Red Raiders march over Spartans
Football
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North senior Austin Benschadle receives help from his teammates as he runs down the sideline during the Spartans' 22-0 home opening loss to Jamestown last Saturday. Benschadle scored a touchdown on the play but a holding penalty called it back. Photo by Amy Krawkowiak Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

About the only positive news from Williamsville North's home loss to Jamestown is that the game didn't have playoff implications.

Jamestown gained 190 yards of total offense to North's 17 as the Red Raiders won 22-0.

"We played hard but didn't play well," said North coach Mike Mammoliti.

Mammoliti isn't using inexperience as an excuse but he was fielding 13 first-year starters. He also said 14 players didn't play because they were ineligible. In addition, their best offensive weapon, 190-pound sophomore Jim Gaines, rolled his right ankle after a 15-yard run late in the first quarter. Gaines also starts at safety.

"That took a lot of steam out of us," said Mammoliti. "He makes things happen on both sides of the ball."

Gaines had 20 yards rushing before his injury. He should be ready for Week Two when the Spartans play at 2 p.m. Saturday at Niagara-Wheatfield.

North had a glimmer of hope early in the first quarter when Steve Pekarski recovered a Jamestown fumble at the Spartan 20. However, Jamestown forced North to punt and the snap was too high for the punter and rolled out of the end zone for a safety.

The Red Raiders' Ethan Gibbs scored on a 1-yard plunge with under two minutes remaining in the first half to put Jamestown ahead, 9-0, at halftime.

Jamestown took the opening drive of the second half down the field, capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run by Alex Conyer (111 yards). The extra point failed.

Jamestown's Shawn Battle added a 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter.

North's Austin Benschadle returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards but a holding penalty called it back.

Spartan linebacker Mike Herberger made 18 tackles and defensive tackle Jerome Fields recorded 14 tackles to lead the North defense.

The game was considered a non-leaguer because it is one of two crossover contest that North, a AA North school, has with AA South schools.

The Spartans' final game of the regular season against Orchard Park will count towards the playoffs.

"Despite the fact that Jamestown was a one-sided game, some of the comments I heard in the locker room was 'OK, we got this one out of our system' and 'we have to go back to work'," said Mammoliti.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com