Marauders oust Purple Eagles in sectionals

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Ugene Harrison goes over the top trying to gain yardage during the Purple Eagles sectional loss at Dunkirk this evening.

A long field goal just before halftime ignited defending champion No. 3 seed Dunkirk to a 25-7 victory over visiting No. 6 Albion this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class B playoffs.

Trailing 7-6, Dunkirk moved on top to stay as Devaun Farnham-Dejesus connected on a line drive 45-yard field goal with just 10 seconds remaining in the opening half for a 9-7 Marauders lead.

Farnham-Dejesus also made a 28-yard field goal for the only points of the third quarter upping the Marauders lead to 12-7.  A big 34 yard gain on a burst up the middle by Jaziah Rivera on the first snap of the second half ignited that scoring drive.

Albion quarterback Bryce Pritchard pushes  Dunkirk tackler Quantavis Kleckley away.

Dunkirk put a lock on the victory when Quantavis Kleckley broke loose for a 40 yard touchdown run without 6:03 remaining the the fourth quarter. Farnham Dejesus, who added the extra point kick to make it 18-7, also scored a touchdown himself in the final minute on a 1 yard run to make the final 25-7.

Albion jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Demetrius Gardner and an extra point kick by Justin Robinson with 9:38 remaining in the second quarter.

A key first down pickup by quarterback Bryce Pritchard on a fourth down gamble at the Albion 29 kept that drive alive. Brilliance Johnson followed up with a 19 yard run to move the Purple Eagles into Mauraders territory. Pritchard then hooked up with JaQuess Harrison for a big 42 yard gain on a deep sideline pattern moving the ball to the Marauders 6 setting up Gardner’s short TD carry.

However, the Purple Eagles could not find the end zone again.

Sparked by runs of 18 and 12 yards by Gardner the Purple Eagles did drive to the Dunkirk 19 yard line late in the half. The Mauraders defense though stopped that advance.

Bolstered by that stand the Marauders offense then drove to get the go ahead field goal by Farnhma-Dejesusl just before half-time sparkd by a big 26 yard pass competition from Farnham-Dejesus to Sabian Smith.

Still trailing by only five at 12-7, Albion did drive to the Dunkirk 23 late in the third quarter after an 18 yard pass completion from Pritchard to JaQuess Harrison. However, a sack for an 11 yard loss on third down stymied that advance.

That proved to be Albion’s last scoring threat as the Purple Eagles did not cross midfield in the final quarter.

The Marauders also downed the Purple Eagles 18-15 two weeks ago at Dunkirk in a key clash of unbeatens for the B-2 Division title.

Albion finishes the season at 6-2 while Dunkirk advances to the semifinals at 7-1.

Purple Eagles back Demetrius Gardner tries to run out of the grasp of Quantavis Kleckley.