Genesee Region League
Standings
Team Record PF PA
Pembroke 4-0 187 55
Oakfield-Alabama 4-0 181 47
Attica 3-1 157 61
Notre Dame 2-2 91 94
Alexander 1-3 42 174
Elba/Byron-Bergen 1-3 78 153
Barker 1-3 58 143
Holley 0-4 39 99
The Oakfield-Alabama football team has had the luxury of giving the backups plenty of playing time in the first three weeks of the season.
Not so much on Saturday as the Hornets had their first test of the season in Notre Dame, not passing until the second half. O-A held off a late charge and won 28-6.
Tim Smith actually returned the opening kickoff just over 50 yards to the Notre Dame 29-yard line. Notre Dame's Craig Houseknecht sacked A.J. Kehlenbeck on a pass attempt, but a couple of mid-distance runs moved the ball down to the 2-yard line.
This was where the first half tone was set.
Oakfield-Alabama fumbled the ball away and Cam McDonald fell on it to give the Fighting Irish possession.
After Kevin Schildwaster popped a 53-yard run, O-A had a sack and fumble that was recovered by Noah Seward.
Notre Dame's defense stiffened up and caused a three-and-out, then ND started moving the ball as Nick Bochicchio found Kevin Francis on a 24-yard pass.
At this point the Irish fans were thinking upset, while the O-A fans were starting to sweat with a 0-0 score after a period of play.
But the Hornets stopped ND's offense and forced a punt. Then Notre Dame returned the favor and made O-A punt.
With just a few minutes left in the first half, Smith took over.
He killed a Notre Dame drive with an interception, had a 24-yard run and then scored on a 6-yarder to make the score 7-0 at the half.
Notre Dame received the second half kickoff and was moving the ball. Bochicchio hooked up with Francis on a 16-yard pass, that was moved to the O-A 28-yard line because of a late hit penalty.
This time the Fighting Irish tried a halfback option that was intercepted by Smith at the 4 and returned to the 40.
Smith capped off this drive with a 21-yard TD run.
Oakfield-Alabama took firm control of the game after a Notre Dame punt when Smith broke a 31-yard run on a fourth-and-1. He scored just moments into the fourth quarter on an 8-yard run.
A Seward sack put Notre Dame into a fourth-and-very long deep in its own territory, so Matt Thompson had to come on and punt.
Smith had a 20-yard return and the Hornets started a drive at the ND 26.
Jason Stanley finished off the O-A scoring with a 21-yard run.
With just five minutes left, Bochicchio got hot.
He had completions to Francis, Schildwaster and Gianni Zambito before hitting Mike Pratt on a swing pass that he took 25 yards for a touchdown.
Derek Hicks blocked the extra point attempt.
The onside kick attempt was recovered by Cody Proefrock and ND was still alive with 3:41 left on the clock.
But a couple of plays into the drive, Hicks picked off a pass to put an end to the game.
Notre Dame falls to 2-2 and will play at Holley Friday nights as the Hawks are going to rent lights for their homecoming game.
Smith - who rushed for 185 yards on 25 carries - and the Hornets improve to 4-0 and move on to play in Attica next week for the Blue Devils' homecoming game. Then comes the annual game with Pembroke that always has Genesee Region League title implications.
The Oakfield-Alabama football team scored a school record 42 points in the first quarter and kicker John Fisher tied Matt Waldron's single game scoring mark for a kicker with nine extra points as the Hornets thumped Alexander 63-14.
O-A added 21 points in the second quarter before calling off the dogs.
A.J. Kehlenbeck completed 4-of-6 attempts for 72 yards and three touchdowns in the game. He also had a rushing touchdown.
"A.J. looked real sharp throwing the ball," O-A coach John Dowd said. "He had a nice night for a quarterback in our offense. We came out firing pretty hard."
Joe Natalizia made his first start at wingback and had a solid day, rushing for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. He also caught a TD pass.
Fullback Brad Riner rushed for just 56 yards in the game, but scored a touchdown on the ground, through the air and on defense, when he returned an interception 67 yards for a score.
Tim Smith rushed for 63 yards on six carries and also caught a 30-yard touchdown pass.
Tyler Kowalcyzk made seven tackles - including two for a loss - and returned an interception six yards for a score.
