Grand Island defeats depleted South, 35-7
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

The injuries and losses continue to mount for Williamsville South.

The Billies (1-5, 1-4) lost sophomore center Kevin Gerlach, its 13th starter, to an injury in the team's 35-7 loss at Grand Island last Saturday. Gerlach suffered a bone contusion on one of his legs during the second quarter. His status for South's homecoming game with Albion at 2 p.m. on Saturday is unknown.

Gerlach is the latest starter for South who could be out with a significant injury. Last week in practice, junior right tackle John "Reed" Kelley broke one of his legs and right guard Dillon Gallagher injured his back. Kelley also plays on the defensive line; Gallagher is also a linebacker. South coach Kraig Kurzanski hopes Gallagher can come back this week.

Senior running back, backup quarterback and starting linebacker Chris Hauser is out with a stretched ligament on the inside of one of his ankles.

Junior wide receiver and defensive back Arman Wood has a hyperextended knee and a strained medial collateral ligament.

Senior starting QB Dae-Shaune Clark played against Grand Island with a partially torn hamstring.

Junior Yahs Williams, who didn't play last week because of a concussion, hurt one of his calves in the first quarter against Grand Island but returned to the game.

"I haven't played the same kids in one game all year," said Kurzanski, who has 20 healthy bodies on the roster. "I've never seen so many injuries on one team in my 19 years of coaching."

All of South's injuries couldn't deny Grand Island's dominance over the Billies. Kurzanski said the Vikings scored on their first four possessions and added a fifth TD with 11 seconds left in the first half. Grand Island fullback Eddie Weiser had TD runs of 3, 10, 13 and 3 yards. QB Joe Oliverio also hit tight end Greg Stephen on a 16-yard TD pass.

"Grand Island ran the ball well and played physical," said Kurzanski.

South's only points came on a 3-yard pass from Clark (100 yards passing) to senior Tim Krempa (three catches, 91 yards) with less than two minutes left in the first half. The play was set up by a 73-yard run by Williams to the 4. Williams gained a yard on the next play to set up the score.

Williams finished with eight carries for 94 yards and led the team in tackles with nine at strong side linebacker. Senior defensive end Josh Burke added seven tackles.

Albion comes into Saturday's game losers of its last two contests, including a 28-7 defeat at Sweet Home last week.

"We wish we can get healthy, but we need to play better," said Kurzanski. "We'll show up on Saturday and give our best effort."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com