Special team mistakes cost Tigers against Lake Shore
Football
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter
Amherst Central found out home last Friday that special teams are an important part of football game.

Amherst quarterback Kevin Denny finds a hole in the Lake Shore defense during the Tigers' 40-20 home loss last Friday night. Also pictured is Lake Shore's Aaron Chipman (42) and Kirby Driscoll (23). Amherst is 0-2. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Lake Shore's Bill Evans returned a punt 32 yards for touchdown at the end of the first half and took back the opening kickoff 95 yards to open the second half as the Eagles beat the Tigers 40-20. "We had guys in position make plays on both returns, and we didn't make them," said Amherst coach Patrick Murphy. "It was discouraging … On the kickoff return, we hit him two or three times when he was pinned deep, but our kids relaxed a little bit. It was a poor job of continuing the play."

Evans' second special teams' return put Lake Shore ahead 26-He added touchdown runs of 46 and 13 yards in the second half.

Special teams was not the only category the Tigers were poor against Lake Shore. Murphy felt Lake Shore was more physical on the defensive and offensive lines.

"I thought it came down to us not tackling on defense," said Murphy. "On offense, they rushed hard off the edges, and we did poor job of protecting our quarterback."

"Our problem now is we make first contact, then stop," he continued. "That's where we're at

right now, and it's unfortunate. We need to play through a play,

not just stand and watch."

Amherst was also without its best offensive weapon, running back Bertram Smith, who along with teammate Deshawn Hough, was suspended for one week for violating team rules.

Robert Flint did a great job in Smith's absence rushing 15 times for 131 yards and touchdown runs of 2 and 81 yards. On defense, Flint had two sacks and four tackles.

Amherst's other points came in the second quarter courtesy of a 21-yard pass from Kevin Denny to Viron Hale. Denny completed 6 of 12 passes for 56 yards.

Matt Weber led the Tiger defense with 17 tackles. He also recovered a fumble. Alex Dennis and Pharoah Gayles added 15 and 12 tackles, respectively. Dennis also blocked a punt. D.J. Filer had eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Sabastian Manunta made five tackles and half a sack. Kevin Ford grabbed an interception.

Amherst (0-2) will try to turn their season around when they play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cheektowaga. Cheektowaga is 2-0 in Class A South.

"We're fighting to get back in the hunt," said Murphy. "We can't let too many more games slip because if we do, then we won't even be in the hunt."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com