LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - NOVEMBER 4, 2018 LeRoy Senior Knights Submitted by: Joseph Bogue The LeRoy Seniors Knights won their 3rd straight CYFL Championship in an exhilarating game at a rain soaked, mud filled Hartwood Park. LeRoy played host to the Dansville Mustangs with a chance to keep the trophy where it belongs, in LeRoy and at “Joe’s Place”. Both teams entered the game sporting 8-0 records and explosive offenses with LeRoy averaging 33 points per game and Dansville 35 points per game. However, when all was said and done, the narrative of this game would be Defense, grit and physical sacrifice. LeRoy would win the coin toss and choose to defer to the 2nd half giving Dansville the ball first. The Mustangs would return the opening kickoff 25 yards to the LeRoy 39 yard line. Six plays later, Dansville would draw first blood on a 25 yard touchdown run down the left sideline. They followed with a successful PAT kick making the score Dansville 8, LeRoy 0. LeRoy would begin their first drive, following the ensuing kickoff, at their 44 yard line. However, the pressure would be put right back on the defense, as LeRoy would give the ball back on the first play by fumbling the snap. The Knights defense, led by Zander Staba, would answer the call. A penalty on the Mustangs first play would push them back. They would manage to move the ball setting up 4th & 7. Zander Staba and Peter Clark would team up to harness the Mustang’s ball carrier in the backfield. Both defensives would hold strong on the next two possessions. LeRoy would get the ball, for the 3rd time of the day, at their 35 yard line. The offense would continue to struggle while being forced into a 4th and long, forcing LeRoy to bring the punt team onto the field. A low snap would get past the punter and give Dansville the ball, at the LeRoy 23 yard line and a chance to go up two scores. However, LeRoy’s defense would again stand strong behind two big plays by Wyatt Draper followed by a crushing hit on 4th down by Aaric Luce and Peter Clark. LeRoy’s offense looked as if they may finally gain some momentum moving the ball from their 23 yard line out to the 44. However, the weather conditions once again played a role, as LeRoy would fumble the center/ quarterback exchange to give the ball back to Dansville. This time it was the LeRoy defense’s turn to force a turnover, as two plays in the Mustangs would put the ball on the ground and LeRoy would recover at their 40 yard line. Runs by Egeling, Higgins and Woodworth moved the Knights into Dansville territory at the Dansville 49. After a negative yardage play, it was time for LeRoy to strike. On 2nd and 11 from the 50, with half time quickly approaching, the Knights went deep as Jake Higgins connected with Peter Clark on a great throw and catch. 50 yards later, the score was Dansville 8, LeRoy 6. Jake Higgins, with strong second and third efforts, would plunge into the end zone, the PAT knotting the score at 8-8 at halftime. Jude Sherman would return the second half kick off 13 yards to LeRoy’s 43 yard line. The Knights offense would be stymied again by the Mustangs, as they would force a 4 and out to take the ball over at the LeRoy 46 yard line. Dansville would proceed to take the ball and march methodically down field, including a nifty throw and catch on 3rd down, and eventually find themselves with a 4th and goal at the LeRoy 3 yard line. This time, the LeRoy defense would come up short as the Mustangs got around the right end for the score. A successful PAT kick made the score Dansville 16, LeRoy 8. LeRoy, faced with their second 8 point deficit of the day, would get the ball at their own 46 yard line to start their next drive. Carries by Adam Woodworth, Jack Egeling and Peter Clark brought up a crucial 4 & 1 for the Knights. Unwilling to be denied, Jake Higgins burst through the line for 6 yards and a first down. Two short gains set up a crucial 3rd and 8 at theMustangs 41. Again, LeRoy would put the ball in the air as Alex Spezzano connected with Peter Clark for 11 yards and a huge first down. Multiple runs by Egeling, Higgins and Woodworth would move the ball down to the 5 yard line and a 1st and goal. Jake Higgins then rumbled for a tough 4 yards taking the ball to the 1 yard line. Benefiting from a huge push by his offensive line,Alex Spezzano would cap the 15 play drive on a quarterback keeper. Again, LeRoy needed a crucial PAT to tie the score and again, Jake Higgins would not be denied as he ran over a would be Mustang defender to make it 16-16. With 2 minutes left in regulation, Dansville would take over at their 45 with 3 time outs to spare. After a 6 yard gain on 1st down Aaric Luce burried the Mustang ball carrier for a 5 yard loss setting up 3rd and 9. The Mustangs would connect on a swing pass that appeared would be enough to get the first down and continue a potential game winning drive. However, Jake Higgins came flying up from his OLB position to stop the ball carrier just short, setting up 4th and 1 from the LeRoy 46. The Mustangs would look again to get around the right side however, for the second play in a row; Higgins would come up with a text book tackle stopping the ball carrier just short of the first down marker. LeRoy’s final drive of regulation would end at the 25 yard line as time expired. For the second time of the day, both teams would meet at mid-field for a coin toss. This time to determine who would get the ball first in overtime. The format, both teams would get the ball at the opponent’s 10 yard line with 4 chances to score. LeRoy would win the toss and choose to go on defense first. A defense that had been pushed to the limits all day needed four more stops. On the first play, a holding call pushed the Mustangs back to the 23 yard line. LeRoy’s defense would flex their muscles one more time lead by Joey Reschke , Holden Sullivan, DJ O’Geen, Aaric Luce and Zander Staba with Dansville’s final pass attempt falling short, as Zander Staba and Aaric Luce closed in on the quarterback. It was now the Knights turn, a score of any kind and the game would be over. LeRoy’s possession, just like Dansville’s, began with a penalty, this time an illegal motion pushed the Knights back 5 yards. They nowhad 4 plays to go, 15 yards for the Championship. Carries of 5 yards and 3 yards by Higgins set up 3rd and goal from the 7. On 3rd down, Adam “Bucha” Woodworth looked like he might get to the edge and the pilon however, as they did all day, Dansville’s D swarmed to stop him at the 3 bringing up 4th and goal. LeRoy would go BIG as they sent a power backfield of Jack Egeling, linemen Aaric Luce and Jake Higgins onto the field. Behind the line of Wyatt Draper, Jayce Jedrewski and Grady Gilligan, Higgins followed his lead blockers Luce and Egeling virtually untouched into the end zone giving LeRoy the win and the Championship. Jake Higgins led the Knights on offense with 77 yards on 20 carries, 2 PAT’s and was also 2-3 throwing the ball for 66 yards and a touchdown pass. Peter Clark had two catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Alex Spezzano scored a touchdown on his only carry. Adam Woodworth, Jude Sherman, Jack Egeling & Peter Clark combined for 26 tough yards on the ground. Defensively for the Knights, Zander Staba was involved in 16 tackles and Wyatt Draper 10 tackles. Aaric Luce and Jake Higgins were in on 8 tackles and Luce recorded a pass deflection. Jack Egeling, DJ O’Geen, Peter Clark and Holden Sullivan added 3 tackles a piece. Joey Reschke has 2 tackles, both coming in overtime. In addition, recording tackles were Noah Kaczanowski, Cole Tonzi, Jackson Burnside, Brayden Chase, Adam Woodworth, Jude Sherman and Tavis Landen. A Special Congratulations to the members of LeRoy’s 6th grade class that finished their Youth Football careers having been apart of 36 straight wins and 4 Championships!