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Week 4 football previews

By Brian Hillabush

 Canisteo-Greenwood (1-2) at Le Roy (3-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The Oatkan Knights are coasting after beating Wellsville 77-8 in Week 3 and should have a big advantage over Canisteo-Greenwood, which has only scored 66 total points through three weeks of the season.

The only way Le Roy could struggle in this game is if the players think past C-G with tough games against Avon (2-1) and Caledonia-Mumford (3-0) and Hornell (3-0) to end the regular season.

The Oatkan Knights - ranked fifth in the state in Class C - have the highest scoring offense and have allowed the least amount of points of all the teams in Livingston Conference Division II.

Le Roy is moving the ball on the ground and through the air as Andrew Alexander has rushed for 421 yards through three games and Travis Fenstermaker has thrown for 357 yards, most of which has gone to Mike Humphrey.

Humphrey and Fenstermaker are possibly the best passing duo in Section 5, hooking up for five touchdowns so far. Humphrey has been over 100 yards receiving in the last two games.

 

Batavia (1-2) at Midlakes (0-3)

7 p.m. Friday

The Blue Devils hit the road for the first time this season and have momentum after a big 41-28 win over Waterloo last week.

Batavia has given up a lot of points this season, but scoring has not been a problem. Dan Geiger's offense has put up 74 points over the last two games.

Rob Williams has been a big reason why.

The senior has 374 yards rushing, which is quite impressive when you throw in the 17 yards he was held to in a Week 1 loss against Le Roy.

Williams has also been a factor on the defensive side of the ball and special teams, so Midlakes will be looking out for him.

Enter Anthony D'Aurizio.

D'Aurizio is the perfect compliment to Williams and runs with a bruising style. He picked up 180 yards and two touchdowns last week.

Midlakes has struggled, scoring just 21 points while giving up 73.

Batavia enters this road game with momentum and as the favorite, with a chance to even up at 2-2.

 

Holley (0-3) at Alexander (0-3)

1:30 p.m. Saturday

This game features the only two winless teams in the Genesee Region League and two programs with new coaches.

Holley's Chad DeRock served as jayvee coach last year while the school did not field a varsity squad. He has some players on the line with some size and the Hawks look to pound the football.

Unfortunately, they haven't had much success doing it thus far, scoring just 30 points so far this season.

Holley had just 56 total yards of offense in last week's 41-0 loss against Pembroke.

Alexander's Dave Radley has a squad filled with juniors and has had the hardest schedule in the GR so far, having to play Oakfield-Alabama (3-0), Pembroke (3-0) and Attica (2-1).

The Trojans have done a so-so job of putting points on the board, netting 33. But the defense has been beyond porous, giving up 117 points. 

Both squads are going to look to play physical football, with the winner getting their coach a first victory. The losing team will fall to 0-4.

 

Oakfield-Alabama (3-0) at Notre Dame (2-1)

1:30 p.m. Saturday

This is a huge game in terms of the race for the Genesee Region League title after Notre Dame's lone loss coming to Pembroke and O-A still having the Dragons on the schedule.

The Hornets are doing it again, running the ball with several different runners behind a solid offensive line, led by Division I prospect Chris Williams. 

Tim Smith (304 yards, 4 TD), Brad Riner (279 yards, 6 TD), Joe Natalizia (192 yards, 2 TD) and Jason Stanley (162) all have the ability to go off at any time.

O-A - ranked 13th in the state for Class C - has already rushed for over 1,000 yards as a team and has scored a league-leading 153 points.

Quarterback A.J. Kehlenbeck can also throw the ball a little.. He has completed 7-of-14 pass attempts for 94 yards and two TDs this season.

The Fighting Irish have skilled players all over the field.

Mike Pratt went for over 100 yards rushing in a Week 2 win over Attica and Kevin Schildwaster went for over 100 in Week 3's 37-6 victory over Barker. Both will get carries and you can look for the one that is running the ball better to keep getting the ball.

But if O-A's stingy defense shuts down the run, Notre Dame has a great passing option with quarterback Nick Bochicchio and wide receiver Kevin Francis.

The last time these two teams met on Notre Dame's field two years ago, the game went into overtime during a rain storm, with the Hornets escaping with a win.

 

Attica (2-1) at Barker (1-2)

1:30 p.m. Saturday

Class B Offensive Player of the Week Andy Ruddock looks to lead the Blue Devils, who beat Elba/Byron-Bergen 40-6 last week.

Ruddock earned the honor after gaining 193 yards with a score on 18 carries in the game. He also caught a pass for 19 yards and returned a kick 43 yards.

Barker is probably going to focus on shutting Rudy down, so Blue Devil coach Jeff Cusmano might let his quarterback have a big day.

Brandon Rollins - who transfered to Attica this school year - has gotten better in each game this season and had a nice passing game last week. He went 8-of-12 for 85 yards and three touchdowns last week.

The Blue Devils always think defense first and it has shown as the team has given up a league-low 39 points.

That could be a problem for Barker, which has scored just 31 points this season. The only victory the Raiders have came against Holley.

Greg Brown is the top rushing option, gaining 238 yards with two TDs so far. Ray Paul has pitched in 136 yards with a couple of scores.

Anthony Porter and Ethan Dewart each have thrown for 57 yards this season.

 

Elba/Byron-Bergen (1-2) at Pembroke (3-0)

1:30 p.m. Saturday

The Dragons spread the ball around, but Andrew Wright has easily been one of the top players in the league so far.

He has nine total touchdowns so far this season and has been huge as a runner, a receiver and a kick returner.

Wright had two touchdowns and a 99-yard kickoff return for a score in Week 1, carried the ball just eight times for 185 yards and four touchdowns in Week 2 and then picked up 118 yards rushing on 10 carries with two catches for 55 yards in Week 3.

He has 18 rushing attempts for 283 yards and five touchdowns and has caught five passes for 180 yards and three scores.

Mike Dibble will spend the entire game in the backfield and does a great job of pacing the game. He has 47 rushing attempts for 240 yards and four scores.

David Kleckler has put up some very efficient passing numbers this season and also has the ability to run as a quarterback. He will typically look in tight end Ken Babcock's direction at least a couple of times in the game.

Kleckler has gone 11-of-23 passing for 317 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He has rushed for 127 yards and two TDs on eight carries.

Babcock has caught six passes for 137 yards with two touchdowns.

The Lancers have had no problem rushing the ball so far, but have only managed to score 57 points.

Brandon Spurling is at almost 400 yards rushing and Zach Green has about 200 yards.

Elba has also made the switch at quarterback, making Eric Kowalik the full time QB and moving Cody Torpey to wide receiver. He could also get some rushing attempts.

Gabor Deutsch

Andrew Wright is putting up crazy numbers. He seems like a true talent.
I think that giving the offensive line and special teams blockers some credit is in order though.
Go Dragons!

Sep 25, 2008, 3:05pm Permalink

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