Spartans Rally At “The Coliseum” Over Jacks

As the old saying goes, “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings.” The Starpoint Spartans rallied from an eight-point deficit at halftime to defeat the North Tonawanda Lumberjacks, 18-17, thanks to Tajay Ahmed’s (13 carries, 61 yards) game-winning 15-yard touchdown run near the end of regulation. Starpoint head coach Al Cavagnaro was proud of how his team played until the final whistle. “We just wouldn’t give up. We just hung around and hung around (until the end),” the 17-year coach said. “Our coaches did a great job making adjustments at halftime to slow them down.”

The Lumberjacks were a smooth-oiled machine in the first half as the defense forced an opening drive three-and-out and the offense marched down the field, capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run by Joe Dotterweich (30 carries, 126 yards). The first bump in the road for NT came in the second quarter, however, as the Spartans capitalized on their opponent’s fumble. Quarterback Adam Lasal (6 of 12 passing, 91 yards) found Anthony Robinson (2 catches, 75 yards) for a 7-yard strike into the end zone but the Spartans missed the extra point. NT got some breathing room heading into halftime, though, as quarterback Zack Woodard (5 of 6 passing, 53 yards) found tight end Austin Tober for a 10-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left.

But after Dotterweich’s 28-yard field goal at the mid-way point of the third quarter, the Lumberjacks’ lead crumbled in the final five minutes of regulation. With 5:04 left in the fourth quarter, Lasal found Robinson once again on a screen pass. The 5’11” junior running back found space along the NT sidelines and ran in for the 68-yard score. After a missed two-point conversion, the score was 17-12. After a NT three-and-out, the Spartans marched down the field but defensive back Patrick Milbrand recorded an interception.

But that is why you play until the final whistle. Pinned inside their own red zone, the Lumberjacks decided to hand the ball off on 4th and 1 on their own 19-yard line instead of punting and giving their defense one last opportunity. Linebacker Terry Rutland led the stop for the Spartans, which is when Ahmed took the game into his own hands.

“He said, ‘Give me the ball, Coach,” Cavagnaro recalled after the game. “I’ll get that touchdown for you.’ He’s definitely a leader. As the Canisius coach told me this summer, ‘Tajay runs angry'” Cavagnaro, who is looking to lead the Spartans to their second consecutive Class A North title, also gave credit to both Robinson and Rutland, who made multiple key plays on both sides of the ball.

With the victory, the Spartans are now 5-0 on the season and will take a road trip to Main Street next Friday at 7pm, where they will face the Williamsville South Billies, who are coming off a blowout win against Kenmore East last night. They are likely the favorite now to win the Class A North title.

With the loss, head coach Henry Fumerelle and the Lumberjacks are now 3-2 on the season and will look to get back to their winning ways against the Amherst Tigers, who are coming off a three-point loss to Sweet Home, on October 7th at 7pm at the Lumberyard.