Lumberjacks Awaiting a ‘Hungry’ Billies Team

Sep 9, 20162 min read

North Tonawanda (1-0) v. Williamsville South (0-1) Section VI Class A North At Williamsville South’s District Field, 7pm kick-off. Also TWC Game of the Week

North Tonawanda Lumberjacks head coach Henry Fumerelle knows exactly what type of team his squad will be facing. A hungry one.

When the Lumberjacks roll into Will-South for their Week Two meeting a lot of variables will be accompanying this game.

It’s Will-South’s home opener, their first league game, they are coming off of a 31-14 loss to Lancaster last Friday. Oh, and there is a little matter of last year’s game against NT. A wild, back-and-forth offensive shootout that ended with a 49-48 OT win for the Jacks after Joe Dotterweich bulled his way into the end zone for the two-point conversion after Cody Sikora’s TD.

So, yes, Coach Fumerelle knows full well what the Billies will be bringing on Friday night.

“We are definitely going to get their best shot,” Fumerelle said. “Being a TV game, what happened last year, their first league game. We’re going to get their best shot. They’re a good football team.”

The Jacks are coming off of a 35-8 opening week win over Williamsville East. But while the final score looked good in the paper, the Jacks were still unsatisfied. NT had five turnovers and committed a handful of undisciplined penalties. The Jacks know that if they hope to win they will have to clean up those mental mistakes.

Will-South head coach Kraig Kurzanski will look to junior QB Josh Foster to help lead the team to its first win of the season.

Wide receiver Chris Nelson will no doubt be Foster’s favorite target of the night. But Foster must be wary of the Lumberjacks defense, including Zak Woodard who had two pick-6’s in the win over Will-East.

But Woodard, the Jacks QB, will also be wary himself as he will face incredible pressure from defensive end Jemelle Jones and 6-foot-4 defensive end Dan Thomeer. “(Thomeer) is very quick,” Fumerelle said. “He’s very athletic. We’ve definitely got to be on our toes. We’ve got to do a much better job all the way around.”Will-South will also need to have a game plan in place to stop running back Chris Labonte.

Will-South will also need to have a game plan in place to stop running back Chris Labonte.

“I expect them to play as good as they can,” NT’s Joe Dotterweich said. “You try to win every game. We have to come out strong, execute and we’ll be fine.”