Quarterback Aiden Pitts looks for running room during the Genesee County Spartans’ semipro football game on Saturday night against the host Lockport Wildcats. Photo by Lauren Donovan.
BY MIKE PETTINELLA
Genesee County Spartans
Press release:
The Genesee County Spartans gave the undefeated Lockport Wildcats all they could handle on Saturday night in a tough 18-14 defeat in Northeastern Football Alliance semipro action.
Aiden Pitts, thrust into the starting quarterback role due to a season-ending injury to Corey Turpin, threw for a pair of touchdown passes – including a 50-yarder to wide receiver Toast Malone with three minutes left to bring the Spartans within six points of the defending champions.
Tai Reffell’s two-point conversion made it 18-14 but the Spartans’ offense was unable to get the ball back after an onside kick was unsuccessful.
The host Wildcats improved to 5-0 in the AAA Division while the Spartans take a 1-4 AA Division record into their next game, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. July 12 against the Southern Tier Stallions at Pembroke Town Park.
“This was the best team football we’ve played all season and without four key starters,” said Spartans Head Coach Harry Rascoe. “We showed a lot of character against the league’s top team.”
Rascoe said defensive linemen Gunner Rapone, Nick Mitchell and Alex Schmidt and wide receiver Deyonci Farley are expected to be back for the July 12th game.
The Spartans held Lockport QB Willie Fair to just four completions in 15 attempts for 88 yards, with two of those going to wide receiver Jordan Evert for scores. Running back Sean Marshall carried the ball 14 times for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Down 12-0, Genesee County rallied in the third quarter when Pitts, a former QB at Medina High School and Buffalo State College, connected with Jzon Richardson on a short slant pass following a long completion to Reffell.
Lockport capitalized on a blocked punt to go up 18-6 early in the fourth quarter before Pitts found Toast Malone for the 50-yard TD pass that pulled the Spartans to within one score.