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Homecoming night, a boisterous home crowd, and a comeback against an unbeaten team. You couldn’t have written a better script for Williamsville South as the Billies won their third straight, beating the Hamburg Bulldogs 28-22 on Friday night.

The win moved Williamsville South to 3-2 on the season while handing Hamburg (4-1) its first loss of the year.

“We knew we were faster and just as physical,” Williamsville South head coach Kraig Kurzanski. “Once we started to get the ball, we were able to play how we wanted.”

After a feeling out first quarter, the Bulldogs looked like it was going to be another easy win as they built a 16-0 lead halfway through the second. The Billies cut the lead to 16-6 by halftime, but it still felt as though it was Hamburg’s game to win.

The second half is where everything turned. With the Bulldogs driving and at the Williamsville South 27-yard line, Maxwell Graves read a screen pass perfectly for an interception. He then proceeded to take it back 73 yards for the touchdown to cut the lead to three.

The Bulldogs would drive right back down to score when quarterback (QB) Nolan Heavern scored his second rushing touchdown of the game. With the game 22-13, the Billies struck back with of touchdown of their own on a 46-yard run by Christian Dewer.

“We are getting right into form,” said Dewer, who finished with 160 yards rushing on the night. “We are bonding as a team and working harder. We knew we would win this game, and we feel like we can beat anybody.”

Williamsville South had a chance to take the lead on a 34-yard field goal, but missed it just left. It was then the defense’s time to step up, and step up it did. With 4:36 remaining in the fourth, the Billies forced a fumble that was recovered by Graves. Just four plays later, Williamsville South would take its first lead of the night on a six-yard run followed by a successful two-point conversion.

Hamburg did have the final chance to win the game, and looked poise to do just that. Unfortunately, for the Bulldogs, corner Jeremy Thompson was able to overcome a banged-up knee to make a leaping interception in the endzone to seal the victory for the Billies.

“We faced a lot of adversity in this game,” Thompson said. “We always work hard, and it’s paying off.”

Graves added that a win like this is a momentum builder for the team as the regular season winds down, and playoffs approach.

“If we put it together each week like we did tonight, no one can catch us,” he said.

The Bulldogs now have to look to rebound next week with a huge matchup against Jamestown. For Williamsville South, a date with West Seneca West is on the docket as the Billies look to run their win streak to four.