Fri, Nov 20 2009

Crunch 2009

CRUNCH VIDEO: Niagara-Wheatfield Cheerleaders

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CRUNCH FEATURE 6: Bongi helping Spartans stay afloat

Losing isn’t easy. Especially when it comes in bunches.
But it’s how you respond that defines you. And Derek Bongiovanni has responded about the best any high school senior could to an 0-5 record.
“He’s probably the main reason we haven’t fallen off the face of the Earth,” veteran Starpoint coach Al Cavagnaro said of his senior captain.
Bongiovanni has faced some hard knocks before though. As a sophomore he played quarterback for the JV, despite not having a liking for the position. Needless to say, it didn’t go well.
“I wasn’t comfortable, but the coaches needed me there, so I did it,” Bongiovanni said. “I struggled. We struggled as a team, too.”
The following year Bongiovanni found himself on the varsity, which already had a proven signal caller in three-year starter Joe Scibilia. That gave Bongiovanni the opportunity to move to receiver, a spot he had longed to play.
“I’ve always had a passion for receiver,” he said. “Even when I was younger, my favorite players in the NFL were receivers.”
Bongiovanni immediately found success at the position, quickly becoming Scibilia’s top target. By season’s end he picked up second team all-Class A and CRUNCH honorable mention honors.
“You could see in his eyes how much more relaxed he was at receiver,” Cavagnaro said. “He really blossomed late last year.”
His development continued into the offseason as he began to strike up a relationship with sophomore quarterback Branden Wehrmeyer. Cavagnaro said Bongiovanni had a great Buffalo Bills passing league, building his confidence up even more.
And even though the Spartans’ offense has struggled this fall, Bongiovanni has made a profound impact. The 6-foot-2 wideout is the team’s leading receiver and perhaps most notably has made several highlight-worthy catches, Cavagnaro said.
“Every ball thrown to him he catches,” the coach added. “He makes a bad ball look good. He’s right up there with the best guys in our league. And every catch he makes seems to be a big one.”
“I actually think I’m better at catching those crazy balls than the ones thrown right at me,” Bongiovanni said with a laugh.
For Starpoint to get in the win column over the next two or three weeks, Bongiovanni will likely have to come up with a fair share of those type of grabs.
“Whatever it takes, I just want to win,” Bongiovanni said. “We’re due for one.”
Bongiovanni said he plans to major in aerospace engineering next fall. He is unsure of his gridiron future.
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.

“I actually think I’m better at catching those crazy balls than the ones thrown right at me.”

DEREK BONGIOVANNI
• SCHOOL: Starpoint
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Wide receiver
• STAT: Leads team in receptions
• ACCOLADES: CRUNCH honorable mention last fall… second team all-Class A receiver last year… team captain.
• COACH’S QUOTE: “He’s probably the main reason we haven’t fallen off the face of the earth.”
— Al Cavagnaro

NIAGARA FALLS NOTEBOOK 6: Wolverines will rise to the occasion

Some might say the Wolverines are crumbling before our eyes. They suffered a crushing loss to Williamsville North a week ago and appear to be without suspended starting quarterback Bruce Hartinger for the rest of the season. Not to mention, their toughest two opponents — North Tonawanda and Lockport — are still on tap.
“Good teams rise to the occasion and we are a good team,” coach Don Bass said. “I always tell the team to forget about the last and concentrate on the next and that’s what we’ll do. We will bounce back.”
Bass added that running backs Durelle Crittenden and John Mallard are still suspended from the team along with Hartinger.
• Dale Stewart will continue to run the offense this week. He ran for 17 carries, 137 yards and two touchdown last week from the quarterback position. He also threw the ball well in spots and Bass expects his accuracy to only improve.
One of Stewart’s main targets is Darryl Smith, who Bass called “the most consistent player I have this year.” Tailbacks Quandray Gray, Justin Healy and Bo Payne will continue to share carries, Bass said.
Bass added that Anthony Moss has been steadily improving on both sides of the ball.
• NFHS will play its final home game of the regular season tomorrow when the unbeaten Lumberjacks come to town. NT features several weapons and a unique offense to defend — the triple option.
“NT is a great program — nothing fancy, just hard-nose, mistake-free football,” Bass said. “We have to exceed their intensity and play hard-nose, mistake-free football. We have to hang cloth in every gap and tackle, tackle, tackle.”
Bass also said he plans to use the David vs. Goliath story to motivate his team prior to the game.
— Nate Beutel

NC NOTEBOOK 6: Patriots' linemen have stepped up

Dave DeVaughn might have grabbed the headlines after last weekend’s win over Nichols, but a majority of the credit goes to the Patriots’ offensive line.
“They opened up a lot of holes,” coach Don Marinucci said. “They were really pushing. And they didn’t stop even in the fourth quarter.”
Among those who stood out on the offensive line were Melvin Dyster, D.J. Virtuoso, Mark Nearhood, Justin Waas, Zach Poreda and Steve Beck.
• DeVaughn had a career day running the ball, while both Zach Evans and Jordan Rhodes threw the ball well. Evans hooked up with Rhodes for a TD and Rhodes, a Niagara Falls transfer, connected with Mike Richbart for two scores.
DeVaughn started in place of King Fatunmbi, who is out three to four weeks with a hairline fracture in his leg.
• NC continued to struggle on the defensive side of the ball, though, allowing the Vikings to hang around thanks in large part to several big third- and fourth-down conversions.
“The number one thing we need to change on defense is our attitude,” Marinucci said. “The kids are where they are supposed to be, they’re just not finishing the plays off. They need to have that mean, finishing mentality on every play.”
• Marinucci was pleased with the improvement of his special teams, specifically punter and kicker Jeff Hare, who had two punts of 40 yards or more.
• The status of tomorrow’s non-league game against Section V’s Charles Finney was still up in the air as of press time. Marinucci said Finney double-booked this weekend, leaving NC’s Homecoming game in doubt. If the game is played, though, the Patriots will be looking to avenge a narrow week one road loss.
“We have too many weapons for them, our defense just has to tighten up,” the coach said.
— Nate Beutel

LEW-PORT NOTEBOOK 6: Lancers ground game gets rolling

The Lancers got off the ground in a big way during last week’s pasting of Newfane. Eight different players got carries as Lew-Port pounded the Panthers 42-6 in Class B North action.
“We were able to spread the ball around,” coach Dick Lindamer said. “It was nice to see.”
Joe Hill finished with 63 yards on seven carries, Devon Amado had 51 yards on four carries, Marc Morreale added 48 yards on four carries, Paul Magers picked up 34 yards on six rushes and Matt Cattarin even ran for 28 yards on two carries.
Lindamer added that Brandon Young had an extremely strong game up front. And Lew-Port did all this without starting tailback Dan Raybon, who missed his second consecutive game because of injury. Lindamer said he will return this week.
• Morreale set a new school record with an 87-yard punt return. The previous record of 85 yards was shared by H.J. Smith (1977) and Jeff Shewan (1989).
Morreale has ran for two TDs, caught two TDs, thrown for two TDs and returned a punt for one TD this fall. Amado, meanwhile, had scored a TD every week this season.
• Defensively, Hill had a strong game, notching nine tackles and a fumble recovery. Joe Meyers and Sean Drennan each recorded a sack.
• Tonight’s game against Depew at Blakeslee Stadium is a must-win for the Lancers, who are currently 3-2 in the divisional play. A win virtually locks them into the playoffs, while a loss likely puts them in the bowls.
“We are really looking forward to having a meaningful game at home in week six,” Lindamer said.
The Wildcats are coming off a tough 6-0 loss to unbeaten Cheektowaga last week. They have allowed only 35 points all season.
— Nate Beutel

N-W NOTEBOOK 6: Wheatfield coach expecting better effort

The scoreboard hasn’t looked pretty the last few weeks for the Falcons. N-W has been outscored 85-0 the last two games, causing first-year coach Dave Hack to ask his players to dig deep.
“Any time you participate in competitive sports the focus is on effort and execution,” he said. “(NT’s) players gave great effort the entire game (last week). That’s an area where we really need to improve. I need to motivate them to ensure that they are giving their maximum effort.”
Despite an 0-3 Class AA North record, the Falcons do have a slim shot at the playoffs if they win their final two games against Kenmore West and Williamsville North.
• The Falcons have not scored in two weeks and Hack said he takes full responsibility. He said the focus this past week has returned to fundamentals and assignments.
Last week, Will Cody again led the team in rushing with 64 yards on nine carries. Isaiah Nalls had 40 yards on 12 rushes.
• Tyler Marchetti stood out on special teams with a couple nice kick returns, Hack said. Specials are an area where Hack said his staff has placed an increased focus on with hopes of swinging momentum in their favor.
• Defensively, Hack again cited the play of defensive linemen Jim Donner, Adam Donner and Matt Knotts along with linebacker Pat Ciera.
• N-W travels to West tomorrow for a must-win division game. And despite the Blue Devils being winless, Hack knows they are still dangerous.
“Ken West is a good team,” he said. “A few breaks in their favor and their record is quite different. We need to contain their running back/quarterback (Warren Hemphill). He is a very good player and could be dangerous if he gets loose.”
— Nate Beutel

