Albion/Medina rallies for last second touchdown to nip McKinley in key B1 game

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Quarterback Preston Woodworth threw the game winning pass to Rocco Sidari with only 9 seconds remaining earning Albion/Medina a key win over McKinley this evening at Albion.

Showing plenty of flair for the dramatic, Albion/Medina rallied for a touchdown with only nine seconds remaining to nip McKinley 23-20 in a key regular season ending B1 Division game this evening at Albion.

Scrambling and rolling to his right, quarterback Preston Woodworth hooked up with Rocco Sidari for the dramatic game winning 6 yard touchdown pass as Boe Preston tacked on the extra point kick for the 23-20 final.

The victory earns Albion/Medina a share of the B1 title at 6-1 with West Seneca East and a home game for the opening round of the up coming sectional playoffs as the division’s No. 2 seed.

Jaxon Lynch returns an interception on a tip play for the Rivals as Rocco Sidari backs up the play.

Albion/Medina also got on the scoreboard first taking a 7-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter as Woodworth connected with Elijah Doxey for a 23 yard touchdown pass and Preston tacked on the extra point.

A very unusual McKinley decision to punt on second down from deep in their own territory gave Albion/Medina the ball at the Macks 27 to set up the scoring opportunity.

However, McKinley answered back with a pair of touchdowns to grab a 12-7 lead first on a 90 yard pass from quarterback Kylon Minter to Marcis Daniels and then on a 1 yard run by Nicholas Williams.

The Rivals though battled back to regain a 14-12 lead at the half as Doxey threw a 14 yard pass to Noah Harrison and Preston added the extra point kick with only 47 seconds to go in the second quarter.

Neither team could score in the third quarter but McKinley regained a 20-14 lead with 4:34 remaining in the final period on a short run and two-point conversion carry capping a lengthy 8 minute drive.

The Macks then got the ball right back on a fumble recovery at the McKinley 27 with two minutes to go.

Albion/Medina though got a huge break as McKinley lost 17 yards back to the 10 yard line after a fumble which the Macks recovered.

Facing a fourth and forever situation the Macks gave up a safely with 42 seconds remaining pulling the Rivals to within four at 20-16.

McKinley’s ensuing kickoff from the 20 went only some 15 yards and the Rivals took over at the Macks 35.

Woodworth quickly hooked up with Doxey twice for pass completions of 15 and 14 yards advancing the ball to the McKinley 6 yard line.

That set the stage for the dramatic game winning Woodworth to Sidari touchdown pass capping an impressive debut B1 Division co-championship campaign for the Rivals.

The contest was penalty filled with over 30 yellow flags being thrown by the officials.

Albion/Medina, which will take a 7-1 overall record into the sectionals, will find out their first round opponent at the seeding meeting on Sunday.

Albion/Medina’s Parker Roberts makes a tackle on McKinley’s Tayon Mullen.