Indians Run Over Starpoint To Advance In Class A

In the games following their Week One loss, the West Seneca West Indians defense has been one of the hottest units in Western New York, allowing on average seven opponent points per game leading up to their playoff showdown with Starpoint.

The good news is the defense dominated once again. The bad news is their opponent points average went up a fraction.

The Indian defense stifled the Spartan attack for a majority of the game on Friday night en route to a 27-8 victory in a Section VI Class A quarterfinal matchup at Starpoint High School.

“Our defense definitely found a footing and made some big plays,” West Seneca West coach Mike Vastola said. “We moved a couple pieces around, we got guys that are tough at the point of attack, and I think our system is pretty adaptable to whatever we’re going to see.”

What the Indian defense probably did not expect to see was them trailing 13 seconds into the game.

On the first play from scrimmage, Starpoint’s Jake Dean managed to find a hole and sprint 52 yards to the endzone, and just like that, the injury riddled Spartans were up 8-0.

Unfortunately for Starpoint, it was all downhill from there.

The West Seneca West (7-1) rushing attack took over the game in the second quarter, as sophomore Isaiah Simmons got them on the board with a 20-yard score, and five minutes later, quarterback Liam Scheuer gave the Indians a 14-8 lead with one of his two touchdown runs on the night, this one a 40-yard score.

“When our line blocks like that, it’s easy,” Simmons said on his over 100 rushing yards performance. “As long as I can have the time to get into the gap and have the patience to wait, then I can find the hole and get out.”

In the fourth quarter, the reigns to the Indian offense fell to senior Dillon Weir, after Scheuer left with a shoulder injury and did not return.  Weir sealed the game with a quarterback sneak on the goal line during his first drive as the West defense held strong the rest of the way.

The Spartans (4-4), who were down not only starting quarterback Carson Marcus but their backup quarterback and star receiver Joe Carlson as well, could not get over the hump caused by their injuries.

Despite two turnovers forced by their defense, the offense managed no points off them.

“We’re just missing some bullets which made it tough. They worked so hard and then to have that happen its just kind of [unfortunate],” Starpoint coach Al Cavagnaro said. “They’re not going to quit, that’s just the nature of this school.”

Next up for the Indians is a showdown with undefeated McKinley in the Class A semifinals, setting a matchup against the Macks’ high flying offense and West’s strong defense. With a victory, the Indians would reach New Era Field and the Section VI Class A final for the third straight year.

“We pride ourselves on our defense and coming up with answers,” Vastola said. “I’m really looking forward to our game plan session on Sunday and coming up with something.”