GI NOTEBOOK 6: GI has options on the outside

They might not be household names like Alex Neutz, Lance Robinson and Chris Podlucky, but the Vikings’ receiving corps this fall isn’t too shabby. Nick Kellner, Chris Gibney and Pat Gallagher are each improving and gaining the confidence of quarterback Joel Klock and coach Dean Santorio.
“All three of them have the ability to make plays and we are willing to throw to all of them,” Santorio said. “It is nice to be able to spread the ball around.”
Santorio said their stalk blocking will be key as the season heads into the homestretch.
• Klock was extremely efficient last week, finishing 9-of-12 passing for 133 yards and three scores. He did all of his work in the first half. Tailback Andy LaLonde also had a nice day running the ball behind the Vikings’ line, which was led by Jeff Lariviere and Jake Killian.
• Defensively, Eric Harnden did a nice job plugging up the middle at defensive tackle, Santorio said. That allowed linebackers Brett Dlugosz and Tygue Busch to come up with nine tackles each. Santorio also liked the efforts of Ben Tomkins and Scott Rogers.
• GI also has a big weapon in the kicking game with Nate Benoit. The junior booted two field goals and five extra points last week.
“He is going to be a big factor the next few weeks and the playoffs,” Santorio said. He is very consistent and has a strong leg. When you feel comfortable kicking a 45-yard field goal if you need one, that is a big luxury to have.”
• GI hosts a banged-up Lake Shore squad today. The game is critical for Class A playoff positioning as both teams have two division wins to their credit.
“We have not turned the ball over the last two weeks and that has been the biggest factor in our team performing at a higher level,” Santorio said.
— Nate Beutel

WILSON NOTEBOOK 6: Lakemen need to get run game going

Call it the curse of CRUNCH. Just a couple weeks after standout tailback Nate Meier adorned the cover of this publication for his ground work, he’s hit a wall. But it’s not just him. The Lakemen have struggled to run the ball the last few weeks and as a result have been overpowered and worn down by both Eden and Cleveland Hill.
“Our running game after three games was at least in the top 10 of Western New York,” coach Bill Atlas said. “These last two games we’ve really struggled to run the ball. We need to get that back on track.”
Against the Eagles, Wilson had minus-35 yards rushing on 20 attempts.
• The passing game has been hit or miss for the Lakemen this fall, although 6-foot-3 senior receiver Ethan Baker broke the school record for receptions (88) and touchdowns (15) in a career last week. Baker, a four-year starter, is only 101 yards away from the career receiving yards record as well.
• Defensively, Meier and Pat Walch continue to lead the way. Meier had 14 tackles, while Walch was right behind with 12. Meier also had an interception.
Sophomore Cameron Sidote added 12 tackles and Brandon Culverwell had 10 stops. Jake Maacks had a fumble recovery.
• With a win against divisional foe Royalton-Hartland tonight, the Lakemen can wrap up the third seed in Class C North. That will result in a semifinal trip to the second seed in Class C South, Cassadaga Valley in two weeks.
“Roy-Hart has been playing some very tough football,” Atlas said. “Their record (1-4) doesn’t show it, but they have played some very good teams very well. It will be a tough week.”
The Rams are well known for their trick plays under veteran offensive coordinator Don Baker.
— Nate Beutel

STARPOINT NOTEBOOK 6: Spartans continue to battle

The Spartans might not yet be in the win column, but veteran coach Al Cavagnaro said any casual fan would have never guessed by watching his team battle unbeaten Williamsville South last Friday night.
“I thought we played very hard,” he said. “Two blown coverages game them scores. We had the ball at their 1-yard line before half and could not score. We definitely played much better than the week before (an 18-7 loss to Lake Shore).”
A slew of injuries to an already-thin and inexperienced offensive line and starting tailback Brandon Kopp really limited the team offensively, Cavaganaro added.
• Despite the 28-0 score, Cavagnaro was happy with the way his team’s defense performed against arguably Western New York’s top offensive attack.
He said that coordinator Shawn Latini put together a good scheme to get pressure on Billies quarterback Joe Licata. D.J. McAninch and Josh Elizalde provided a bulk of the pass rush.
Denver Kopp and Victor Schul continued their strong play on defense, Cavagnaro added.
• Tyler Smith played well at running back, while Derek Bongiovanni caught a couple nice balls from quarterback Branden Wehrmeyer.
Cavagnaro also cited Matt Doyle for a nice 63-yard fake punt pass to Cory Regnet and a couple solid kick returns.
• Starpoint continues a tough stretch tomorrow when they travel to defending state champion Sweet Home. The unbeaten and explosive Panthers are coming off a dominating road victory over previously-undefeated Iroquois last week.
“We have the toughest schedule in the A division,” Cavagnaro said. “We knew that coming in. No one is going to give you anything. Sweet Home is Sweet Home. We need to bring our ‘A’ game and keep playing great defense.”
— Nate Beutel

CRUNCH VIDEO: Grand Island Cheerleading

CRUNCH FEATURE 4: Falls' Stewart is the second coming of Starks

When Dale Stewart touches the ball, special things happen for the Niagara Falls Wolverines.
Sound familiar?
Think back to earlier this decade when people were saying the same thing about NFL Draft prospect James Starks.
“James ‘Buck’ Starks is the best high school football player I’ve ever seen,” current NFHS coach Don Bass said this past week. “And Dale Stewart is on his way to being next in line.”
Pretty high praise for a first-year varsity player. But when you consider that Stewart is Starks’ younger brother, it’s easy to see the comparison.
“It’s in our blood,” the junior all-purpose player said.
From a young age, Stewart used to watch Starks closely. He always attended his games and even served as waterboy when Starks quarterbacked NFHS.
“He inspired me to be good,” Stewart said. “He pushed me to be the best athlete I can be. I learned a lot from him.”
Bass has noticed.
“He has the same swagger as Buck did — that same calm demeanor, though, too,” the coach said, while noting that both players are also very coachable.
That type of attitude comes from the brother’s mother, Lillie Hall, who instilled manners in the two boys from an early age.
“My mom has been a great role model for us,” Stewart said. “She’d do anything for her kids.”
Bass wouldn’t mind another speedster to add to his stable in the future.
“I told Dale to tell his mother I need her to send me another son, 15-years old and heading into the ninth grade next year,” the coach said with a laugh.
For now, though, he’ll stick with Stewart, who has been a sparkplug for the Falls thus far this season. He has scored six touchdowns in the first three games. Included in that total are rushes, receptions, a kick return and a fumble return.
“He has a flair for the big play,” Bass said. “This allows me to use him in a myriad of ways. He also has great timed speed — 4.4 40-yard dash — but his football speed is even more staggering.”
“I’m an athlete,” Stewart added. “It doesn’t matter where I play, I just like to have the ball in my hands and try my hardest.”
Stewart, who is 6-foot, 175 pounds, hopes to play Division I college football like his older brother in the future. He’s also striving to perhaps meet up with Starks at the sports’ highest level as evidenced by the signature on his text messages — “nfl caliber draft decision.”
“I always tell myself if I work hard, I can be one of the people that make the NFL and that it’s the NFL’s decision whether or not to draft me,” Stewart said.
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.