Alexander falls to 0-3 while Oakfield-Alabama improves to 3-0 and faces Notre Dame next weekend.
"Notre Dame is an outstanding team," Dowd said. "They are a little more athletic than we are, but we are a little bit bigger than they are. It will be a nice test for both teams."
Pal-Mac (0-1) at Batavia (0-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The young man with the ball in his hands needs to have it in his hands a lot more than he did last Friday night.
Rob Williams had seven carries for just 17 yards, but is the most talented athlete on the Batavia roster, and should get a lot more touches against Palmyra-Macedon, which lost to a talented Livonia squad 14-7 last week.
Batavia coach Dan Geiger gave the ball to Anthony D'Aurizio a bunch of times in a 27-13 loss against visiting Le Roy last week, and the senior did a great job. But Williams has a proven history of putting his squad on his back and carrying them.
He could line-up at quarterback, running back or wide receiver, but he needs to touch the ball more than seven times if the Blue Devils are going to get a first win.
If Williams gets 15 touches in the game, Batavia should run away with this one at home.
Junior quarterback Joe Canzoneri faced some pressure against a very talented Le Roy defense last week and will find this week a lot easier, so he could get the ball in the hands of Williams, Vinny Pedro or wild card Devonte Rolle. Any of those playmakers can bust out for a big play at any time.
Batavia's defense did a great job against a very talented Le Roy team, so expect a markedly better effort against a squad that has nowhere near the talent the Oatkan Knights have.
Barker (1-0) at Oakfield-Alabama (1-0)
7 p.m. Friday
O-A wingback Tim Smith was the best story of Week 1.
He rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns after quitting on his teammates last year, and has proven to be a solid scoring option for the Hornets.
He will get his share of carries, along with fellow runner Jason Stanley and fullback Brad Riner. Smith talked about apologizing to his teammates in Monday's Daily News, and should be a leader on the field Friday night.
If the Hornets struggle with the run - which hasn't happened since coach John Dowd walked onto the O-A campus - then the passing game will be as good as it has been since he has shown up.
A.J. Kehlenbeck has experience and Tyler Tamblin played out of his mind last week, so tight end Noah Seward would be a great GR fantasy football choice.
Another name you might not have heard of that could rush for over 100 yards would be sophomore Matt Ososolojaikonaowaksianskowdkonwoski (however you spell or say it).
He played in the sectional tournament loss last year and was awesome. The young man nicknamed the "OZ man" has had his issues holding onto the ball, but could be the best young talent in the league.
Barker has improved under coach Bill Bruning, but O-A will run away with this game.
Letchwoth (1-0) at Le Roy (1-0)
7:30 p.m.
Two of the most respected coaches in Section 5 face-off in this one.
Letchworth's Tim McMullen might not have a roster that has a ton of stars, but the indians will play hard.
Le Roy and coach Brian Moran proved in a win over Batavia last week that solid players step in and fill roles every week.
The Indians will try to slow things down, but LR quarterback Travis Fenstermaker will have a huge game.
Le Roy won't win by 30, but should win pretty big.
Pembroke (1-0) at Alexander (0-1)
1:30 p.m. Saturday
While quarterback David Kleckler blew up last week, watch for running back Mike Dibble. He will rush for over 150 yards and at least one TD.
Alexander will continue to get better, but playing one of the "big 3" will not lead to a win.
Holley (0-1) at Elba/Byron-Bergen (0-1)
1:30 p.m. Saturday
Elba/B-B has too much talent.
Brandon Spurling rushed for almost 200 yards against Oakfield-Alabama last week and should be the top option this week. He comes from the Le Roy youth program and will do well.
Zach Green almost rushed for 100 yards and will provide a great support system.
Holley gave Barker a great run, but E/B-B has too many athletes.
Attica (1-0) at Notre Dame (0-1)
1:30 p.m. Saturday
In what might be the game of the week in the GR, the quarterbacks are the show.
ND slinger Nick Bochicchio went 27-34 for 182 yards in the opener, meaning the Fighting Irish aren't exactly a power-running offense.
But Kevin Schildwaster and Mike Pratt can run the ball.
Attica's Brandon Rolling might be the best quarterback in the league, but Andy Ruddock might be the best running back in the league. Attica can put up a lot of points in a lot of different ways.
No other GR game will lead to more points than this one.
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