Flames close out season with upset win
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East's Dan Rizzo makes a great catch and gets away from Grand Island's Shawn Davis to score a 74-yard touchdown. East won its homecoming game last Saturday, 24-22. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Williamsville East's biggest problem all season was finishing games. That changed last Saturday.

The Flames (2-6, 2-6) put forth one of its best efforts in 2007 with a 24-22 homecoming win over Federation playoff-bound Grand Island (5-3, 5-2).

Joe O'Gorman kicked a 30-yard field goal with 1:15 left in the game and Max Cohen intercepted a Joe Oliverio pass that was tipped by Brad Teal to seal the victory.

"We've been in a lot of games late and could not finish," said East coach Henry Fumerelle. "This time, we finished and played a full game. It's a tribute to the kids and a great way to send out our seniors and springboard us into next season."

The win also snapped a three-game losing streak for East in its homecoming game.

The game couldn't have started any better for the Flames. On the first play from scrimmage, senior wide receiver Dan Rizzo caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Zach Stubbendeck. O'Gorman added the extra point.

"We ran trips to the left side and Rizzo was the last man," said Fumerelle. "Rizzo went up and caught it and slid off the kid and went the rest of the way."

Grand Island answered with a 7-yard TD from Oliverio to Greg Stevens. The extra point missed, giving East a 7-6 giving East a 7-6 advantage.

The Flames used some trickery to score its next points. After moving the ball down the Grand Island 21 on a combination of runs and passes, junior Mike Langfelder took a sweep and pitched it to junior Jordan DiBernardo, who passed it to Stubbendeck for the TD.

"The kids love trick plays," said Fumerelle. "If you can convert on it, it's a huge momentum swing."

Oliverio found Matt Klock on a 26-yard TD, but the Flames stopped the two-point conversion attempt to keep a 14-12 lead going into halftime.

East continued its strong play early in the second half when junior Phil Missana intercepted a pass at the East 35. Langfelder later scored from 7 yards out to put East up 21-12.

But Grand Island showed why they're a playoff team, scoring on a 13-yard run in the third by fullback Ed Weiser. Greg Feathers added a 23-yard field goal with 5.5 minutes left to put the Vikings ahead, 22-21.

Instead of packing it in, the Flames took the ensuing kickoff from their own 25 and marched down the field for O'Gorman's 30-yard field goal. The field goal was O'Gorman's eighth of his career, breaking the previous record held by C.J. Coy.

Stubbendeck finished 12 of 17 for 170 yards. Langfelder caught five receptions for 55 yards and rushed six times for 36 yards.

Fumerelle lauded the play of the offensive line - center Nate Davidson, guards Nick Becker and MP Joseph, and tackles Tyler Durinka and Ben Khechen.

Cohen led the defense with 16 tackles at middle linebacker. Joseph moved from defensive end to linebacker and recorded 10 tackles, as did Teal at outside linebacker.

East returns seven starters on offense and defense.

"I don't think we're a 2-6 team; we're easily a .500 football team," said Fumerelle. "We gained a lot of resilience and character and got the younger kids a lot of experience."

Fumerelle also said the Grand Island win also gave East the best record out of the Williamsville schools, a team goal. North is 1-7; South is 1-7 but will play two crossover games.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com