DALE STEWART
• SCHOOL: Niagara Falls
• GRADE: Junior
• POSITION: Running back, wide receiver, free safety and kick returner
• STAT: Six TDs through three games
• COACH’S QUOTE: “He has a flair for the big play.”
— Don Bass

NIAGARA FALLS NOTEBOOK 4: Wolverines are showing resiliency

Trailing by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, panic never set in for the Wolverines. And even coach Don Bass admits that’s a far cry from years past.
“But this team believes in what we’re trying to do,” he said. “I was very impressed with the way our team fought back and kept their composure.”
What made the comeback even more impressive was the fact that the Falls had built an 18-0 lead in the first quarter before allowing Clarence to come all the way back.
• The 32 points the Falls scored was a season-high and one of the best totals since Bass took over the program a few year back.
“We are getting better at recognizing what is available to us and taking advantage of those openings,” Bass said.
It doesn’t hurt to have playmakers like Dale Stewart, Durelle Crittenden, Bo Payne, Branton Shine and Darryl Smith on your roster. And quarterback Bruce Hartinger is coming along nicely, too, Bass said. The signal caller is now seeing all parts of the field when he drops back.
• On the defensive side of the ball, Paul Kennon was an animal at his tackle position. With the Bulldogs driving late in the game, he burst through his gap and caused an 11-yard loss. Smith also played well, including a big stop on a 4th-and-2 with just minutes left in the game. Linebackers Mike McCartney and Jalen Gayle also had nice games, Bass said.
• Now at 2-1 on the season, the Falls returns to Class AA North play with a trip to rival Niagara-Wheatfield tomorrow afternoon.
“N-W always steps up when it’s time to play us,” Bass said. “We have to meet that challenge this time. We must execute our gameplan and tackle, tackle, tackle…”
— Nate Beutel

NC NOTEBOOK 4: Patriots' confidence is rising

The scoreboard might not have shown it, but Niagara Catholic took away a lot of positives from last week’s 42-18 loss at Timon. The Patriots churned out some nice yards on the ground in the second half and even had a few pass plays work.
“We were a nervous wreck in the first half, playing a large school,” NC coach Don Marinucci admitted. “But then we started to get things going and we ended up playing right with a tough, physical Timon team.”
• Marinucci was extremely pleased with his second-half running game. Tailbacks King Fatunmbi and Dave DeVaughn each ran hard with help from the NC offensive line, which is comprised of Justin Waas, D.J. Virtuoso, Mark Nearhood, Melvin Dyster, Ben Webb, Zack Poreda and Steve Beck.
“King seems to get stronger and stronger every week and Dave is starting to come around nicely, too,” Marinucci said.
• Starting quarterback Zach Evans will not be available for tomorrow’s game because of a family commitment, Marinucci said. Jordan Rhodes, who transferred from Niagara Falls a few weeks back, will start under center.
“He’s still got some things to learn back there, but he’s pretty talented,” Marinucci said.
• NC does not have any notable injuries, which is a pleasant surprise for Marinucci.
“I can’t remember the last time we were this healthy this late in the year,” he said with a chuckle.
• NC has a big task on its hands tomorrow when the five-time defending Monsignor Martin League A champions from Cardinal O’Hara visit Conti Field.
“They are very fast,” Marinucci said of the Hawks, who are led by running back Rob Davis. “Our best defense against O’Hara is keeping their offense off the field. We need to be able to run the ball and chew up clock.”
— Nate Beutel

STARPOINT NOTEBOOK 4: Spartans are making strides

Sure they came out on the wrong end of the scoreboard for the third week in a row, but the youthful Spartans showed vast improvements over the first two weeks. Starpoint actually held a 7-0 lead into the fourth quarter over perennial power Iroquois before losing, 22-7.
“Our staff and players agree that we are getting better,” coach Al Cavagnaro said. “This is a tough league and you have to play your best every week. I think we’re headed in that direction now.”
• A big reason for Cavagnaro’s optimism is the improvement his defense has made. The Spartans and coordinator Shawn Latini were much more aggressive in their schemes against Iroquois and it seemed to work out well for the first three quarters, Cavagnaro said.
Denver Kopp led the team with 15 tackles and three forced fumbles, while Victor Schul has his second consecutive strong effort with 11 stops. Josh Elizalde added 10 tackles.
• The offense also showed signs of life as sophomore quarterback Branden Wehrmeyer continues to progress. He only completed 6-of-18 passes, but he did make plays out of the pocket. Derek Bongiovanni was the team’s leading receiver for the third straight week. The return of running Brandon Kopp from injury also helped, Cavagnaro said.
• Matt Doyle punted the ball well, pinning the Chiefs deep several times, Cavagnaro said. The coach also cited Dalton Maska, who moved to center and did an excellent job.
• The Spartans will travel to Hamburg tomorrow in search of their first win against Lake Shore. The Eagles’ are playing all of their home games at Hamburg’s new turf complex. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m.
“We have to stay up and be confident this week,” Cavagnaro said. “We need to get out to good start and run the ball better to help Wehrmeyer.”
— Nate Beutel

GI NOTEBOOK 4: Vikings still have high hopes

The standings might say 0-3, but that doesn’t mean the Vikings are giving up on this season. In fact, they’re treating this week as a new beginning with an ending goal of making the Class A playoffs.
“As a program we will always work hard regardless of our record and our expectations will always be to make the playoffs,” coach Dean Santorio said. “I really believe we will see a big improvement over the next four or five weeks. We will not go through the motions. The only thing you can do is work hard as always and take pride in what you do.”
• The main problem for GI this season has been turnovers. The past two weeks, the Vikings have turned it over 10 times with all of them inside their own 25. Two of them were returned for touchdowns.
“There is no excuse for our lack of ball security,” Santorio said. “We have shown that we are capable, especially against Williamsville South and Sweet Home, of playing with anybody. And I would venture to guess that if we forced 10 turnovers the past two weeks, we would have won.”
• Brett Dlugosz was a monster on both sides of the ball last week against Sweet Home. He had 16 tackles on defense and ran the ball for 66 yards and two scores from his fullback position. Santorio also cited his lead blocking for tailbacks Andy LaLonde and Joe Connors.
The offensive line, which included Jeff LaRiviere, Pat Antonelli, Jake Killian, Keith Skelly and Eric Harnden, was also much improved, according to Santorio.
• GI will look to get in the win column tomorrow when its hosts Kenmore East and all-purpose player Kevin Wagner.
“He is really the guy that makes that team go,” Santorio said. “We will do everything we can to make sure he doesn’t hurt us.”
— Nate Beutel

N-W NOTEBOOK 4: Wheatfield has remained focused

Niagara-Wheatfield showed it can hang with the big boys — for parts of a game. The Falcons held a 12-0 lead at Lockport last Saturday before David Fluellen went off in the second half to lead LHS to the 27-12 Class AA North win.
“We were really pleased with the passion and effort that our guys gave… but the game is one of momentum and opportunities,” coach Dave Hack explained. “Lockport has some fine players and they made some real nice plays. We need to continue to capitalize on our opportunities and limit the opportunities of our opponents.”
• N-W’s defense was really solid for most of the game with senior captain Jim Donner leading the way. He finished with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery.
“Jim Donner is a pleasure to work with,” Hack said. “His efforts continue to be outstanding.
Just behind him in tackles was linebacker Devon Strausburg, who has six stops and a sack. Hack also cited the play of game-changing nose guard Matt Knotts, defensive end Adam Donner, linebackers Pat Ciera and Jake Kelly and defensive backs Will Cody and Ken Alexander. Ciera and Alexander each had a fumble recovery.
• On the offensive side of the ball. Joe Ditto continues to be quarterback Mike Hardy’s top target. Ditto finished with four catches for 35 yards. Cody had 15 carries and 41 yards at tailback. His younger brother, Alec Cody, played well on special teams, according to Hack.
• The Falcons will host rival Niagara Falls in a critical Class AA North game tomorrow at Terry Harvey Field. NFHS is coming off back-to-back wins, while N-W will attempt to stay in the thick of the playoff race.
“Niagara Falls is a good football team… well coached and have some solid players,” Hack said. “We need to work hard in practice and continue to give great effort and execute the gameplan.”
— Nate Beutel

LEW-PORT NOTEBOOK 4: Lancers getting balanced attack

It was offensive coordinator and head coach Dick Lindamer’s dream — the Lewiston-Porter offense hitting on all cylinders. It did exactly that during last week’s 41-29 Class B North victory at Medina.
“We had a good mix of inside run, outside run and pass,” Lindamer said. “The key is balance. We were able to sustain several long drives and also hit a couple big pass plays.”
The running game really picked up with tailback Dan Raybon rushing for 104 yards and a TD on 23 carries. Devon Amado added 90 yards and a TD on nine rushes and Joe Hill had 49 yards on 13 carries.
Marc Morreale ran for a touchdown, threw a touchdown and caught a touchdown in the win. Quarterback Matt Cattarin was 4-of-8 for 74 yards in the win.
In total, the Lancers racked up 415 yards on 63 plays and have not not punted since week one.
“Morreale, Amado and Raybon are emerging as legitimate threats to complement Cattarin,” Lindamer said. “And the line is starting to come together with Brandon Young, Steve Sydor, Bashar Srouji, Jeremy Crone and Kevin McMurray.”
• Lew-Port’s defense wasn’t all the bad either, only allowing two touchdowns to the Mustangs’ high-octane offense. Medina, which was shutout in the second half, also scored on a kick return and fumble return.
• Today, Lew-Port travels to Cheektowaga for a key Class B North battle with the unbeaten Warriors. Both teams have beat Tonawanda and Lew-Port this year.
“This week is important because we can put another team behind us (in the standings),” Lindamer said. “I’m not sure who the top teams in the division are yet. I think Cheektowaga is a solid team. It will be a good test of how much we have grown.”
— Nate Beutel

