football

It took six quarters of football, but the Elba Byron-Bergen Lancers finally got fired up Saturday to turn a 12-0 half-time deficit into a 13-12 victory of the Alexander Trojans.

After a blistering 32-7 loss to Barker last week, Coach Mike Cintorino said the Lancers needed a spark to turn things around, and Zack DuBois, helped by some key blocks at the line, did that in the third quarter with a 95-yard run for a score.

"Our guys came out in the second half excited to play and we had some success to get us moving in the right direction," Cintorino said. "We've been waiting, knowing that Zach is due, and he popped a big one for us today. This is exactly what our team needed today just to show us that we are as good as we were last year and now we can build on that."

Alexander, playing under new head Coach Jack Rennolds, and coming off an injury-plagued 2010 season when the team went 1-6, played a pretty dominant first half.

The Trojans converted a turnover into a touchdown when Austin Heberline punched it in from two yards out.

Patrick Crawford helped lead the next drive, including darting in on a 12-yard TD run to put Alexander up 12-0 at the half.

Alexander had 213 yards on the ground, most of it gained in the first-half of the game.

But the momentum seemed to shift in the second half, sparked, of course, by the DeBois run, but defensively the Lancers seems to come to life, making it much harder for Alexander to move the ball.

Zac Gillard helped put his team ahead with a 35-yard TD pass to Matt Ramsey with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

From there, it was just a matter of a fired-up Lancers' defense keeping the Trojans in check.

Rennolds said he saw a lot of positives in his team, especially during the first half of play.

"We played really well in the first half and I was really happy with our play, but we seemed to drop our coverage a bit in the second half," Rennolds said. "We came out a little flat and Elba came out definitely ready to play."

The Lancers move to 1-1 and Alexander is now 0-2 on the young season.

Stats:

Offensive Stats - Elba Byron Bergen
RB - Zack DuBois (So.): 24 Carries for 175 yards and 1 TD (94-yard run)
QB - Zac Gillard (Jr.): 6-10 for 79 yards and 1 TD (35 yards)
WR - Matt Ramsey (Sr.): 1 reception for 35 yards and 1 TD (35 yards)

Offensive Stats - Alexander
RB - Pat Crawford (Sr.): 3 Carries for 51 yards and 1 TD (12-yard run)
RB - Austin Heberline (Sr.): 5 Carries for 6 yards and 1 TD (2-yard run)
RB - Mark Farnsworth: 48 yards rushing
RB - Luke Phillips: 42 yards rushing
RB - David Schmeide: 22 yards
QB - Mark Farnsworth (Jr.): 3-11 for 22 yards
QB - Nelson Burke: 3 completions for 31 yards
Lineman Nick Mrucza was used on an offensive play and carried the ball for 38 yards.

Defensive Stats - Elba Byron-Bergen
Cody Naylor (Sr.): 10 tackles, 3 for a loss
Nate Jonathan (Jr.): 10 tackles, 2 for a loss

Defensive Stats - Alexander
Lucas Phillips (Sr.): Forced fumble
Austin Heberlein: 8 tackles and 4 assists
Nick Mrucza: 6 tackles
David Patrick: 5 tackles and 2 assists

Photos from this game can be purchased by clicking here.

If you can't view the slide show below, click here.

The Blue Devils erased a 14-0 fourth-quarter deficit only to see a shot at victory slip past them. With less than 30 second to go in the game, Bath's Matt Nevius connected with Dan Leonard on a 47-yard TD pass.

In the season opener, Batavia's John DiFante connected with Brett Scheurline on a 65-yard pass to put the Blue Devils on the board.

In their next offensive series, the Blue Devils converted on fourth down to keep the drive alive and then scored on another fourth-down play, a three-yard run by Alex Ianita. Batavia's conversion attempt was a run by Codee Gangarossa, who managed to just get the ball across the goal line to tie up the game.

On Bath's next drive, the Blue Devil's defense looked like it might have a chance to stop Bath, but Leonard managed to sneak past a defender. Once he secured the pass from Nevius, there was nothing between him and the goal line.

The Blue Devils are at home again, 7:30 p.m., Friday, against Bishop Timon-St. Jude HS.

In other Genesee County football action on Friday: Way-Co beat Le Roy 28-8; Notre Dame beat Attica 27-7; Pembroke beat Alexander 21-14.

NOTE: About the video -- I shot the first half with the same video camera I've used each of the past two seasons, but it wouldn't stay in focus for some reason.  At the half, I decided to switch to my DSLR and use its video function. I decided not to even bother processing the first-half video, so the video above is only from half-time on. Ironically, during one of the key plays of the game, the tripod slipped, causing the camera to lose focus, but I included it in the video anyway.

