Hutch-Tech Moving on After Defeating Falls

Niagara Falls – In the final Class AA quarterfinal game of the weekend, the Niagara Falls Wolverines hosted the Hutch-Tech Engineers Saturday afternoon. Game conditions were brisk but that didn’t keep fans from coming out. They saw a defensive juggernaut between two hard-hitting, physical teams. In the end, Hutch-Tech prevailed 14-6 to earn their first ever Section VI post-season victory.

“In 2010 we came to Section VI and went 0-9 that year and ever since then we’ve been flying under the radar” an ecstatic Coach Chris Gelsomino said after the game. “I know it’s a cliché but we’ve really taken it just one game at a time.” The Engineers scored the game’s first touchdown late in the first quarter as Shawn Faulk went 45 yards on a draw play. Dimitrius Simmonds caught a pass for the two-point conversion giving Hutch-Tech an 8-0 lead.

The Wolverines struggled on special teams, especially in the punting department. They turned over the ball twice including once at their own 15 yard line that almost allowed Hutch-Tech to blow the game open. The Ralands brothers, both juniors, Syveon and Syquan were wrecking balls on defense for the Wolverines. “We tried our best but we took this team light” Syveon said after the loss.

Coach Bass from Niagara Falls although upset with the loss was still gracious in defeat. “Hats off to them. They played great. We weren’t getting enough time to throw the ball, it just wasn’t our day.” Talking about losing seventeen seniors “I told them I love em they gave me everything they had.”

The Engineers will head to Lancaster next week for a week 6 match-up in which the Legends defeated Hutch-Tech 51-24. “I’m ready for them, I’m happy it’s them. We’re healthy now and we’ll be ready” Demarco Myers of Hutch-Tech said following the win. Myers was the emotional leader throughout the game, especially on the sidelines, rallying his teammates and keeping their heads in the game when times were tough and players were letting their emotions get the best of them.

Niagara Falls Del Hunt scored on a short run midway through the 3rd quarter. His brother Tee came up with an interception moments earlier that gave Niagara Falls great field position. The 2 point conversion failed but the TD pulled the Wolverines to within 2 points, an 8-6 score with plenty of time left.

Hutch-Tech received another TD late when Lawrence Spencer-Watson ran in for the score from 29-yards out, giving the Engineers a 14-6 lead, the 2-point conversion failed.

On the ensuing kickoff, Niagara Falls kick returner Che’kore Moore looked as if he might take the kick to the house but was eventually run out of bounds at the Hutch-Tech 41, a late-hit penalty was called on Tech and the Wolverines found themselves at the 31 yard line with under a minute to play in the 4th.

The Wolverines worked themselves up to the Tech 15 yard line and had a couple of good opportunities to set up for a game tying situation. Tech’s defense, which had been stout all day made two of the biggest plays of the weekend. First it was Kevin Barney batting away a pass intended for a wide-open Cortez Myles. Then a couple plays later, on 4th and goal, Cortese caught a slant pass but was brought down just two yards shy of the goal-line by Tech defensive back Daemani Devonshire.

Tech took over on downs and kneeled on the ball to allow the clock to run down.