WILSON NOTEBOOK 4: Lakemen entering critical stretch

Blowout home wins over Akron and JFK were nice. A narrow come-from-behind road victory over Gowanda was even more impressive.
But it’s how the Lakemen fare the next weeks, against fellow unbeatens Eden and Cleveland Hill, which will determine who has the upper hand in the Class C North race.
“The next two weeks will really show how C North will shake out for the playoffs,” coach Bill Atlas said. “Eden and Cleve Hill are playing some really good football.”
n Wilson’s top offensive weapons have been pretty impressive themselves. Receiver Ethan Baker continued his strong play with five catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Two of his receptions came on virtual “jump balls” from quarterback John Vincent (9-of-19, 94 yards, TD, INT), according to Atlas.
Nate Meier continued to run the ball well, amassing 122 yards and a TD on 19 carries.
n Defensively, Meier led the way with 15 tackles, followed by Pat Walch and Cameron Sidote with six stops apiece and Brandon Culverwell with five tackles. Walch also had two interceptions and Baker added a pick.
n The Lakemen suffered no significant injuries a week ago and got good news earlier this week when placekicker Hank Smith was cleared to practice. He broke a bone in his foot in the preseason.
n Tomorrow’s opponent, Eden, is coached by former Tonawanda coach Chuck Tilley. Local fans will remember that the double tight, double-wing offense is his speciality.
“It’s very difficult to stop this offense when it is run well and you have the athletes that Eden does,” Atlas said. “Our only hope is to stop them on first and second down and putting them in some passing situations and then hoping we can defend it.”
Atlas would also like to see better efficiency and execution from his offense throughout.

CRUNCH FEATURE: Wilson’s Meier is no joke

Hit up Hutchison Stadium on a Friday night and you’re bound to hear a bunch of oohs and ahs. Nine times out of 10 they come courtesy of tailback Nate Meier, who is a master of jukes, speed changes, cutbacks, etc. ...
“To me hitting someone is not that big of a deal, but when you can make someone miss — make them look silly — that means a lot more to me,” the Wilson senior said.
Just having a player like Meier in the backfield means a lot to Lakemen coach Bill Atlas.
“I love his shiftiness,” the coach said. “The way he sees the field and visualizes things is pretty special. He suits our offense perfectly because he’s able to wait for the hole to develop and as soon as it opens, he gets through it quickly.”
Meier made the switch to running back late last season and since then has really taken off. He said he feels most comfortable in the backfield because it allows him to survey the defense before every snap.
So far this fall, Meier is having his way with defenses. In a week one win over Akron, he ran for 163 yards and two touchdowns on his way to a weekly Connolly Cup nomination. He followed that up last week with another 100-yard performance in Wilson’s victory over JFK.
“I’ve really been impressed with his toughness and durability so far,” Atlas said. “He’s carried it a bunch of times and just kept getting up. He’s been great.”
All this praise and Meier’s defense hasn’t even been mentioned. He plays strong safety, a position that is one of the most important in the team’s defensive scheme. Last year he was one of the team’s top tacklers.
“I actually like defense a lot, making big stops here and there,” Meier said. “Honestly, I wouldn’t feel right not playing defense. I would feel like I wasn’t contributing enough to the team.”
In truth, Meier probably contributes the most to the Lakemen. He is also their ace kickoff and punt returner.
“We’ve only received three kickoffs this whole year, but with his explosiveness, it’s only time before he breaks a long one,” Atlas said. “I’m actually really excited to see that.”
Speaking of excitement, there’s a lot of it surrounding the Lakemen program thus far this fall. The team is off to a 2-0 start, causing expectations to jump on a weekly basis.
“A lot of us have not had this type of winning feeling before, so we need to make sure we stay hungry for that next win every single week,” Meier said, while adding that his personal goals for the year include 1,000 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns and a trip to Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Meier said he’s unsure of his college plans, but football may be included if the fit is right.
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.

NATE MEIER
• SCHOOL: Niagara Catholic
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Running Back, Safety
• STATS: 39 carries, 274 yards, three touchdowns
• COACH’S QUOTE: “The way he sees the field and visualizes things is pretty special.”
— Bill Atlas

NIAGARA FALLS NOTEBOOK 3: NFHS defense was swarming

Any time it seemed like Ken West tailback Warren Hemphill had an opening last week, it quickly closed. The Wolverines’ defense was stellar throughout, just a week after getting shredded by St. Joe’s.
“I really liked the way we swarmed to the ball — we tackled much better, too,” coach Don Bass said, while crediting the work of coordinator Jon Robins and assistant Ken Jones.
Returning all-CRUNCH performer Jalen Gayle was at the top of his game, notching a team-leading 10 tackles. Laeson Bradley had a breakout game with eight stops, including three for loss.
Bass also liked the way Billy Gee, Paul Kennon, Jermaine Fryling and Mike McCartney played on the defensive side of the ball.
• Offensively, NFHS was better, but not nearly good enough for Bass’ liking. He said his team left too many points out on the board and failed to establish the running game as profoundly as he would prefer.
He did, however, note that quarterback Bruce Hartinger is really coming into his own. He’s developing some nice chemistry with wideout Branton Shine and all-purpose speedster Dale Stewart.
• The Falls’ line is a bit dinged up, but the only serious injury is Marquan Myles’ knee sprain. He missed last week and is considered a game-time decision this week, Bass said.
• With a 1-0 division record, NFHS crosses over with the difficult south for a non-league contest with Clarence tomorrow. The Red Devils have played Sweet Home and Lancaster — two spread teams — to begin the year, so Bass is pointing to execution as the game’s No. 1 key.
“We have to establish ball control,” he said, while adding that he’d also like to a vast improvement in his kicking game. Current placekicker Darryl Smith has struggled mightily with his extra points.

LEW-PORT NOTEBOOK 3: Lancers need a win tonight

It was only one loss, but Dick Lindamer doesn’t want it to start a trend. With a stated goal of making the playoffs, the Lancers know this week’s tilt at Class B North foe Medina is critical following last week’s loss to Maryvale.
“We need to beat Medina this week because our goal is to win football games,” the coach said. “It’s a short season, only seven games, so every one is important.”
Lindamer added that his team has to be focused in all three aspects of the game as it heads to Orleans County.
• Lew-Port does seem to be gaining a bit of momentum with its defensive front seven. While the secondary had some breakdowns last week, the big bodies played well for the most part, Lindamer said.
Joe Meyers had another strong game at defensive end, while Brandon Young has shown great improvement at the other end position. Inside linebackers Joe Hill and Steve Sydor have also been solid, Lindamer said.
• Offensively, the Lancers again showed flashes of greatness. Quarterback Matt Cattarin began the game 8-of-11 for 102 yards as Lew-Port built an early lead. Receiver Devon Amado had his second consecutive big game, amassing 90 yards in the ground and 30 yards receiving. He scored on an end-around. Marc Morreale also scored a TD and Dan Sharpe had four catches for 45 yards.
• Amado and Morreale both suffered from severe cramps last week, but will play tonight.
• Lew-Port’s biggest task tonight will be containing strong-armed Medina quarterback Levi Pace. The 6-foot-6 senior can also make things happen with his feet.
“We will need to be solid against the run and pass this week,” Lindamer said. “Offensively, we need to finish drives and continue to improve our execution and eliminate mistakes.”

