Skip to main content

Week 7 Hornell at Le Roy preview

By Brian Hillabush

 Hornell (5-1) at Le Roy (6-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

This is the last tuneup before sectionals for the Oatkan Knights, and what a tuneup it is.

Le Roy is looking to keep the 41-game win streak at Hartwood Park alive with a game against a very solid Class B squad, that is coming off a 14-7 win over rival Bath last weekend. The Oatkan Knights are also coming off a win versus a rival, a 27-20 win over Caledonia-Mumford.

Le Roy - the Livingston Conference Division II champion - is ranked fourth in the state in Class C while the Red Raiders jumped from not being ranked up to No. 8 in Class B.

This game means a lot to LR as the top seed in the Section 5 Class C playoffs is up for grabs. Oakfield-Alabama should run away with Holley and would move up to No. 1 if Hornell were to win this game.

That means Le Roy could end up with Pembroke in the semifinals and then O-A in the finals. This is no regular tune-up for the playoffs.

The Oatkan Knights will come out and try to take hold on this game early with some big scores. Don't be surprised if quarterback Travis Fenstermaker tries to get the ball to Mike Humphrey early in this game.

Humphrey had his quietest game of the season last week and it showed as LR fell behind 14-0 early. He did catch seven passes, but for only 40 yards and no touchdowns.

Humphrey has 28 receptions for 435 yards and nine scores and every time he makes an impact early in a game, Le Roy rolls.

Fenstermaker completed 11-of-15 attempts for 106 yards and a TD last week, and continues to be a great passing quarterback that can make a difference with his feet. He scrambled nine times for 34 yards against Cal-Mum.

Andrew Alexander is still having a tremendous season in the backfield. His 107 yards with a touchdown last week puts him at 888 yards with eight TDs for the season.

Le Roy's defense will have its hands full as Hornell has no problem moving the football.

Austin Dwyer has been one of the top rushers in all of Section 5 and currently has 155 carries for 1,103 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He will get the ball a lot.

If the Oatkan Knight defense can put the Red Raiders in third-and-longs, it is clear where the ball is going.

Quarterback Zach Harkenrider has completed 21-of-46 pass attempts for 375 yards with five touchdowns. Jordan Schwartz has caught 14 of those passes for 310 yards - with five touchdowns.

This is where Humphrey and Alexander can make their marks on defense. Both have solid interception numbers this year and Harkenrider has been picked off seven times.

Authentically Local