Geneseo bests Holley in football opener

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Camron Labarge looks to gain yardage as Spencer Herring (56) and Kyle MacDonald (11) move in to make the tackle for Geneseo. The action took place during the Hawks loss to the visiting Blue Devils this afternoon.

A quick two touchdown scoring burst late in the first half keyed Geneseo to a 16-6 victory over host Holley this afternoon spoiling the Hawks Livingston County League debut.

Breaking away from a scoreless deadlock, Geneseo took an 8-0 lead with 4:21 remaining in the first half on a 6 yard touchdown run and two-point conversion carry by Jake Laidlaw which capped a 15 play, 69 yard drive.

Ryan Andrews looks to pass for Holley as Geneseo defender Jason Valentine closes in.

The Blue Devils quickly doubled their advantage as Kyle MacDonald intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a TD with 1:38 remaining. Laidlaw again added the two-point converse carry to make it 16-0.

Capitalizing on a botched Geneseo punt attempt, Holley got back into the game when Ryan Andrews scored on a 2 yard run with one second remaining in the third period. However, the Hawks missed on the two-point conversion attempt.

That opportunity was set up when Holley took over at the Geneseo 10 yard line as a punt attempt misfired with the ball sailing high over the Blue Devils punters head.

Holley also drove to the Geneseo 17 earlier in the third quarter sparked by runs of 13 yards by Jacob Affronti and 9 by quarterback Jeremy Mallett and a 12 yard Mallett to Camron Labarge pass completion. However, a sack on fourth down wiped out that opportunity.

The Hawks also drove to the Geneseo 24 late in the game after an 11 yard run by Labarge, an 8 yard pass complete from Andrews to Michael Passarell and a pass interference penalty against the Blue Devils.  However, the drive again stalled out on downs after a penalty slowed the advance.

The closest the Hawks came to the Blue Devils goal line in the first half was the 27 after runs of 12 yards by Nicholas Schutz and Labarge. That advance likewise stalled out on downs.

Defensively, the Hawks got a fumble recovery by Nathan Towne in the first half.

Holley next hosts Attica at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday.

Holley’s Jacob Affronti goes over the top of Geneseo defender Adam Wright (12).