Jzhon Henderson sprints past the Ithaca defense for a long kickoff return (Photos by Raina Bowen)
Press release
The Genesee County Spartans scored a pair of touchdowns in the closing minutes on Saturday night to rally past the host Ithaca Warriors, 29-25, in a Northeastern Football Alliance AA Division semipro game.
Trailing 25-14 with 4:55 remaining in the contest, Spartans’ quarterback Corey Turpin found receivers Tai Reffell and Ben McMindes with TD passes of 70 and 55 yards, respectively, and then hit receiver Toast Malone for the two-point conversion to complete the winning comeback.
Defensive back Dontre Woods intercepted an Ithaca pass at the Spartans’ 15 in the final minute and returned it 35 yards before losing the ball when tackled. Defensive end Ryley Elliott covered the ball, however, to seal the victory for the Spartans, now 1-2.
Genesee County Spartans’ tight end Logan Pike scores as teammates Be McMindes (13) and Robert Thurston Jr. (33) signal “touchdown” during the first quarter of Saturday’s semipro victory over the host Ithaca Warriors.
The Spartans got on the board first when Turpin connected with tight end Logan Pike for an 80-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Julia Petry kicked the first of her three extra points.
In the third quarter, Genesee County broke a 7-7 tie when Turpin hit receiver Deyonci Farley from 11 yards out. Petry’s kick made it 14-7.
The Warriors responded, however, scoring 18 unanswered points to go up by 11.
Turpin threw for four touchdowns and more than 350 yards in his best performance of the season. Reffell, McMindes and Robert Thurston Jr. all came up with key receptions after the Spartans’ lost Farley to a knee injury in the second half.
The Spartans celebrate their first victory of the season in the Northeastern Football Alliance. They return home this Saturday to face the Upstate Predators.
“Several players who hadn’t seen a lot of playing time prior to this game stepped up for us,” Head Coach Harry Rascoe said. “Elliott was all over the field and Turpin keeps on getting better and better.”
On defense, Elliott was the star with three sacks and four other tackles in the Ithaca backfield, while Woods and Cody Wenner had interceptions.
The Spartans are home this Saturday against the Upstate (Rochester) Predators. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Pembroke Town Park.