Bulldogs surge to win over Purple Eagles

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Lamar Chambers hauls in a touchdown pass for the Purple Eagles first score of the evening in a 28-18 loss to visiting Alden.

A big three touchdown scoring burst late in the second quarter keyed defending champion Alden to a 28-18 victory over host Albion this evening in a B East Division game.

Trailing 12-7, Alden regained the lead for good by erupting for three touchdowns in the final 6:23 of the second quarter.

A two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Bryan Cybulski ignited that uprising, a scoring drive keyed by a 37 yard Cybulski to Riley Pastuszynski pass.

Brandon Windnagle followed up with a 45 yard interception return for a score and Christian Snell capped off the uprising with a 13 yard TD run with only three seconds to go in the half giving the Bulldogs a 28-12 lead. A 43 yard run by Snell started that scoring drive as Pastuszynski tacked on the extra point kick after each touchdown.

Albion’s Meach Gardner intercepts a pass intended for Alden’s Riley Pastuszynski.

Albion had grabbed the 12-7 lead on a 35 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bryce Pritchard to Lamar Chambers with 4:22 to go in the first quarter and a 22 yard TD run by Tom Mattison with 11:30 remaining in the second quarter. A fumble recovery by Nate Moore at the Alden 27 on a botched Bulldogs punt return attempt set up the tally.

The Purple Eagles did cut the deficit to 28-18 with four minutes to go in the third quarter on a 2 yard touchdown run by Tony Vellejo Miller. An interception by Meach Gardner at the Alden 17 set up that opportunity.

However, Albion could get no closer as the Purple Eagles final two possessions were stopped at the Alden 31 and the Albion 20.

Snell also scored Alden’s first touchdown on a 28 yard pass reception from Cybulski on the Bulldogs first possession of the evening.

Albion, which is now 0-1 in the division and 0-2 overall, next hosts Barker/Roy-Hart next Friday.

Alden, which is now 2-0 in the division, next visits Medina/Lyndonville on Friday. The Mustangs downed host Lackawanna 48-6 to improve to 2-0 in the B East Division.

Albion’s Tom Mattison breaks through the line for a big gain.