Mustangs outlast Lancers in opener

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina quarterback Izaiah Rhim runs up field as Lew-Port’s Ian Sitek tries to make the tackle. The action took place during the Mustangs win over the Lancers this evening at Vets Park.

Surviving a scare down the stretch, Medina/Lyndonville outlasted Lew-Port 46-41 at Vets Park this evening in a wide open season opener.

The Mustangs opened up a 20 point, 40-20, advantage heading into the final quarter but Lew-Port scored three times in the final nine minutes to make the finish exciting.

The Mustangs jumped out to an early 16-7 lead as Jalin Cooper ran 5 yards for the first touchdown and freshman quarterback Izaiah Rhim, who was making his first varsity start, passed 21 yards to Dylan Lewis for the second. The pair of two-point conversions came on a pass from Rhim to Lewis and a run by Jake Cotter. Rhim completed 7 of 16 passes for 124 yards on the night.

The Mustangs maintained a narrow 22-20 lead at the half as Eric Neace ran 11 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. A 49 yard run by Cotter, who rushed 18 times for 237 yards on the evening, set up that tally.

That score came just seconds after Lew-Port’s Dawson Bailey scored on an 85 yard kickoff return. The Lancers also got a 4 yard TD run by Michael Fritz in the second quarter.

The Mustangs built the advantage to 40-20 in the third quarter on touchdown runs of 42 yards by Cotter and of 29 and 3 by Neace who had a total of 110 yards rushing on 13 carries on the evening. Cotter had a 27 yard run to help set up Neace’s second TD.

However, Lew-Port used a 75 yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown to spark the big fourth quarter surge.

Jake Cotter runs in for a two-point conversion for the Mustangs as Nick Christman tries for the tackle for the Lancers.

The Mustangs did answer right back for what proved to be the game winning touchdown on a 15 yard run by Neace to regain a 46-27 lead. A 37 yard run by Cotter helped set up that decisive tally.

Lew-Port though got two touchdowns by Bailey, on a 15 yard pass reception from quarterback Donald Allender and on a 1 yard run, to slice the deficit to 46-41 with 2:47 remaining.

The Lancers got the ball back two more times but could not find the end zone again.
The Mustang defensive unit made a huge goal line stand to stop the first drive and an interception by Trent Cotriss stopped the second.

Gage Grabowski also had an interception on the evening for the Mustangs while Charles Beach made 14 tackles and Dawson Joy 11.

With the win the Mustangs even their all-time series with the Lancers, which began in 1955, at 11-11.

Tonawanda 40, Barker/Roy-Hart 20

Senior quarterback Andy Xapsos had a big night for Barker/Roy-Hart rushing 32 times for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns and completing 12 of 25 passes for 143 yards including a TD toss to Ed Wasnock who a total of 9 catches for 101 yards.

Attica 39, Holley 6

Capitalizing on punt and interception returns for touchdowns, Attica built up a 32-0 half-time advantage over visiting Holley in route to posting a 39-6 win in the Genesee Region League opener.

Nick Passarell completed an 8 yard scoring pass to Ryan Andrews for Holley’s touchdown.

Passarell had a total of 82 yards rushing, Zach Day 58 and Adam Stetzel 36.

On defense for Holley, Clarence Moyer had 12 tackles, Nick Shenck 10 and a sack and Passarell an interception.