Mistakes early cost South opener at Kenmore East
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

If there's anything Williamsville South football coach Kraig Kurzanski learned about his team, it's they never quit.

South almost overcame three first half interceptions, and four turnovers overall, in a 12-2 road loss at Kenmore East last Saturday.

"We made too many mistakes in the first half," said Kurzanski, who was making his debut as Billies' coach. "We had three interceptions, fumbled two snaps that we recovered and recovered a fumble on a run. It really deterred us from getting on track offensively."

"In the second half, we started to get on track," he added. "The effort was there."

Early on, it looked like it was going to be South's day. On Kenmore East's first offensive play from scrimmage, the snap went high over the head of quarterback Jon Anthony Wiltberger and he was tackled in the end zone by South's Andrew Esposito for a safety and a Billies' 2-0 lead.

Kenmore East answered on its next drive with a 39-yard touchdown run by sophomore Mark Arnone. Arnone added a 2-yard TD in the second quarter.

Kurzanski said his team had chances in the second half to close the gap.

"We had a couple dropped balls in the end zone in the first minute of the fourth quarter," said Kurzanski. "With about two minutes left in the game, we stopped them on four downs on our eight. We started moving the ball but ran out of time."

Linebacker Anthony Erbacher recorded 22 tackles to lead the South defense. Linebacker Chris Hauser added 14 tackles. Defensive end Josh Burke had numerous quarterback pressures, a sack and nine tackles.

South (0-1) hosts Lewiston Porter at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Lew-Port beat Wilson, 31-6, in Week One.

"I think we match up with them pretty well so hopefully the momentum of playing at South for the first time this season will carry us," said Kurzanski.

"The message after the Kenmore East game was we need to get better overall."

At halftime of the Kenmore East game, Parker Field was renamed Dick "Sparky" Adams Field.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com