Purple Eagles use late scoring surge to down Panthers in opener; Lancers blank Mustangs

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 6 September 2019 at 10:52 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Chris Shabazz celebrates scoring a key second quarter touchdown on an interception during the Purple Eagles season opening home field win over Newfane this evening. Joining in the celebration is Deyonci Farley.

Leading by a narrow one point margin, Albion scored two clutch unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter to down visiting Newfane 35-20 this evening in a season opening interdivisional football game.

Holding a slender 21-20 lead, Albion opened up a little breathing room when quarterback Thomas Furmanski threw a 7 yard touchdown pass to Kevin Hillman with 7:38 remaining in the game. Deyonci Farley tacked on the extra point kick to make it 28-20,

Furmanski also had a big 19 yard run and a 16 yard pass completion to Bailey Blanchard and Farley a 12 yard run to highlight the key scoring drive.

The Purple Eagles then put a lock on the victory when Tyray White scored on a 9 yard run with just 2:44 remaining as Farley’s extra point kick made it 35-20.

Runs of 16 yards by Farley and 15 by White highlighted the clinching scoring drive.

Albion’s Jameek Riley wraps up Newfane quarterback Garrett Srock helping to cause the interception and TD return by Shabazz.

The Albion defense then put an exclamation point on the win as Bril Johnson made a nifty sideline interception on the second play after the ensuing kickoff.

“Resiliency. We really showed resiliency,” said Albion Coach Adam Krenning of the Purple Eagles fourth quarter surge after Newfane had rallied back to within one. “We bent but we didn’t break. They really came through.”

Albion had jumped out to a 21-7 half-time lead after scoring three times in the second quarter, the first two tallies coming just 13 seconds apart midway through the stanza.

The Purple Eagles grabbed a 6-0 lead on a 3 yard touchdown run by Furmanski with 7:58 to go in the quarter as runs of 17, 14, 13 and 8 by White along with a 20 yard Furmanski to Hillman pass completion highlighted that drive. (Click here to see a video of Furmanski’s TD run.)

The Albion defense contributed the next score in lighting quick fashion as Chris Shabazz intercepted a pass by Newfane quarterback Garrett Srock and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown just 13 seconds later. Farley’s PAT kick made it 13-0. Srock made the critical throw as he was being tackled by Albion defensive back Jameek Riley.

Newfane did cut the deficit to 13-7 as Srock scored on a 47 yard run and also added the extra point kick.

Albion though got that one right back as Farley scored on a 5 yard run with 2:19 to go in the half and Furmanski hooked up with Blanchard for the two-point conversion to make it 21-7.

A 17 yard Furmanski to Hillman pass completion and a 14 yard run by Farley highlighted that 77 yard scoring drive.

Newfane though came battling back in the third quarter with two unanswered touchdowns to make the contest tight.

The Panthers touchdowns came on runs of 1 yard by Jaden Heers and 15 yards by Srock who also added the PAT kick after the first score. However, the Panthers mishandled the snap on the second extra point kick attempt which would have tied the game but instead left the Purple Eagles clinging to a one point, 21-20 lead.

Albion though weathered the storm getting fourth quarter touchdowns on a Furmanski to Hillman pass and a White run to close out the win. (Click here to see the TD throw for Furmanski to Hillman.)

The Purple Eagles will open the B3 Division schedule at home next Friday against Springville.

Lew-Port 28, Medina/Lyndonvile/Barker 0
LEWISTON – Quarterback JohnPaul Stewart threw touchdown passes of 44 yards to Gino Fontanarosa and 26 yards to Corey Stack and Fontanarosa had TD runs of 37 and 44 yards to lead Lew-Port to a 28-0 victory over visiting Medina/Lyndonville/Barker in an interdivisional game.

Dontea Rhim and Brian Fry had pass interceptions for the Mustangs which begins the B2 Division scheduled at home next Friday against Iroquois.

Class C North
Wilson defeated host Roy-Hart 47-0 in the Class C North Division opener.