Depew-21 Lancaster-13

Click to view image

The Depew Wildcats defeated the Lancaster Redskins 21-13 in front of a sellout crowd of 6,500. The Redskins entered the game with a 1-5 record while the Wildcats enter with a 5-1 record. It was a cold Friday night in New York as we were ready for the kickoff.

Depew kicks to open the game only to have #21 Mike Curran from Lancaster return it all the way for a 79-yard touchdown. Depew answered immediately on the next possession. #23 Marc Bethge takes off for a 77-yard touchdown of his own to even up the scoring at 7 apiece with 11:00 left in the first quarter. Lancaster’s quarterback Kevin Colafranceschi threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Michael Copp to extend the Lancaster lead to 13-7. Midway through the 2^nd quarter the game turns into a defensive battle, as the teams begin to exchange punts. Late in the 2^nd, Depew gets setup at the 1-yard line thanks to defensive pass interference in the endzone with :04 left in the half. Depew quarterback Anthony Buono runs it in as time expires to put the Wildcats up 14-13 going into the half.

The 2^nd half opens up with the teams exchanging possessions. The 3^rd quarter ends with the temperature beginning to really drop. It was easy to tell the temperature was beginning to affect the game as no team could get anything going on offense. Brian Rybak of Depew intercepts a Colafranceschi pass with 6:46 remaining in the game. Driving down the field, the Depew possession stalls on a 4^th and 7 as the Buono pass falls incomplete. Lancaster takes over on downs but fails to make anything of it. Depew begins to drive again late in the 4^th. Facing a 3^rd and 8, Depew’s Nick McAuley takes it 22 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 21-13 with just 1:32 remaining. Lancaster had a chance to score as they were on the Depew 37-yard line, but the desperation heave falls incomplete.

Depew quarterback Anthony Buono earned the MVP honors.