NC NOTEBOOK 3: Patriots will play this week

Turns out, it will only be one week off for the Patriots. Niagara Catholic hooked up with Monsignor Martin large school Timon for a non-league contest to be played tonight under the lights at Tifft Farms.
“It was either go two weeks without playing or play Timon — a bigger school and really tough, hard-nosed team,” coach Don Marinucci explained. “It’s kind of a double-edged sword. But in the end we wanted to get back out there on the field.”
• When NC does take the field tonight, it will have a new face in the lineup in Niagara Falls transfer Jordan Rhodes. The junior was the back-up quarterback at NFHS and appears poised to contribute right away for the Patriots.
Marinucci said he plans to use Rhodes at quarterback and receiver on offense and in the secondary on defense. He added that his arrival came just at the right time as starting signal caller Zach Evans will not be in attendance at next week’s game against Cardinal O’Hara.
“He’s been learning the playbook pretty quickly,” the coach said of Rhodes. “I like what I see from him so far.”
• Marinucci said the Tigers are a strong team that likes to run the ball straight ahead. That’s why he said he needs seniors D.J. Virtuoso, Marc Nearhood and Justin Waas to step up on the interior of the defensive line.
• As for an offensive gameplan, the Patriots plan to use their height and speed on the perimeter to their advantage. Marinucci believes Timon will have difficulty covering NC’s four-receiver attack, which includes Mouse Matthews, Mike Richbart, Steve Beck and Rhodes.
And if NC can get the air attack going, holes will likely begin to open up for tailbacks King Fatunmbi and Dave DeVaughn, Marinucci said.

N-W NOTEBOOK 3: Falcons still developing identity

Dave Hack never said it was going to be easy. So, after a crushing 38-12 defeat at the hands of Cheektowaga, the first-year Falcons coach sat his team down and reiterated some of the basic principles that will set his team apart in the future.
“We need to understand that the game is one of momentum and when you get it going in a positive direction you need to work to keep it going,” he said. “On the flip side, when things are not going in our favor we need to stay positive and do something to get it stopped and redirected. Losing a game is never fun, but we need to make sure we are exemplifying the hard work and discipline we possess.”
Hack said that transformation begins in practice where he would like to see a pace that is more “conducive to gameday productivity.”
• Despite allowing 38 points, Hack was still pleased with the efforts of his defense. Defensive tackle Matt Knotts earned a Trench Trophy nomination, while Pat Ciera and Jake Kelly each had six tackles to lead the team. Jim Donner and Adam Donner added five stops each, while Will Cody had an interception. Hack also cited Joe Ditto and Ken Alexander for strong play.
• The lone offensive bright spot was Anthony Oliveri, who threw his first career touchdown pass.
“We need to continue to work on our play execution,” Hack said, while noting necessary improvements from his offensive line and receivers.
• The Falcons open Class AA North play tomorrow when they visit Lockport and all-Western New York tailback David Fluellen. The senior has gashed N-W for huge games the past two seasons.
“Lockport is a good football team and David is a talented young man,” Hack said. “We will need to make sure we play assignments defensive football.”

GI NOTEBOOK 3: Vikings need to earn its stripes

The score jumped off the page — Hamburg 26, Grand Island 3. So, what happened?
“We feel we played very uninspired football ... after a high energy big game the week before,” coach Dean Santorio said. “There is no excuse for us to be as flat as we were. This team needs to understand that every game is a big game and nobody is going to just roll over because we are Grand Island.”
Santorio added that the focus during the week has been to put that “one poor performance” behind them and start fresh.
• GI’s biggest concern last week was turnovers. The Vikings gave it away five times, including four giveaways inside the Hamburg 30-yard line. While some of the errors were on quarterback Joel Klock and GI’s stable of running backs, others were the result of missed blocking assignments up front, Santorio said.
“We did not play physical enough,” he said of his experienced offensive line.
Receiver Pat Gallagher was one of the few bright spots with four catches for 61 yards. Placekicker Peter Benoit continued his hot start by booting a 24-yard field goal.
• Defensively, Santorio again noted that his team uncharacteristically lacked discipline. That said, GI’s linebackers all had nice games. Senior Tygue Busch led the way with 14 tackles, followed by Ben Tomkins and Brett Dlugosz with 12 stops each.
• GI will try to avoid an 0-3 start this week when they travel to defending state champion and rival Sweet Home. The Panthers are again strong and boast a stable of standout athletes, including D.J. Nettles and Mikal Coleman.
“We have to limit their big-play potential and force them to maintain a long drive if they are going to score,” Santorio said, while noting that coordinator Steve Steck always has a good gameplan for Sweet Home.

STARPOINT NOTEBOOK 3: Offense still a work in progress

The Spartans got the board for the first time this season in last week’s loss to Lockport. Sophomore Cory Regnet found the end zone from a yard out. While coach Al Cavagnaro is less than pleased with his team’s offensive results, he does believe there are positive signs.
“Our freshman linemen (Zack Penman and Steve Wilde) are holding up OK, our quarterback (Branden Wehrmeyer) was better…,” the coach said, while noting that new coordinator Tim Racey is doing an excellent job with the younger players. “This is a marathon, not a sprint and we all know that. I promise you we will be much harder to play against each week.”
• Wehrmeyer, only a sophomore, showed flashes of greatness last week. He finished 16-of-24 for 121 yards and two interceptions, but threw some really nice balls, Cavagnaro said.
His receiving core was also solid, led by Derek Bongiovanni’s six catches for 50 yards. Brendan Reinert added four catches for 35 yards. In the backfield, Josh Elizalde busted a couple nice runs from his fullback position, finishing with 40 yards on the ground.
• Defensively, Tyler Smith led the way with eight tackles. Victor Schul added six stops, while Dalton Maska and Jacob Wray were cited for their strong effort by Cavagnaro. Matt Doyle had a strong day returning kicks.
• On the injury front, tailback Brandon Kopp’s status for this week is still unclear, Cavagnaro said. He hurt his knee just prior to the Spartans’ opener. Andy Dadswell is also a bit banged up.
• Starpoint returns home this week for a tilt with perennial power Iroquois. The Chiefs are led by all-purpose player Calvin Sluberski.
“I have seen them twice this season and they seem to just reload,” Cavagnaro said of the Chiefs, who have scored 76 points in their two wins.
Tomorrow is also Homecoming and Alumni Recognition Day at Shirley Tudor Stadium.

WILSON NOTEBOOK 3: Baker gets back on track

After dropping a few balls the week before, all-Western New York candidate Ethan Baker began to get back in the groove during Friday’s win over JFK. The senior receiver, who is in his fourth season with the varsity, caught five balls for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
“It was a little bit of a breakout game for Ethan,” coach Bill Atlas said. “With the day that (Cody) Reimers had last week and the emergence of some of our other skill guys, things started to open up again for him.”
The man throwing Baker the ball, quarterback John Vincent, also had a solid game. The senior was 8-of-17 for 138 yards and the two TD strikes. He also ran one in for a score, showing off his track wheels.
n Another group that stood out in the win was the Lakemen defensive line. For the second consecutive week, Steve Rieger, Jacob Maacks and Kyle Martin were all near the top of the tackles list. Atlas attributed a lot of their success to the work coordinator Al Scarpine and defensive line coach Brian Baker do.
“They put them in the right spots and do a great job keeping them fresh,” Atlas said, while noting that as many as nine guys rotate in on the defensive line.
n With placekicker Hank Smith still recovering from a broken bone in his foot, Reimers booted 4-of-5 extra points. Mitch Thrush also had a nice game, returning an interception 80 yards for his first career TD.
n The Lakemen put their unblemished mark on the line tomorrow when they visit Gowanda at Eden. The Panthers have some dangerous weapons, most notably tailback Christian Van Note.
“I think we’re pretty evenly matched, so we need to make sure we keep our mental mistakes way down this week,” Atlas said.
— Nate Beutel

