Rivals nip Billies on a dramatic last second TD

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Noah Harrison signals touchdown as Elijah Doxey sets set to cross the goal line for Albion/Medina’s dramatic game winning score over host Williamsville South with only two seconds remaining this evening.

Scoring a dramatic touchdown in the final two seconds, Albion/Medina rallied to nip host Williamsville South 38-34 in a key B1 Division football game this evening.

Trailing 34-30, the Rivals pulled out the thrilling victory when quarterback Preston Woodworth hooked up with Elijah Doxey on an 8 yard touchdown pass with only two seconds remaining. Woodworth then connected with Hadrian Batista for the two point conversion.

Albion/Medina also scored a touchdown on the final play of the first half on a 30 yard pass from Woodworth to Noah Harrison to rally into a 22-22 tie.

The Rivals then took what proved to be a short lived 30-22 lead on the first play of the final period as Doxey scored on a 1 yard run and also on the two-point conversion.

Williamsville South though answered back with a pair of touchdowns on runs of 31 and 1 yards by quarterback Phillips Gangi to put the Billies up 34-30 with 4:32 remaining.

That set the stage for Albion/Medina’s dramatic game winning scoring drive which used all but two seconds of that remaining 4:32. Pass completions by Woodworth of 18 yards to Harrison and 11 to Doxey along with an 11 yard run by Jayzon Wills helped move the Rivals into scoring position at the Billies 21. Seven plays later Woodworth connected with Doxey for the game winning TD.

The Rivals also scored first in the back and forth contest as Doxey scored on an 11 yard run and Woodworth hooked up with Batista for the two point conversion and an 8-0 lead with 9:04 to go in the opening period. Pass completions by Woodworth of 37 yards to Doxey and 25 to Harrison highlighted the drive.

However, Will South again answered with a pair of touchdowns on the first on a 32 yard run by Andrew Aquino and the second on a pass interception to put the Billies up 14-8.

The lead then sea-sawed back and forth in the second quarter.

First the Rivals regained a 16-14 lead on a 8 yard touchdown pass from Woodworth to Harrison and a two-point conversion run by Doxey on the first play of the quarter.

The Billies answered with a 10 yard TD run and a two-point conversion carry, both by Aquino, to regain a 22-16 lead with 1:26 remaining.

However the Rivals answered right back with the 30 yard Woodworth to Harrison touchdown pass as time expired to finish the half deadlocked at 22-22.

A scoreless third quarter then set the stage for a wild final period which saw both teams score twice with Albion/Medina touchdowns on the first play of the quarter on a 2 yard run by Doxey and on the Rivals final play on a 8 yard Woodworth to Doxey TD pass being the difference.

The Rivals defensive unit came up with a number of big plays but probably none bigger then when Jaxon Lynch and Rocco Sidari teamed up to tackle Gangi on a fourth down and goal to go  play in the third period. Lynch also had a fumble recovery in the second quarter.

The Rivals thrilling victory spoiled the Billies Homecoming game which was played before a huge crowd.

The Rivals are now 2-0 in the division and 3-0 overall while the Billies slip to 2-1 in the division and overall.

Albion/Medina next visits Lew-Port next Friday evening at 7.

The Rivals defensive duo of Jaxon Lynch and Rocco Sidari combine to stop Williamsville South quarterback Phillips Gangi on a fourth down and goal play in the third quarter.