Turnovers plague North
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

If Williamsville North learned anything from its loss at Niagara Wheatfield, it's don't turn over the football.

North committed four turnovers which led to 27 Niagara-Wheatfield points as the Falcons beat the Spartans, 34-14.

Three of the Spartans' turnovers came in the first half. North quarterback Tom Cirbus threw two interceptions and Ernest Jacobs fumbled. Niagara-Wheatfield capitalized as quarterback Kevin Ogiba found Tom Piciulo for touchdown strikes of 11, 36, and seven yards, giving the Falcons a 21-0 half-time lead.

Trailing 27-0 in the third quarter, North QB Anthony Logarzo (3 for 8, 61 yards) threw an interception that led to a Falcon rushing touchdown.

But North didn't give up, scoring the last two touchdowns of the game. PJ Abbarno ran in a score from 27 yards away in the third quarter. Logarzo fired a 44-yard strike to Mike Toth in the fourth quarter.

"In the second half, we seemed to find more momentum in terms of moving the football," said North coach Mike Mammoliti.

The Spartans were without its best offensive weapon, Jim Gaines, who was out with an ankle injury he suffered in Week One against Jamestown. Steve Pekarski rushed eight times for 54 yards in Gaines' absence. Gaines is expected to return this Saturday at 2 p.m. as the Spartans host Kenmore West.

Josh Barrett caught four passes for 38 yards and had eight tackles on defense.

Mike Herberger led the North defense with 12 tackles. The Spartans caused two turnovers in the first half, a Pekarski interception and an Abbarno fumble recovery.

Mammoliti feels his team will be ready for Kenmore West.

"We had a better sense of purpose against Niagara-Wheatfield that is going to carry on right from the get-go this week," said Mammoliti.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com