CRUNCH: Lew-Port Cheerleading Video

CRUNCH VIDEO: Wilson Cheerleading

CRUNCH FEATURE: Richbart is quite a catch for NC

Don Marinucci might not have a bad bone in his body. He’s got something nice to say about each and every player he’s ever coached during his tenure at Niagara Catholic.
But when he starts throwing around the praise he did this past week for Mike Richbart, people have to stop and take notice.
“He catches everything and anything that’s close to him,” Marinucci said. “He’s got hands that you wouldn’t believe. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen better hands. Some of the catches this kid makes are totally unbelievable. He makes people shake their head. He’s special.”
Pretty nice compliments for a kid who quit football during both his freshman and sophomore years at NC. Richbart admits he just wasn’t into the sport back then. He was a bit intimidated by varsity-level competition and since JV football wasn’t an option at the school, he decided to sit the fall out until hockey started in the winter.
Then as a junior, Richbart finally decided to stick it out. And late in a week one loss, the 6-foot-3 tight end made his mark. He caught a couple passes in duress, earning himself a spot in the starting lineup. As the season progressed he became then-quarterback Chris Glowacki’s favorite target. He finished the season with 29 catches for 552 yards and seven touchdowns, good enough to earn a spot on the all-CRUNCH first team.
“I was just catching the balls that came to me,” a modest Richbart said.
That type of response is typical of the high honor roll student, according to Marinucci.
“You’ll never hear much from him,” the coach said. “He does what he’s told without any questions or attitude. He’s just a great kid all the way around.”
His play has continued to be great this fall as well. In the Patriots’ opener, Richbart caught seven balls for 89 yards and four touchdowns.
“He caught balls in traffic, against double teams ... everything we threw up there he came down with,” Marinucci said. “He’s just automatic.”
Richbart credits his strong hands to his younger years when he used to catch thousands of passes in the backyard from his older brother. It didn’t matter the season, the duo would always be chucking the pigskin. Richbart added that his job has become that much easier this year because of the presence of 6-foot-10 Steve Beck and speedster Mouse Matthews.
“That takes the focus away from me and lets me get open easier,” he said.
Marinucci added, “We kind of use Beck as a decoy to get better matchups for Richbart.”
All this said, NC is still lacking the wins both coach and player desire. Richbart only hopes that continued individual success will lead to team success in the coming weeks.
“I know I can’t win the whole game for us, but I’m going to continue to do the best I can in hopes that the team will benefit and win some games,” he said.
Richbart, who is also a standout hockey and tennis player at NC, said he’s unsure of his future plans, but he does want to continue with a tradition he recently started with his church.
“I go on missions to the Dominican Republic and we usually bring footballs and show them how to throw and catch,” he said. “It’s a really neat experience. I thank God for everything that I am able to do in this world, including football and these missions.”
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.

MIKE RICHBART
• SCHOOL: Niagara Catholic
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Tight End
• STATS: Last season, Richbart caught 29 passes for 552 yards and seven touchdowns. In week one, he had seven grabs for 89 yards and four touchdowns.
• COACH’S QUOTE: “Some of the catches this kid makes are totally unbelievable.”
— Don Marinucci

NIAGARA FALLS NOTEBOOK 2: Falls’ offense getting close

While it only put one touchdown on the board, coach Don Bass saw a lot of encouraging things out of his team’s offense during last Saturday’s loss to St. Joe’s.
“There’s plenty of positives to build on,” Bass said.
Quarterback Bruce Hartinger looked good in his first varsity start. Bass’ only complaint with the signal caller was that too often he locked on to the receivers on the right side of the field. Wideout Dale Stewart was also impressive, turning a five-yard hitch route into a 70-yard touchdown.
“He’s just a little fast,” Bass joked. Stewart had returned a kickoff for a touchdown earlier in the game.
The offensive line of Billy Gee, Paul Kennon, C.J. Williams, Tom Adrow and Josh Smith also did a nice job with their pass protection, according to Bass.
n Defensively, NFHS struggled in nearly all aspects of the game. They failed to tackle, they missed assignments, missed calls and most importantly — could not get off the field.
“We just did not stop them at all,” Bass said. “We thought we had the right guys in there because they looked good in camp but after watching the film they’re not in the right places at all. There’s going to definitely be some personnel changes.”
The Falls may need to find a replacement for defensive tackle Marquan Myles, who will be a game-time decision on Saturday with a leg injury.
n The Falls continues its homestand with Class AA North foe Kenmore West on Saturday. While Bass knows things must get turned around quickly, he’s not ready to panic.
“We just have to eliminate our mistakes,” the coach said. “It’s not so much what the other team is doing, but rather what we’re doing wrong. We can still correct those mistakes, though.”
— Nate Beutel

NIAGARA CATHOLIC NOTEBOOK 2: Offense still has fire power

Despite losing some key cogs from last year’s team, Niagara Catholic once again appears to have a high-powered offense under coordinator Al Dirschberger this fall. The Patriots put 27 points on the board in their loss last week at C.G. Finney.
“We’re very dangerous because we have so many weapons,” coach Don Marinucci said.
NC has a strong passing attack with steadily improving junior quarterback Zach Evans and his three-headed monster at receiver — Mike Richbart, Mouse Matthews and Steve Beck. Last week, Evans hooked up with Richbart for four TD passes, while Beck caught a two-point conversion.
In the backfield, junior King Fatunmbi is really coming into his own, according to Marinucci. He ran for 125 yards on just 13 carries last week, while his backup, Dave DeVaughn, added 94 yards on only nine rushes.
n Defensively, though, is where things began to break down. Marinucci believes his team just wore down in the second half.
“We had the lead at the half and even after the third we felt OK, but then we started making mistakes,” he said. “We made their running back look better than he was and I think it was because we were just exhausted.”
That said, linebackers Antonio Johnson and Fatunmbi both had nice games with 10 tackles apiece. Matthews added three tackles and an interception and both Justin Waas and Ben Webb had five stops and a fumble recovery.
n Marinucci said this week’s game with Red Jacket of Section V has been canceled, leaving the Patriots with two consecutive open dates before facing league power Cardinal O’Hara on Sept. 26.
“I don’t like two weeks off in a row at this time of year, but maybe it gives us some time to work on our defense and conditioning,” he said.
— Nate Beutel

LEW-PORT NOTEBOOK 2: Defense impresses coaches vs. THS

With Tonawanda’s tricky double-wing offense to prepare for in week one, the Lewiston-Porter defense led by coordinator Jon Hoover knew they had a stiff test on their hands. Turns out, they passed with flying colors.
“Other than two big runs, they played very well,” coach Dick Lindamer said of his defense after the 21-7 win. “I think they had four stops inside the 10-yard line and forced Tonawanda into several three-and-outs. They’re going to develop into a strength for us.”
Among those that stood out defensively for the Lancers were defensive linemen Brandon Young and Bashar Srouji, linebacker Joe Hill and safety Devon Amado.
n The offense also performed well in the win. While record-setting quarterback Matt Cattarin was his usual self, it was the running game that pleased Lindamer the most.
The coach added that you can expect to see a similar rotation of players in the backfield throughout the year as the Lancers lack a true every-down tailback.
“Dan Raybon is a good downhill runner, Joe Hill is solid at fullback and both Marc Morreale and Devon Amado can bring speed and shiftiness,” the coach said.
He also praised the offensive line, which included Jeremy Crone, Steve Sydor, Young, Kevin McMurray, Srouji and Joe Meyers.
n Lew-Port will open the home portion of its schedule today when Maryvale comes to town. The Flyers boast a ton of speed, according to Lindamer. Jake Latshaw has replaced Brooks Estarfaa at running back, while tight end/defensive end Andre Davis is one of the strongest players in Western New York.
“We watched them play a tough Cleve Hill team last week, so we know they’re good, but this year we’re focused on what we do and doing it well,” Lindamer said.

WILSON NOTEBOOK 2: O-line paved the way in win

Nate Meier earned a Connolly Cup nomination after rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns in Wilson’s season-opening 26-6 win over Akron. But it was his offensive line that did the heavy lifting for the senior tailback.
“I don’t think we really had any negative plays, which is a testament to our line,” coach Bill Atlas said. “They were just grinding away the whole game. I’m very impressed with the way they’ve come along.”
Members of the offensive line included Doc Robins, Brandon Culverwell, Tyler Moore, Kyle Martin, Steve Rieger and Tom Pestinger.
That group also blocked well for quarterback John Vincent, who had a solid day throwing the ball. He hooked up with Ethan Baker three times and Cody Reimers twice, including a beautifully-timed post pattern for a touchdown.
n Atlas also liked the aggressiveness of the Lakemen defense under coordinator Al Scarpine. The defensive line, in particular, stood out as Jake Maacks, Martin and Rieger were in each among the team’s top five tacklers. Returning all-CRUNCH linebacker Pat Walch, only a sophomore, led Wilson with 15 total stops.
“Akron had a lot of no gains or negative plays,” Atlas said.
n The Lakemen continue their homestand today when Class C North rival JFK comes calling. The Bears are coming off an embarrassing 50-0 loss to Eden last week, so Atlas expects to see an inspired effort from the visitors.
“They’re going to be much better than that score indicates,” the coach cautioned. “Their offense definitely still has some big-play possibilities and their defense was put in some bad spots with turnovers last week.”
Dangerous JFK scatback Daron Lipscomb did not play last week against Eden and it’s unclear whether or not the all-Class C North selection is on the Bears’ roster this fall.

