Defensive lineman Gunner Rapone brings down Buffalo running back Dajean McCullough in the Spartans’ 20-6 defeat in the semifinal contest.
Press release:
BY MIKE PETTINELLA
Genesee County Spartans
LOCKPORT — The Genesee County Spartans’ season came to an end on Saturday afternoon by virtue of a 20-6 loss to the Buffalo Stampede in a Northeastern Football Alliance semifinal playoff game at Lockport’s Outwater Park.
The Stampede, 6-3, moves on to the AA Division title game next week against the Ithaca Warriors, who upset the top-seeded Watertown Red & Black, 36-30. In June, Buffalo defeated Ithaca, 13-12.
The Spartans finished their season with a 3-6 record.
Buffalo took a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter on a 7-yard TD pass by quarterback Edward Bishop II but Genesee County responded with a nine-play, 60-yard drive capped by a 1-yard run by Jzon Henderson. A key play in the drive was a 20-yard pass from QB Aiden Pitts to wide receiver Toast Malone.
A bad snap foiled the extra point attempt by kicker Julia Petry, leaving the score at 6-6 at the end of the first period.
Buffalo scored again midway through the second quarter after a long punt return by Kendrick Benson set up a four-play, 23-yard drive culminated by a pass from Bishop to Justin Marrero from a yard out. The duo connected again for the two-point conversion to make it 14-6 at the half.
Neither team scored in the third quarter with an interception by Spartans’ defensive back Caleb Cudzilo setting up what turned into a long – and consequential — drive for the Genesee County offense.
Genesee County Spartans’ running back Will Lamar burst into a hole in the Buffalo Stampede defensive line during Saturday’s Northeastern Football Alliance AA Division playoff game in Lockport. Number 70 is Tim King and number 89 is Logan Pike. Photos by Lauren Donovan.
Taking over at their own 17, the Spartans moved down the field behind running back Will Lamar and key passes to Deyonci Farley, including a 28-yarder to the Buffalo 26. Another pass to Farley put the ball at the Stampede 3-yard line as the third quarter ended.
On third-and-goal from the 5, Pitts’ pass intended for tight end Logan Pike was picked off by linebacker Richard Williams Jr., who sprinted 95 yards to the Spartans’ 2. One play later, Dajean McCullough ran it in for a 20-6 advantage.
Genesee County, with Corey Turpin in at quarterback, put together two sustained drives in the final period but were stopped at the Buffalo 33 with five minutes left and at the Buffalo 2 as time expired.
Buffalo Head Coach James Foster credited both teams for a “hard fought game” under the extreme heat and extended best wishes to the Spartans’ organization going forward.
In the AAA Division championship game, the host Lockport Wildcats outlasted the Syracuse Storm, 36-30, to complete a 10-0 campaign and claim their second straight league crown.