Mustangs romp past Panthers

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Brandon Schoolcraft gets away from Newfane’s Trevor Noon to go in for a touchdown during the Mustangs win over the host Panthers this afternoon.

Roaring out to a commanding 32-0 half-time advantage, Medina coasted to a 60-8 victory over host Newfane this afternoon in a season opening B North Division football game.

Medina grabbed an 8-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a 19 yard touchdown run by Jason Hellwig who added the two-point conversion on a pass to Ty Hrovat. Runs of 17 yards by Hellwig and 13 by Brett Pecoraro highlighted the drive.

The Mustangs then broke the game wide open with three unanswered second quarter touchdowns, two of which came in the final 1:15.

Hellwig, who was 13 of 14 for 212 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon, ignited that uprising with a 23 yard scoring strike to Brandon Schoolcraft. Hellwig, who added the two point conversion run, had completions of 14 yard to Hrovat and 12 to Dylan Lewis to key the march.

Devon Joy then scored on a 10 yard touchdown run with 1:14 to go in the half and Hellwig passed to Lewis for the two-point conversion making it 24-0. Pass completions by Hellwig of 27 yards to Hrovat and 15 to Lewis highlighted the drive.

Capitalizing on a late turnover, the Mustangs boosted the lead to 32-0 on a 13 yard Hellwig to Lewis touchdown pass and two point conversion run by Joy with just 10 seconds to go.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Ty Hrovat dives for extra yardage after making a catch.

The Medina defensive unit also came up big in the opening half stopping three Newfane drives inside the Mustangs 25 yard line, Panther drives with reached the 13,12 and 21 yard lines.

Pecoraro had big sacks on fourth down to stop two of those Newfane drives. He also forced a fumble on fourth down, which was recovered by Kalvin Packer, to stop the other threat.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs scored four more touchdowns in the second half on a 53 yard run by Pecoraro, a 1 yard run by Joy, a 24 yard pass from Hellwig to Schoolcraft and an 8 yard run by Eric Neace. Hellwig also had one two-point conversion pass to Hrovat and Tyler Valley another to Tyler Howard.

Pecoraro finished with 134 yards rushing and Lewis 120 yards receiving on seven catches.

Medina next hosts Bennett at 7:30 p.m. next Friday.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Brett Pecoraro picks up yardage.