Notre Dame scored 20 first-quarter points in route to a 27-14 victory over Attica in the opening week of high school football.

Quarterback Tim McCully tossed two TD passes to his brother Doane. Doane had four catches on the night for 90 yards. Doane also had a kick return for a touchdown.

Nick Conklin scored on a 10-yard run for the Fighting Irish in the first quarter and in the fourth quarter, Tim MCully connected with Nick Taylor on a 24-yard TD pass.

Photos submitted by Bare Antolos. His web site is bareantolos.com

The Batavia Bulldawgs Youth Football Team is selling raffle tickets for a 2011 Johnny Pag Spyder motorcycle.

The tickets are $40 each and only 150 will be sold.

The drawing is scheduled for Aug. 28 during the seniors' game at John Kennedy School (approximately 2:45 p.m.)

Tickets may be purchased at IR Systems, 309-311 West Main St., or potential winners can call John Riegle at (716) 228-5787 or Ken Proefrock at 794-6034 for tickets.

Pictured above are Riegle, left, and Proefrock with the bike.

The coaches of the Batavia Bulldawgs hosted a youth football clinic at Kibbe Park over Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Press release:

Through the kindness of a local benefactor, Batavia Youth Football, celebrating its 45th season, is excited to offer Tri-County cheerleaders and players an anniversary discounted rate for this season. With the matching donation participants will pay just $45 for the upcoming season.

For 45 years Batavia Youth Football has provided 7 – 13 year olds of our community the opportunity to learn the basics of football within a league focused on player development, guaranteed playing time, annually updated equipment and the ability to play all games locally. The 12-team league consists of three divisions that call Lions Park their home with all games being played on Saturdays.  

The league that was started by area businessmen and funded by local companies and service organizations in 1967 has benefited each high school program in the area. Thousands of area players and many high school coaches came through the ranks of Batavia Youth Football and have starred on and coached State Championship teams, won countless Sectional Championships and earned League Champion accolades. 

Any players or cheerleaders who previously paid the standard registration fee will be refunded the difference by the league administration. Also, available through local generosity, prospective participants who find the cost prohibitive a sponsorship program is available.

The league will be holding its final weekend of registration sign-ups at the Genesee Country Mall (Batavia City Centre) July 29th and 30th. Anyone interested in signing up can do so between the times of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. You can also contact Batavia Youth Football, Inc., at BYFinc@gmail.com or call Steve Grice at 585-344-4636 or Cal Klippel at 585-356-2728.

Just because it's hot and muggy doesn't mean it's not too early to start thinking about football, Batavia Youth Football, that is.

BYF is conducting registration for its 48th season Friday and Saturday at Batavia City Centre in the main concourse.

Children ages 7 through 13 with a weight between 45 and 130 lbs. are eligible.

There are three divisions, ages 7 and 8, ages 9 and 10, and ages 11, 12 and 13.

Cost is $85 per player. 

All games are played at Lions Park with the season opener Sept. 3. The season runs through October.

Practices begin Aug. 8 with a scrimmage and picnic at Kibbe Park on Aug. 27.

A birth certificate and weigh-in is required at sign up.

The registration on Friday and Saturday will be the last two days to register for BFA.

Sign ups on Friday are from 6 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On those days, children may also register for cheerleading. The is is $65 and registration will be capped at the first 150 to sign up. Cheerleading is open to children age 7 through 13.

For more information, contact Steve Grice at 344-4636 or byfinc@gmail.com.

Semi-professional football has arrived in Genesee County.

The Lyndonville Tigers are now playing their home games in Pembroke.

The team is comprised of players from throughout Genesee and Orleans counties and plays in an eight-team league that stretches from Jamestown to Troy.

Team President Taylor McCabe said over the past seven seasons, the Northeast Football Alliance league has consistently produced "action packed and extremely competitive football."

The Tigers, who finished last season in third place at 8-4, opened the season Saturday, taking a 20-13 loss against Finger Lakes.

