Mistakes cost Amherst its homecoming game
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst's Matt Weber tackles Maryvale's Brooks Estarfaa during the Tigers' 26-20 homecoming loss last Friday. Weber finished with 15 tackles to lead the Amherst defense. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Two crucial turnovers were the main reasons why Maryvale spoiled Amherst's homecoming festivities last Friday.

The Flyers converted two Amherst first-half fumbles into scores and left Dimp Wagner Field with a hard-fought 26-20 victory.

Tigers' coach Patrick Murphy said his team fumbled early in the first quarter, which gave Maryvale a short field and led to a 7-yard TD by junior Jamie Quigley. A bad snap on a punt attempt late in the second quarter gave the Flyers great field position and resulted in a 12-yard run by junior running back Brooks Estarfaa.

"We gave them a short field, and you can't do that against a good football team," said Murphy.

Amherst's main offensive weapon, junior Bert Smith, followed up his 334-yard school-record performance against Williamsville East last week with 202 yards on 20 carries, including a 61-yard TD for the Tigers' only points of the first half. He also had 10 tackles, one tackle for a loss, an interception that he returned for 25 yards and two kick returns for 59 yards.

Down 19-7 in the fourth quarter, the Tigers tried to rally with a 10-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Kevin Denny to senior receiver Viron Hale, but Estarfaa answered with an 18-yard TD run. Estarfaa (152 yards rushing) had a 6-yard run earlier in the second half.

Denny scrambled for a 10-yard run with 16 seconds left in the game, but the Tigers could not recover the onside kick.

Murphy said his team played hard the entire game.

"Maryvale is a hard-hitting football team, and I think this game showed we can play that style with anybody in our league," said Murphy. "I was proud of them. It was one of the best efforts we put in all year, unfortunately in a losing effort."

"We've started to gel a little bit at the midseason point, which is kind of indicative of a young football team," Murphy added. "We have eight guys on offense and six on defense who are all underclassmen, and I think they're starting to finally grow up."

Denny threw for 140 yards and a TD pass. Hale had eight catches for 133 yards.

Senior cornerback Matt Weber led the Amherst defense with 15 tackles, including one tackle for a loss. Linebacker Alex Dennis (eight tackles, tackle for loss), safety Hale (seven tackles, tackle for loss), junior linemen Sabastian Manunta (eight tackles, two tackles for losses, sack) and Daniel Dixson (eight tackles, tackle for loss, sack) were other major contributors on defense.

Amherst (1-4) plays at 7 p.m. Friday at West Seneca East (1-4).

"They've been changing gears between the run and pass, so we have to be ready," said Murphy.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com