Published: July 13, 2008 10:33 pm      

SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL: Rage open 2008 season with loss

MIDDLEPORT — If you made a carbon-copy of the Lockport Rage’s inaugural semi-pro football game last year and superimposed it on Saturday’s 2008 league opener, you would have found an almost identical match.

The Rage dominated the Tigers early on in their Northeastern Football Alliance contest at Royalton-Hartland High School, but mental mistakes and turnovers helped give the host Tigers a 28-16 victory.

The Tigers defense was outstanding throughout, causing seven turnovers, including four interceptions, two by Mike Manicki and one each by Ricky McVay and Clay Johnson.

“They were saying our defensive secondary was ‘suspect’ and I think we proved them wrong,” Manicki said. “Up front we got some good pressure on their quarterback and that created opportunities for our secondary.”

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The Rage opened the scoring when running back Kyle Hunley blasted in from a yard out in the first quarter. Rage quarterback Lamont Rhim (9 of 30 passing, 153 yards, touchdown, seven rushes, 44 yards) ran in for two points on the conversion and it was 8-0 Rage with 7:44 left in the opening stanza.

Lockport dominated throughout the first quarter, stopping Lyndonville three-and-out on its opening possession, then marching down to open the scoring. Cliff McDowell recovered a Tigers fumble and Lockport was marching in for a second score.

But minus kicker John Granchelli, who injured himself in the pre-game warm-ups, the Rage were forced to go for it on fourth down in the red zone time after time, rather than take the almost-sure field goals.

“Losing Granchelli really hurt,” said Rage middle linebacker Will Stiles. “We were down to their 20 at least three times in the game, where we would have kicked field goals, so that’s nine points we gave up right there.”

Six minutes into the second quarter, Tigers running back Erick Kleckler (13 carries, 66 yards, touchdown) took a hand-off and burst clean up the middle for 25 yards and a touchdown. Manuel then hooked up with McVay (four catches, 45 yards) for the two-point conversion pass and the game was tied, 8-8.

Lyndonville’s able and healthy kicker, Kyle Piccarelli, booted a 35-yard field goal later in the quarter and it was 11-8 for the hosts.

The turning point of the game came moments later as Lockport tailback P.J. Harris burst up the middle for what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown late in the first half.

But Harris (two rushes, 45 yards) was caught from behind and fumbled at the goal line and the Tigers recovered the ball in the endzone for a touchback.

“That was a big play. That changed the momentum,” said Tigers head coach Harold Suhr.

Lyndonville upped their lead to 18-8 late in the third quarter when quarterback Pat Manuel (9 of 17, 101 yards, touchdown) tossed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Cory Fraiser. A second Picarelli 35-yard field goal made it 21-8.

The Rage made it interesting early in the fourth when Rhim scrambled out of the pocket, drew in the defensive backs, then tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Brown (five catches, 58 yards, touchdown). The pair also connected on a two-point conversion pass and with plenty of time left, the Tigers led by just 21-16.

“That was a great play by Jeremy because he kept on running,” Rhim said. “They played smart defensively and had someone blitzing on every play. I was able to use my legs and buy some time to get free of the pressure. The defensive backs started coming forward and J.B. kept running.”

But after holding Lyndonville on downs, the roof caved in on Lockport as a high snap sailed over Rhim’s head and into the endzone where Lyndonville’s Joel Fidanza recovered to round out the scoring. Eric Vaughn and Joey Suhr also recovered fumbles for Lyndonville.

“We beat ourselves pretty much. The Tigers played a good game, but we feel to a man that we should have won,” Stiles said.

Added Rhim, “We played a team that was more competitive than the prior teams we played in preseason. I think that some of the team took Lyndonville lightly. We had a little arrogance and it showed.”

Next up, after a bye week this week, the Rage host the Syracuse Shock at 7:30 p.m. July 26 at Exchange Club Field, Outwater Park.

Elsewhere in the NFA on Saturday, the Buffalo Gladiators defeated the Southern Tier Diesel 48-0, the Monroe County Sting crushed the Syracuse Shock 46-8, the Watertown Revolution blanked the St. Lawrence Trailblazers 26-0, the Albany Metro Maulers defeated the Troy Fighting Irish 47-23 and the Utica Yard Dogs beat the Glove City Colonials 26-20.

Contact editor John D’Onofrio at 439-9222, ext. 6247.