Here's the schedule for the remainder of the season:

GAME Date Time Away Team @ Home Team
1- Sat 6/4/2011 5:30 PM Finger Lakes @ Lyndonville
2- Sat 6/11/2011 5:30 PM Lyndonville @ Buffalo
3- Sat 6/18/2011 5:30 PM Jamestown @ Lyndonville
4- Sat 6/25/2011 5:30 PM Southern Tier (Warriors) @ Lyndonville
5- Sat 7/9/2011 5:30 PM Lyndonville @ Southern Tier (Diesel)
6- Sat 7/16/2011 7:00 PM Lyndonville @ Finger Lakes
7- Sat 7/23/2011 5:30 PM Buffalo @ Lyndonville
8- Sat 7/30/2011 5:30 PM Lyndonville @ Jamestown
9- Sat 8/6/2011 5:30 PM Lyndonville @ Southern Tier (Warriors)
10- Sat 8/13/2011 5:30 PM Southern Tier (Diesel) @ Lyndonville 

All home games are played in the Pembroke park just south of the high school.

More than two dozen young football enthusiasts turned out for an organizational meeting for the Batavia Bulldawgs, a new youth traveling football team.

Actually, two teams -- one for third- through fifth-graders and another for fifth- through new seventh-graders.

Unlike youth football, the Bulldawgs will play four of their eight games away from home, against other teams in the region.

The games are also played on 100-yard fields under the same rules as high school football's Section V.

Team Vice President Ken Proefrock explained that the Bulldawgs will learn the same system used by the Batavia Blue Devils and work as a feeder organization, preparing Batavia's young players to be competitive at the high school level.

Registration is from 6 to 8 p.m., May 13, in City Centre, between JCPenney and Sunny's. Students need a photo, proof of school grade (current report card or letter from the school) and doctor's clearance. For more information, write bataviabulldawgsfootball@gmail.com.

We've reduced the prices on the pictures from our 2010 high school football coverage.

For the month of November, football prints can be purchased for as much as 75 percent off the suggested retail price.

Click Here to view the galleries.

The Lancers' offense never quite got untracked and the defense was a bit too porous at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester on Saturday as Elba/Byron-Bergen dropped a Section V semi-final playoff game to first seed Holley, 0-29.

Holley out gained Elba/BB 259 to 141 yards, including 169 on the ground compared to 80 rushing yards for the Lancers.

Elba/BB coach Michael Cintorino said Holley simply got the job done.

"There were probably a couple of missed opportunities, but Holley has a great team," said Cintorino. "They’re very disciplined and strong and they’re very well coached. Today they did their job. I’m not saying we didn’t do ours, but they just did a better job."

Even so, Cintorino said, he told his players they could be proud of their season.

They had a great season," he said. "There were a lot of people who doubted they could get this far. They had a great year. Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but they have nothing to be ashamed of."

Zack DuBois (pictured above) led the Elba/BB offense with 52 yards on 14 attempts, while Dylan Bordanaro was held to 22 yards on 11 carries.

QB Eric Kowalik was 7 for 18 with two interceptions, tossing the ball for a total of 68 yards.

The Lancers never advanced the ball into the red zone.

To purchase pictures from this game, click here.

More pictures after the jump:

Elba/Byron-Bergen beat South Seneca on Saturday, 23-7, in a Section V semi-final playoff game.

Next week, the Lancers will play the Holley Hawks in a semi-final playoff game. Game time is 2 p.m. in Rochester. The Hawks beat Le Roy 35-21.

Dylan Bordonaro carried the ball 26 times for 261 yards while Eric Kowalik completed nine passes on 17 attempts for 89 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. Bordonaro had one rushing TD.

Elba/BB posted 463 yards total offense.

With just over two minutes left on the clock, Notre Dame took a five-point lead over number one seed Dundee, but couldn't hold on as the Scotsmen engineered a nearly 80-yard drive to secure a 21-23 victory.

Notre Dame got the ball back with 36 seconds to play, but Tom Whelehan, who completed eight passes on the day for 159 yards and three TDs, was unable to connect on four attempts before time expired.

Dundee's final drive, Scotsmen head coach Sheldon Gibson said, was something the team had two weeks to work on following a forfeit by their first-around playoff opponent. Dundee made good use of the time, Gibson said, including designing and practicing the final touchdown play that won them the game.

Rick Mancuso said that winning play was really well executed.

"We’ve got some inexperienced kids and they were really jacked up," Mancuso said. "The took advantage of our aggressiveness."

A year ago in sectionals, Dundee literally ran away with the game, posting a lopsided 76-13 victory. It as a different story Saturday.

Notre Dame was never more than two scores down and grabbed a four-point lead with two minutes to go.

"Notre Dame came out ready to play, very tough, very well coached, without a doubt," said Gibson. "They were well prepared. They had our number, I’ll tell you that."

Mancuso said he was proud of his team.

"I thought the kids executed both offensively and defensively," said Mancuso. "We had a couple of turnovers, a couple of mistakes at inopportune times, and you can’t do that in this type of a ball game, but I was really proud of our kids for battling back."

