practice to prepare for the Gators offensive formations.

“We held them back pretty good. We’ll just take what we can out of this and start to get ready for Wilson next week,” Brigham said.

Brigham finished with eight solo tackles and seven assisted tackles, Casey Manicki had seven assisted tackles, Matt Hayes five tackles and half a sack, Judd Jamieson half a sack and four unassisted tackles and Korben Grover had six stops.

Baker played a strong all-around game, finishing 14-of-22 passing for 94 yards and a TD pass. Swick (four catches, 36 yds, TD), Bryan Warren (six catches, 40 yards) and Matt Hayes (four catches, 18 yards) were the recipients.

Will South 28, Starpoint 0

Joe Licata was 19-of-32 passing for 284 yards and four touchdowns as Williamsville South rolled to the Class A win. Marc Coppola caught two of Licata’s passing scores, including a 30-yarder in the first quarter and a 33-yarder in the third. Coppola finished with 106 yards receiving for South (5-0 overall, 4-0 Class A).

Leading the way for Starpoint (0-5, 0-4) was running back Tyler Smith, who filled in for an injured Brandon Kopp and picked up 52 yards on 14 carries.

Quarterback Brenden Wehrmeyer was 9-of-20 for 65 yards and Matt Doyle completed the lone pass he threw for a 63-yard gain to Cory Regnet.

Denver Kopp led the Spartan defense with nine tackles and Dalton Maska had a fumble recovery.

Lew-Port 41, Newfane 6

YOUNGSTOWN — Lancers quarterback Matt Cattarin threw one touchdown and ran for another.

Devon Amado opened the scoring on a nice 32-yard run that finished off the Lancers’ opening drive.

After a Newfane fumble, Lew-Port struck again quickly, as Joe Hill broke free on a dive play and rumbled 30 yards to make it 14-0. Hill led the Lancers with 63 yards.

The Panthers (1-3) responded with their best drive of the night, bolstered by a rollout toss from quarterback Colin Ferington to Zak Kurtz that went for 39 yards. Ferington later punched it in on a keeper from six yards away, giving the Panthers their only score.

But Lew-Port (3-2) came back with a five-play, 62-yard drive that put the game on ice. Marc Morreale broke a 28-yard run that got the ball to the Newfane 21, then Cattarin found Steve Sydor over top the defense. That was Cattarin’s only completion in five tries as the Lancers kept the ball on the ground from then on.