Class A Consolation Bowl series
East runs over Amherst, 35-14; will play Starpoint Friday
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst Central's Andre Hakeem looks for running room during through the Williamsville East defense. Hakeem scored a 5-yard TD in the loss. Photo by John Rusac

Zach Miller and Williamsville East had something to prove and Amherst was the unfortunate beneficiary.

Miller rushed for 168 yards and scored three touchdowns and recovered two fumbles and made eight tackles on defense as East powered over Amherst, 35-14, last Saturday in the Class A Consolation Bowl series.

"He was just huge on both sides of the ball," said East coach Henry Fumerelle. "He's so physical and ran so hard. Along with that, he played great defense."

The October snowstorm cancelled East's last two league games against Albion and Grand Island. If East would have won both, they would have qualified for the Federation playoffs.

Miller scored a 5-yard TD on East's opening drive that Fumerelle said set the tone for his team's physical play up front. Miller also scored from 10 and 7 yards in a 21-point Flames' third quarter. Fumerelle credited the blocking of lineman center Mike Rath, guards Rocco DelGrosso and Mike Alcazaren, tackles Yiannia Mountziaris and Tyler Durinka, tight ends Marc DiPasquale and A.J. Forster and h-back Chris Petrucelli.

Williamsville East's Zack Miller scored three touchdowns and was a huge contributor on defense in the Flames' 35-14 win last Saturday at Amherst in the Class A Consolation Bowl Series. East won 35-14. Photo by John Rusac

Adam Kausch added 87 yards rushing and TDs of 5 and 10 yards. East finished with 272 rushing yards.

Amherst took an 8-7 halftime lead when they intercepted a Joe Schriever pass around the East 25 and Andre Hakeem scored from five yards out. Matt Krajna caught a two-point conversion from Cordell Freeman. Freeman added a 1-yard TD in the fourth.

But in the third quarter, Fumerelle said East's physical play caused Amherst to turn over the ball.

East senior Rick Silvestri intercepted an Amherst pass and younger brother sophomore Mike Silvestri recovered a fumble. Durinka and DelGrosso each made eight tackles for East.

Fumerelle also lauded the special teams work from Brad Demo.

East will play Starpoint at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Williamsville South in the Class A Bowl series.