Amherst learns lessons from loss
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Patrick Murphy learned a lot about his football team in Week One.

The new Amherst coach saw Hamburg score the first 20 points of Friday night's home opener, only to have his Tigers team claw back and score 20 of the game's final 28 points. Hamburg won 28-20.

"Down 20-0, we could have quit and shut it down but the kids dug in and went right back to work," said Murphy. "I was happy with how they responded to adversity. We came out of the game with a feeling of confidence."

Murphy said Hamburg blocked an Amherst punt on the second drive of the game that led to an 18-yard touchdown run by Dorian Myles. Myles finished with 133 yards. The Bulldogs added to the lead with a 32-yard TD pass from Matt Thomas to Rickey Ritts with four seconds remaining in the first half.

Hamburg took the opening kickoff of the second half down the field, culminated by a 19-yard TD run by Thomas.

Amherst battled back with two 1-yard TD runs by Bertrum Smith but Thomas broke for a 56-yard quarterback sneak to put Hamburg up, 28-14.

Smith caught a seven-yard TD from Kevin Denny. Smith led the Tigers' offense with 85 yards rushing, 85 yards receiving and 45 yards in return yardage. Denny ran in a two-point conversion attempt on Smith's second TD.

Sabastian Manunta and Dan Dixson led the Amherst defense with 10 tackles each. Manunta and Robert Flint each recorded a sack. Flint also had 40 yards rushing.

Amherst (0-1) goes for its first win of the season when they host Lake Shore at 7 p.m. on Friday. Lake Shore beat West Seneca East, 21-7, in Week One.

"We have to clean it up," said Murphy. "We had nine penalties (against Hamburg)."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com