Wide receiver Deyonci Farley bowls over a Stampede defender for the Genesee County Spartans’ opening touchdown on Saturday.
By Mike Pettinella/Genesee County Spartans
Photos by Lauren Donovan
The Genesee County Spartans lost to the Buffalo Stampede, 18-17, on Saturday in a Northeastern Football Alliance AA Division season opener at Mulray Park in South Buffalo.
Stampede backup quarterback Anthony Davis found Kendrick Benson from 10 yards out with 54 seconds remaining to complete the host squad’s comeback from a 17-6 deficit.
The winning play was set up by a fumble recovery at the Spartans’ 20-yard line by Tyler Wilson with about three minutes to play.
After falling behind, the Spartans drove down to about the Stampede’s 30-yard line before a deep pass down the sideline was intercepted by Marcelus Tolivar to seal Buffalo’s victory.
Spartans’ placekicker Julia Petry drilling a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter. Alex Rood is the holder.
Julia Petry’s 30-yard-field had given the Spartans a 17-6 lead in the third quarter before Buffalo rallied.
Wide receiver Deyonci Farley scored both of the Spartans’ touchdowns on passes from QB Corey Turpin – the first capping a 60-yard opening drive and the second late in the first quarter. Petry was successful on both extra point attempts.
Spartans’ Head Coach Harry Rascoe said the loss was a case of “taking our foot off the gas and committing a couple costly turnovers.”
“We played probably our best first half ever and dominated the statistics,” he said. “We just didn’t finish it off.”
Spartans’ running back Will LaMar looks for running room.
Rascoe said that tight end Logan Pike had a big day, with seven catches for 150-plus yards, while running back Will LaMar carried for about 70 yards.
On defense, Cody Wenner had an interception while defensive end Gunner Rapone, free safety Takhi West and linebackers Marley English and Martin Krayna each had multiple tackles.
The Spartans’ limited the Stampede to about 230 yards of total offense.
For the Stampede, Davis completed eight of 11 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns – the first was a 15-yarder to Kaleb Walker – while running back Auston Neal tallied the team’s other TD. Defensively, Amir Dubose led the way with five tackles and forced the fumble late in the game.
The Spartans’ home opener is set for 7 p.m. next Saturday (June 7th) at Van Detta Stadium in Batavia against the Watertown Red & Black.