Published: October 04, 2008 06:15 pm            

H.S. FOOTBALL: Fluellen’s 3 TDs sparks Lions past Spartans

Junior RB tops 1,000 yards for second straight season.

LOCKPORT — The only thing stopping David Fluellen from breaking his week-long single-game rushing record was a blowout.

Lockport’s junior tailback carried the ball 23 times for 309 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, sparking the Lions past the visiting Williamsville North Spartans, 38-14. Fluellen now has 1,100-plus yards on the ground this season, a year after topping 1,000 as a freshman.

“He’s really something special,” said Spartans’ veteran head coach Mike Mammoliti.

“I remember watching his brother (Jhamal, LHS career rushing record holder) just a few years back and yes, there are a lot of similarities. He’s one heck of a back.”

By halftime of Saturday’s Section VI Class AA North contest at Max D. Lederer Field, “Flu” had already accumulated 235 yards and three touchdowns. Last week at Niagara Falls, Fluellen finished with a school record 376 yards, but that was a game that wasn’t decided until late in the fourth quarter and his services were needed right up to the end. Against Will North, the game’s outcome was decided much earlier, allowing Lions head coach Greg Bronson to rest his star tailback.

“I was very excited and happy today because my mother, Arletha, came up to watch the game from Philadelphia,” Fluellen said.

“She told me after the game that I did a good job. I gave her the game ball.”

Flu’s touchdown scampers were resumes in themselves. The first time he touched the ball, he showed his quick-cut ability and open field skills, taking it 70 yards for a score. He then added a TD scamper of 21 yards in zig-zag fashion, then capped “Homecoming” with a spectacular 99-yard score that showcased his blazing speed.

“We had them at the one foot line and we had a great opportunity to get the ball back with good field position, but then he went and did something great like that,” Mammoliti said.

A fourth Fluellen TD — a 23-yard run in the second quarter — was called back on a holding penalty.

Bouncing back strong from a hip injury last week Lions senior quarterback Justin Guyton (7-of-12, 83 yards, 2 TDs) tossed two TD passes — a 20-yarder to senior wide receiver Dominic Cirello (3 catches, 30 yards, TD) and a 5-yarder to junior tight end Luke Rankie (4 catches, 53 yards, TD). Senior Jason Winters plowed in from a yard out and senior Jamison Neglia booted two extra points to round out the scoring for Lockport (3-2 overall, 3-1 AA North).

“We’re happy that we won and that we got our passing game going this week,” said Lions head coach Greg Bronson.

“But we also made some mistakes that we won’t be able to make against better teams like Kenmore West or in the playoffs.”

The Lions defense surrendered two touchdowns, but looked sharp throughout, especially in the defensive secondary. Senior Brynell Middleton had two interceptions, while Rankie, junior Sean Mulvey and senior Jake Scheeler added fumble recoveries.

Also playing a great game for the Lions was junior utility player Rashad Brown. Brown wreaked havoc at nose tackle and added several key lead blocks at fullback that not only sprung Fluellen, but Winters as well.

“I thought we played well, but there’s still some areas we need to fix,” Brown said.

Added Rankie, “The only reason they scored is because we were getting tired. We got the win, that’s all that matters.”

Sophomore tight end Glenn Gronkowski (7 catches, 101 yards, TD) scored both touchdowns for the Spartans (0-5 AA North) — one on a 19-yard interception and the other on a 22-yard pass from quarterback Anthony Longarzo (12-of-22, 160 yards, TD). The Spartans also scored on a two-point safety in the second quarter when a Lions’ snap from center sailed out of the endzone.

        

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