STARPOINT NOTEBOOK 2: Spartans showed youth in opener

Al Cavagnaro knew there would be some growing pains this fall with several underclassmen in the starting lineup. The veteran coach was just hoping they wouldn’t all come at once. Unfortunately, that happened last Saturday in a 14-0 loss to visiting West Seneca East.
“We played so calm and relaxed at the scrimmage the week before, but once that clock got turned on, we played like we were young,” the coach said.
The Spartans had the ball twice at the East one-yard line and failed to put any points on the board. Cavagnaro is not big on excuses, but losing starting tailback Brandon Kopp to a knee injury the day before the game certainly didn’t help. He’s currently day-to-day.
“Cory Regnet ran well, but we couldv’e been much more efficient with two kids back there,” Cavagnaro said, while noting that the Spartans’ passing game looked OK. He added that quarterback Brandon Wehrmeyer threw the ball well and receiver Derek Bongiovanni made some nice grabs.
n Starpoint’s defense also struggled, allowing more than 300 yards on the ground. Cavagnaro said the majority of the mistakes involved missed assignments and poor tackling.
Still, Cavagnaro liked the way linebacker Jacob Wray and defensive back Matt Doyle played. He also liked the way Doyle punted the ball. Placekicker Connor O’Brien also impressed in his debut, booming his only kickoff into the end zone for a touchback.
n Run defense will certainly be a key this week, too, when the Spartans invade Lockport, which boasts all-Western New York tailback David Fluellen.
“Lockport looked fantastic against Orchard Park last week, so the only way we can do this thing is if our defense trusts one another,” Cavagnaro said. “If we don’t trust all 11 guys, they could put 60 on us.”

GI NOTEBOOK 2: Offense still strong for GI

No Alex Neutz. No Joe Oliverio. No Eddie Weiser.
No problem for the Grand Island offense. The Vikings accumulated over 400 yards of total offense during last week’s 32-29 loss to Williamsville South.
“I was really glad to see kids that didn’t have an opportunity last year at the skill positions excel last week,” veteran coach Dean Santorio said. “They did exactly what we expected of them. I was happy with them.”
Among those Santorio was most impressed with were quarterback Joel Klock, wide receivers Chris Gibney and Nick Kellner, fullback Brett Dlugosz and tailbacks Andy LaLonde and Joe Connors.
Santorio also liked the work his offensive line did against a strong South line. Included in that group are Eric Harnden, Jake Killian, Pat Antonelli, Jeff Lariviere, Nick Rossi, Scott Rogers and Steve Vitelllo. Returning starter Keith Skelly was held out of last week’s game with a knee injury. Santorio hopes to get him back in a week or two.
n Defensively, Santorio was not nearly as thrilled. His team have up a lot of pass yards against South. While he understands that the Billies are very potent through the air, he also said there is no excuse for some of the blown coverages his team had.
“We need to be better on defense, especially against the pass, and I know we will be,” he said.
n The Vikings continue their difficult schedule to start the year tonight when they visit Hamburg at the Bulldogs’ new complex. Then next week, GI takes on defending state champion Sweet Home.
“It’s certainly not an easy start, but I’m still confident in the kids we have,” Santorio said. “We’re focused on Hamburg. They have some nice backs, so we’re really concentrating on the run this week. I think we’ll be just fine.”

NW NOTEBOOK 2: Falcons defense steps up

What was considered a weakness the past few seasons, might well be a strength this fall. The much-maligned Falcons’ defense was outstanding throughout last week’s win over West Seneca West.
“They played with great emotion and did the jobs they were asked to do,” coach Dave Hack said while praising coordinator Bill Jakobi. “Even when West made a few nice plays, we kept going after them.”
Hack was really impressed with the defensive line and linebackers. Included in that group were leading tackler Adam Donner, Jim Donner, Dalton Smith, Jake Kelly and Pat Ciera. Defensive backs Ken Alexander and Alec Cody also had nice games, Hack said.
“Our linebackers were able to fill gaps, which means our D-line did their job taking up blockers,” Hack explained.
n Offensively, the running game was the facet that stood out the most in Hack’s mind. Will Cody ran for over 100 yards, the first Falcon to do so in quite some time.
“Will has the speed to run away from guys and the power to run them over,” Hack said of his junior tailback.
Quarterback Mike Hardy also had a solid day, making several intelligent decision, according to Hack. He hooked up with Joe Ditto for a couple nice plays, including a long touchdown strike.
“(Offensive coordinator) Jim Hagerty helped put him in good spots and Mike delivered when we needed him to,” the coach said.
n N-W hits the road this week as it invades Cheektowaga tonight for a non-league game under the lights. The Warriors primarily run a double wing offense, which makes this week’s defensive preparation critical, Hack said.
“Guys need to know who they are responsible for,” he added. “We need to know our assignments and play team defense. Everybody do their job.”
— Nate Beutel

CRUNCH VIDEO: Lew-Port at Tonawanda (Sept. 4)

VIDEO: Starpoint Spartans Cheerleaders

NF NOTEBOOK: Two QBs could see time for Wolverines

Don Bass has been searching long and hard for a quarterback during his three years at the helm of the Wolverines’ program. Now, it appears he’s found not only one, but two capable signal callers.
Bass recently said that both Bruce Hartinger and Jordan Rhodes have been impressive in camp and at the team’s scrimmage with Bennett last week. Bass said he won’t be afraid to use both QBs in the game, going with the hot hand throughout.
“It’s kind of a nice problem to have for once,” the coach said.
Still, all signs at practice this past week point to Hartinger, who throws an extremely pretty ball, getting the start Saturday against St. Joe’s.
• One advantage for whoever is throwing the football is the Falls’ depth at receiver. Captain Branton Shine headlines the group, which also includes Darryl Smith, Justin Healy and Dale Stewart.
In the backfield, Durelle Crittenden will likely get the start. Bass likes his speed, toughness and superb agility. Meanwhile, Darrien Payne will help get the tough yards in the middle.
• Defensively, captain and returning all-CRUNCH performer Jalen Gayle is “a complete stud” from his linebacker position, according to Bass. Defensive linemen Marquan Myles, Billy Gee and Paul Kennon have also been impressive thus far, the coach said.
“So far, those guys have done a great job of commanding double teams and keeping linemen off our backers,” Bass added.
Some new, experimental schemes have also been undertaken by the Wolverines’ defense, which is led by coordinator Jon Robins this fall. You can expect to see several different fronts from the Falls this year.

NC NOTEBOOK: Evans takes the reins

Don Marinucci was pleased when he had 26 players come out for his team earlier this month. Among those 26 were a large group of first-year players, including quarterback Zach Evans.
Marinucci has been thoroughly impressed after watching the junior signal caller the past few weeks, including at the team’s four-way scrimmage with Barker, Newfane and Royalton-Hartland.
“Zach has really come into his own,” the coach said. “He’s leading the team like a quarterback should. He might make some mistakes, but he always moves ahead. I like what I see from him.”
• Of course it doesn’t hurt that Evans has one of the tallest receiving corps in Western New York to throw to. New tight end Steve Beck is 6-foot-10, wide receiver Mike Richbart is 6-foot-4 and fellow wideout Mouse Matthews is also over 6-foot tall.
Marinucci also believes the height on the outside is going to open up the running game for talented junior tailback King Fatunmbi. He’ll be running behind an experienced offensive line that includes returnees D.J. Virtuoso, Marc Nearhood, Justin Waas and Melvin Dyster, the coach said.
• The biggest area for concern for NC is defense. The Patriots were near the top of the Monsignor Martin last fall in scopring offense, but also dead last in scoring defense.
Marinucci said the players and defensive coordinator Russ Nixon have been working hard to correct the problems — gap assignments and tackling — that plagued the team the last few years.
“If we can cut the defensive point total in half, we’re definitely going to win more games,” Marinucci said.

N-W NOTEBOOK: Hardy learning quickly at QB

Mike Hardy is known in local circles as a gritty athlete. No matter the sport, football, hockey or baseball, he’ll give you everything he’s got each and every day.
Now, first-year Falcons coach Dave Hack is asking his senior captain to put his best foot forward and assume the quarterback position. And so far, so good.
“He’s done a great job so far,” Hack said. “He’s really picked up the things that coach (Jim) Hagerty has been teaching him. He sees the field pretty well and makes good decisions.”
And besides throwing the football, you will likely see Hardy involved in the running game as well. Hardy said the team may introduce a sprint-out package this year, similar to the one used when UB basketball player Byron Mulkey played the position at N-W.
• Joining Hardy in the backfield most of the time will be senior Will Cody and junior Angelo Sameli, Hack said. Joe Ditto will be the team’s top receiver with several spots still to be decided, the coach added.
• On the defensive side of the ball, returning all-CRUNCH performer and senior team captain Jim Donner will lead the way. Hack plans to move Donner between linebacker and defensive end to maximize his talents.
Sophomore linebacker Jake Kelly along with junior linemen Paul Garabedian and Nolan Smith also played well at last week’s scrimmage, Hack said.
• Hack, a former CFL all-star, said he has preached to his team about the importance of winning the turnover battle as they prepare to open their season tomorrow.
“If we protect the football and get the football, we should be right there every single game,” the coach said.

