SILVER CREEK — What a difference two weeks can make.
Franklinville/Ellicottville’s football team let a 20-7 third quarter lead slip away in Oct. 15, in their regular-season finale, and fell to Silver Creek/Forestville, 27-26, costing the Titans the No. 2 seed in the Section 6 Class D playoffs. But on the road Friday night, the No. 3 Titans (7-2) got their emphatic revenge with a 56-33 win against the Black Knights (7-2).
“The last thing I said to these guys is, ‘High school football is about attitude and momentum.. focus and enthusiasm,’” said F/E coach Chad Bartoszek. “The things that maybe we lacked before, I really thought we brought it as a team. We’re the same team, we’re the same guys, these kids have had it from Day 1 and Silver Creek’s the same team as well. That’s a great opponent and I’m real proud of the way we played against a really good team.”
With the win, the defending champion Titans make a third consecutive sectional title game at New Era Field (the previous Ralph Wilson Stadium). F/E looks to avenge its only other loss against Maple Grove (9-0) Friday at 5 p.m.
“I don’t even know what to say to these guys because I’m so fired up. I want to scream,” Bartoszek said of making the championship. “We’ve been working so hard for this and I know Silver Creek is down and I feel bad for them because it’s such a great event to go to that Ralph game. This time we want to go and get some more revenge.”
Brock Blecha, the Titans’ junior quarterback/linebacker, didn’t start that Week 7 game but played well enough to win (throwing a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter) fighting through illness. He looked like the Big 30 Player of the Year candidate from earlier in the season Friday night, though, completing five of nine passes for 188 yards (20.9 per attempt) and four touchdowns and ran for 54 yards and two more scores.
“It helps to have him running the show and he was able to do some things with the receivers,” said Bartoszek. “Our line played really well at times but that’s one of the best D-lines you’re going to see. They’re big, they’re strong and they’re disciplined. So I was just real proud of the way the team came together. A lot of people got involved right from the beginning, first drive.”
Black Knights coach Sean Helmer said he expected Blecha to play well, but was disappointed in a few mistakes to give the Titans deep passes.
“We knew he was not healthy the first time and we anticipated a lot more quarterback run game,” Helmer said. “I don’t think we tackled well and we made a little adjustment to help with some of the outside game but the breakdowns in coverage — he made nice throws (but) they were pretty wide open.”
Senior running back Austin Whitmer ripped off 13 carries for 157 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Deric Leiper had a 54-yard rush on a reverse.
Senior wideout Dooley Brennan caught three passes, each for touchdowns totalling 147 yards. He broke through the secondary for a 72-yard strike in the second quarter and went for 50 more to score with :02.8 in the half for a 36-13 halftime lead after a successful two-point conversion.
“We had fire in our stomach,” Brennan said. “We wanted revenge. They’ve been on our calendar ever since our homecoming game.”
How did he get so open for the two long-balls?
“Running it and pulling the fake and everybody doing their job,” Brennan said. “The line stayed and gave Brock time and Brock threw the ball and got it to me.”
A trio of seniors still racked up big days for the Black Knights in their last games, led by running back Bill Seiders’ 23 carries for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Noah Radack went 9-for-20 passing for 215 yards and three touchdowns, including a 30-yard score to Chris Williams (four catches, 126 yards).
Blecha had an interception in the third quarter and junior defensive end Sam Erickson made two sacks. While allowing 33 points, the last two Silver Creek touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, with the game essentially decided.
“Coach (Chris) Mendell and that staff did a lot of work and put a game plan in,” Bartoszek said. “I think after the last game a lot of people wanted to jump ship but it was just a few adjustments. A few assignments, adjustments and a little bit of just getting fired up. Emotion is big on D. The defense was fantastic. That’s a great offense right there.”
Silver Creek/Forestville lost the turnover battle, 4-0, including a 16-yard fumble recovery and return by Tim Knight.
“It was such an odd game, the number of times we either put the ball on the ground or shot ourselves in the foot was kind of mind-boggling,” Helmer said. “You add up all those excuses and we were still within two scores (28-13 in the second quarter), and then we give up a big play.”
F/E 14 22 6 14 — 56
SC 6 7 6 14 — 33
First Quarter
F/E – Brock Blecha 2 run (9 plays, 65 yards); run failed, 6-0
F/E – Austin Whitmer 28 pass from Blecha (5 plays, 71 yards); Dooley Brennan pass from Blecha, 14-0
SC – Tom Galfo 7 pass from Noah Radack (8 plays, 65 yards); kick failed, 14-6
Second Quarter
F/E – Blecha 4 run (3 plays, 63 yards); Whitmer run, 22-6
F/E – Brennan 71 pass from Blecha (3 plays, 72 yards); run failed, 28-6
SC – Bill Seiders 1 run (4 plays, 63 yards); Seiders kick, 28-13
F/E – Brennan 50 pass from Blecha (2 plays, 66 yards); Sam Erickson pass from Blecha, 36-13
Third Quarter
SC – Chris Williams 70 pass from Radack (4 plays, 93 yards); pass failed, 36-19
F/E – Brennan 26 pass from Blecha (6 plays, 62 yards); run failed, 42-19
Fourth Quarter
F/E – Whitmer 9 run (7 plays, 48 yards); Blecha kick, 49-19
SC – Kalvin Stanbro 17 pass (7 plays, 66 yards); run failed, 49-25
F/E – Tim Knight 16 fumble recovery return; Blecha kick, 55-25
SC – Seiders 47 run (4 plays, 74 yards); Seiders run, 55-33
Team Statistics
F/E SC
First Downs 16 15
Rushes-Yards 44-278 34-182
Passing Yards 188 215
Comp-Att.-Int. 5-9-0 9-20-1
Total Offense 466 397
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 4-3
Penalties-Yards 7-45 3-25
Punts-Avg. 5-25.8 2-21.5
Total Plays 53 54