Mike Pratt and Beau Richter lead the running game, with Pratt gaining 135 yards on 28 carries and Richter adding another 51 on nine carries, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

"Pratt and Richter were coming through very small holes at full speed," Gibson said. "That’s very tough to stop."

Doanne McCuley caught three passes for 78 yards, including a long of 41 yards, while Nate Woods caught three passes for 58 yards, including two TD receptions -- both on tipped balls. Tom Dehr made the go-ahead TD reception in the 4th quarter on a seven-yard pass from Whelehan.

Notre Dame had 362 total offensive yards compared to 284 for Dundee.  The Irish also posted 21 first downs, compared to 14 for the Scotsmen. Time of possession also tilted in Notre Dame's favor, 36:08 to 23:52.

On defense, Whelehan had eight tackles with Pratt and McCulley having six each.

In other football action from yesterday: No. 1 seed Hornell beat No. 8 Batavia, 64-42; Wayland-Cohocton over Pembroke, 40-13.

Top photo: Nate Woods keeps his eye on a tipped ball before hauling it on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Whelehan. The TD at 7:30 in the fourth quarter put the Irish within four points of Dundee, 14-17. Below, R.J. Marchese, who has been out with an injury for four games, reacts to Dundee's final touchdown. Bottom photo, Woods celebrates a second quarter TD after catching a six-yard pass, also a tipped ball, from Whelehan. That first TD tied the score at 7-7.

More photos after the jump:

Three early turnovers put Pembroke in a hole early against Holley in Saturday's match up of 5-1 teams, and a strong effort to recover still left the Dragons short, falling to the Hawks 41-25.

Pembroke struck first in the second quarter, taking a 7-0, but an interception returned for a touchdown and two fumbles -- one was converted into a TD on the Hawks' first play from scrimmage -- told the tale of the game.

By the half, the Hawks held a commanding 28-10 lead.

"We probably made more mistakes this game than any game during the year, but that’s a quality football team we played today," said Head Coach Chip Foster.

The Dragons opened the second half with two quick scores, cutting the Hawks' lead to 26-25, but Pembroke couldn't put the ball across the goal line again, while the Hawks would tack on two more scores.

“The kids kept their hearts in the game right until the end,” Foster said.

Pembroke travels to Wayland-Cohocton next week as the number five seed in the first-round of sectional playoffs. Holley secured the number two seed.

In other Genesee County football action:

• Notre Dame won the first round of its sectional playoff series, beating Geneseo, 21-20 in overtime. Mike Pratt rushed for 185 yards and scored the winning touchdown. On a muddy field, Geneseo was unable to convert a two-point attempt following a TD on its OT possession. QB Tom Whelehan tossed in two touchdowns and was 6-for-7 for 70 yards.
• The Batavia Blue Devils (3-4) secured the number eight seed in sectional playoffs with a 35-22 victory over Wellsville (0-7). Ryan Pyatt ran for 184 yards on 17 carries, putting the ball over the goal line once. Mitch Francis returned a kick-off 80 yards for a score and added a 24-yard TD reception. Ray Williams also ran it in once as part of his 80-yard rushing performance.
• Attica tied Holley for best Genesee Region record with a 14-2 victory over Elba/Byron-Bergen.
• Oakfield-Alabama (1-6) picked up its first victory of the season, beating Bolivar-Richburg (0-7), 32-14. Jeremy Crawford rushed for 114 yards on 18 carries. Kyle Metz tacked on 82 yards and scored a TD. Tommy Manzella had seven tackles.

More pictures from the Pembroke game after the jump:

Destin Danser submitted four photos from the Notre Dame vs. Pembroke game. Pembroke moved 5-1 with the 20-13 victory over Notre Dame (3-3).

More photos after the jump:

In Cal-mum and Leroy's 77th game against each other, Cal-mum defeated Leroy 42 to 0. Since it was Leroy's homecoming game, the stands were filled with excited fans and school attendees. Unfortunately for them, Leroy took a hard loss.

Jon Cappotelli had 19 carries, 98 yards, 1 touchdown run.

Christian Hallett had 1 carry, 41 yards, 1 touchdown run.

Trevor Haut had 6 carries, 28 yards, 1 touchdown run.

Tyler Lauffer had 10 carries, 57 yards, 2 recoveries and 2 touchdowns.

Victory was sweet for the Batavia Blue Devils on Friday as they took down Bishop-Kearney 38-20.

It was Senior Night and the Van Detta Stadium stands were packed with friends and family as 13 varsity players appeared on their home field for probably the last time.