LEW-PORT NOTEBOOK: Fresh faces in the Lancers' lineup

Despite a three-year starter at quarterback in senior Matt Cattarin, the vast majority of the Lancers’ roster is young. According to coach Dick Lindamer, Lew-Port will start at least nine players up from the JV.
“They’re certainly talented, but the game is much faster,” Lindamer said. “We need to be quicker on both sides of the ball. That said, I expect things to only get better for us as the season goes on.”
• Among the new starters is junior running back Joe Hill, an all-Niagara Frontier League wrestler. Fellow juniors Adam Pike and Dan Raybon will also get carries, Lindamer said.
The Lancers do have some experience on the outside, though, as senior Dan Sharpe returns along with juniors Marc Morreale and Devon Amato, who both were called up at the end of last season.
• Lindamer also expects the offensive line to be much improved, despite its youth. Brandon Young is back, while Lindamer pointed to strong play from junior Bashar Srouji in last week’s scrimmage. The line also has good size, he said.
• Defensively, the Lancers are hoping for a big improvement over last season. Lindamer said that starts up front, so his declaring that ends Joe Meyers and Young were impressive at the scrimmage is good news.
• The defense will get a big test tonight when they face Tonawanda and its double wing offense. Lindamer said his team must play disciplined football.
“We put in some of their plays during the preseason so we could work on adjustments and assignments,” Lindamer said. “We have to play this game with midseason intensity because if you drop this one, there’s just not a lot of time to make up ground.”

STARPOINT NOTEBOOK: Spartans sporting lots new names, faces

With only three or four seniors set to start, Al Cavagnaro will lead one of the youngest teams in Western New York onto the field tomorrow when West Seneca East comes to town. The 10th-year coach said he plans to start two freshman and two sophomores.
“We know there’s going to be good games and bad games,” Cavagnaro said. “They’re going to make some good decisions and some bad decisions. It’s just a matter of hopefully learning quickly and making the good out-number the bad.”
• Sophomore Brandon Wehrmeyer will start under center for the Spartans after being groomed for the position the past two years. Cavagnaro said Wehrmeyer has attended passing leagues with the varsity the last couple years and appears ready for the task.
“He’s gifted,” the coach said. “He can throw the ball with great accuracy. Expectations are high for him because he’s pretty advanced for a sophomore.”
• Two of Wehrmeyer’s biggest weapons on offense will be junior running back Brandon Kopp and sophomore wide receiver Cory Regnet. Senior captain Derek Bongiovanni also returns at wideout.
• Defensively, Cavagnaro has been impressed with the way the line has come together. Kodiak Allan and Josh Elizalde have done a nice job at end and Dave Phillips is getting better at tackle.
At linebacker, Jacob Wray and Denver Kopp should be solid, while Bongiovanni will lead the secondary, Cavagnaro said.
• The Spartans will also have a big weapon in the kicking game with Connor O’Brien. Cavagnaro said he can hit from 40 yards consistently and hit a 47-yarder in last week’s scrimmage.
“Hopefully when our drives stall, he can whack a field goal,” the coach said.

GI NOTEBOOK: Defense again a strength for Vikings

Steve Steck is an aggressive coach by nature. So with two of the area’s best defenders at his disposal in seniors Brett Dlugosz and Andy LaLonde, the veteran defensive coordinator is licking his chops.
Dlugosz is another in a long line of great middle linebackers for the Vikings, while LaLonde is solid against the run and pass from the safety position.
The tandem have become even better with the help of an improved defensive line, according to ninth-year coach Dean Santorio. Pat Antonelli and Eric Harnden return at defensive tackles, while Scott Rogers and Joe Connors are at end.
“We really like our speed to the football and physicality up front,” Santorio said.
• On the offensive side of the ball, senior southpaw Joel Klock takes the reins at quarterback with LaLonde assuming the No. 1 tailback spot. Dlugosz will play fullback this year, while Chris Gibney and Nick Kellner should be solid at wide receiver, Santorio said.
“They can’t key on one guy like some teams did last year with Alex (Neutz),” the coach added.
• Santorio also expects the kicking game to be improved as former soccer player Peter Benoit moves up from the JV. Klock can also kick if needed.
• The Vikings host Williamsville South in their season opener tomorrow and it’s being built up as perhaps the top game of the week. And Santorio understands why.
“We’re really looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “They obviously have a ton of really good kids back, so it’s an exciting matchup.”
Santorio added that keeping the ball out of the hands of a dangerous South offense will be a key. That can be done most easily by churning out first downs.

WILSON NOTEBOOK: Lakemen have no shortage of weapons

Bill Atlas specializes in the offensive line. But he also knows talent when he sees it at the skill positions. And the third-year coach has plenty of it on his squad this fall, starting on the outside.
All-Class C North receiver Ethan Baker returns for this fourth and final season in the orange and black, while sophomore Pat Walch is back at tight end and junior Cody Reimers returns at wideout.
“It’s exciting to be able to say if they take Ethan away with double or triple coverage, that’s fine because we have at least two or three other guys that can catch the ball,” Atlas said.
• Atlas is also deep at running back with senior Nate Meier back as the starter and both junior Brandon Konstanty and senior Chris Sidote available to spell him.
“I trust all three of them to run the ball hard,” Atlas said.
Those three will be joined in the backfield by strong-armed senior quarterback John Vincent.
• The Lakemen have made some schematic changes to their defense this year in an effort to better utilize their speed.
Linebacker Brandon Culverwell adjusted best to the changes at last week’s scrimmage, according to Atlas, who added that Steve Rieger, Kyle Martin and Austin Fisher also played well in spots last week.
• Wilson experienced a big blow to its special teams unit at practice recently. Senior all-Class C North kicker Derrick Smith broke a bone in his kicking foot. He’s out for at least the first half of the season, Atlas said.
Reimers will take over the kicking duties, while Vincent will continue to punt.

CRUNCH SPOTLIGHT: Lew-Port's Cattarin wants to finish in style

It seems like just yesterday Matt Cattarin was a wide-eyed sophomore leading Lewiston-Porter to six wins in the old Class A North division.
Now, almost two years, a divisional downgrade, a handful of passing records and way too many losses later, the Lancers’ signal caller is hoping to recapture that magic in his final season in the green and white.
“I’ve seen all the graduating classes go through here and be disappointed,” he said. “Time flies by and now it’s my senior year. I want to make the most of it.”
Count third-year Lew-Port coach Dick Lindamer as a believer in what Cattarin is selling.
“It started in the offseason with him,” the coach said. “He led by example, attending every session. And now that the season has started, he runs every drill hard. He wants to win and get better.”
It’s hard to imagine Cattarin can improve much on the past two years, though. As a sophomore, he managed a highly effective offense, throwing for more than 1,200 yards. Last year, he led an injury-riddled offense, throwing for more than 1,000 yards.
Combine those totals and you have the best mark in the school’s storied history. He also holds the record for season and career completions and is well within striking distance of the career touchdown mark, according to Lindamer.
“We knew right away we had a pretty good one and he’s proved us to be right,” the coach added.
Lindamer said that while most coaches marvel at Cattarin’s arm strength, he prefers to point out his accuracy.
“I don’t think anyone fits the ball in the middle like he does,” Lindamer said of the 6-foot-4 slinger.
And his intelligence and feel for the game are pretty impressive as well. Cattarin is a high honor roll student, Lindamer said.
“In some ways I’m the head coach and he’s the assistant offensive coordinator,” the coach said. “There’s a lot of communication back and forth because he really understands the game well. He makes reads like nobody else I’ve ever coached.”
Those reads have led to several successful drives the past two years, many of which have ended before the Lancers reached the end zone, though. That’s about to change this fall, according to Cattarin.
“We’re going to finish this year,” he said. “Finish the blocks, finish the runs, finish the routes, finish the passes. We’re going to will ourselves into the end zone and will ourselves to wins. I’m really hungry for the playoffs. Everybody is.”
Cattarin, who is also a standout baseball player at Lew-Port, said he’d love to play football in college. He said several Division III schools have expressed interest with a couple Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) also intrigued, especially because of his grades and size.
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.

MATT CATTARIN
• SCHOOL: Lewiston-Porter
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Quarterback
• RECORDS: Career and season marks for completions and passing yards. Closing in on career touchdown mark.
• COACH’S QUOTE: “We knew right away we had a pretty good one and he’s proved us to be right.”
— Dick Lindamer