"I'm just so happy for the seniors," said Head Coach Dan Geiger. "These guys have just worked so hard all year. They're a team that really touches my heart and their work ethic and their stick-to-it-iveness and come out on Senior Night and have a big game, I'm just really proud of them."

It was a big night for senior Ryan Pyatt who ran for 237 yards and scored his first three touchdowns of the season.

Another senior, QB Aaron Gugel, whose 2010 was his first full season in his high-school career, also had a big night, completing four of eight passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. He also had 11 tackles on defense.

Sophomore Justin Washington had four big catches, including one for a touchdown. He gained 81 yards.

Senior Spencer Stressing helped lead the defense with two and a half sacks while Senior Kyle King made eight tackles.

At 2-4, Batavia travels to Wellsville for a must-win game Friday. If the Blue Devils can beat Wellsville (0-6), the team will gain the eight-seed spot in sectionals.

Here's how they scored:

Francisco Martinez, eight-yard run
Kyle King, safety
Ryan Pyatt, nine-yard run
Justin Washington, 12-yard pass from Aaron Gugel
Ryan Pyatt, 51-yard run
Ryan Pyatt, 55-yard run

In other Genesee County football Friday and Saturday:

• Elba/Byron-Bergen moved to 4-2 with a win over Oakfield-Alabama (0-6), 35-14. Dylan Bordonaro gained 169 yards 22 carries, scoring twice, and Eric Kowalik went 5-for-10, passing for 122 yards and one touchdown;
• Cal-Mum beat Le Roy 42-0;
• Alexander fell to 0-6 with a 26-10 loss to Holley (5-1);
• Pemroke (5-1) beat Notre Dame (3-3), 20-13. Caine Cole gained 168 yards and scored two touchdowns on 30 rushes. Trevor Gray made 17 tackles for Pembroke and recovered a fumble, while Wyatt Chittenden added 10 tackles and two interceptions. For the Irish, Mike Pratt ran for 107 yards on 21 carries.

Next week, Pembroke travels to Holley for a 1:30 game on Saturday afternoon that pits two of the three teams in the Geneesee Region division that have 5-1 records. Attica, also 5-1, hosts Elba/Byron-Bergen (4-2).

More pictures from Batavia's Senior Night after the jump:

Bare Antolos submitted these photos. Following Notre Dame's game against Elba/Byron-Bergen -- the final home game of the regular season -- the team's seniors walked their field one last time. For a bigger version of the top picture, click here.

Elba/Byron-Bergen's strong defensive line was able to bottle up the middle of the field against Fighting Irish on Saturday, containing Notre Dame's powerful running game and limiting the home team to 190 total yards.

Notre Dame's only score came at the end of the first half, when the Lancers botched a field goal attempt and senior Mike Pratt scooped up the loose ball and raced 75 yards for the touchdown.

The Lancers moved to 3-2 with the 19-7 win. The Irish are now also 3-2.

Dylan Bordonaro continued to set the pace for the Lancers, rushing for 162 yards on 25 carries and being a force on defense.

Bordonaro scored for the Lancers on runs of 16 and 27 yards. Elba/BB's other touchdown came on a six-yard pass from Eric Kowalik to Cameron Fonda.

Nate Jonathan had seven tackles for the lancers, plus two sacks and a forced fumble. Brandon Shuknecht notched 12 tackles and made a fumble recovery.

In other Genesee County football action Friday and Saturday:

• Batavia traveled to Bath where the Blue Devils (1-4) lost 29-12. Ryan Pyatt carried the ball 13 times for 120 yards and Aaron Gugel completed 11 of 25 for 117 yards. Justin Washington scored on a 12-yard pass and Gugel scored on a one-yard run.
• Pembroke (4-1) beat Oakfield-Alabama (0-5), 33-6 (coverage).
• Attica (4-1) shut out Alexander (0-5), 38-0.
• Le Roy (3-2) dropped Warsaw 48-0. Tommy McQuillen rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns.

With Holley's win over Baker, three teams in the Genesee Region, including Pembroke and Attica, now have identical 4-1 records.

This coming Friday and Saturday's games:  Batavia will be at home at 7 p.m., Friday, for seniors night against Bishop Kearney; Cal-Mum brings a 4-1 record into Le Roy at 7 p.m., Friday, for what is traditionally an exciting game against two big rivals; also on Friday at 7 is Notre Dame at Pembroke and Holley at Alexander. On Saturday, Oakfield-Alabama is at Elba/Byron-Bergen.

More pictures from Elba/BB vs. ND after the jump: