By Thursday, the Kenmore West Blue Devils were convinced they had a plan to shut down Lockport star running back David Fluellen.
On Saturday, they showed it.
The host Blue Devils limited Fluellen to just 35 yards rushing on 10 carries in the first half, a big reason why West came away with an easy 40-14 Class AA North victory. With the win, the Blue Devils clinched the second playoff seed in Class AA North and will host a home playoff game at Crosby Field for the first time since 2000.
“Outstanding,” was West coach Rich Harris’ assessment of his team’s performance. “We’re playing some good football.”
The same can be said of senior Tim Hersey, who rushed for five — count em’ five — touchdowns in the win. Hersey, who finished with 149 yards on 16 carries, scored on runs of 3, 14, 20, 4 and 2 yards.
“You give him the ball and he does his damage. You give him a couple of steps and he just runs over people,” Harris said of Hersey.
Fluellen, who’s done his fair share of that this season, never could get going Saturday. He was largely bottled up before injuring his hip late in the first half when he went airborne for extra yardage and landed awkwardly. He didn’t play in the second half. After the game, Lockport coach Greg Bronson said he expected his running back to have a “significant bruise.”
“Losing David is losing 90 percent of our offense. That didn’t do us any favors,” Bronson said.
Lockport dug itself a deep hole early, as Hersey scored three touchdowns in the opening quarter and Anthony Pantano was perfect on extra points for a 21-0 lead after 12 minutes.
While Hersey cashed in his chances, quarterback Damour Bailey did a lot of the work. Bailey gained 163 yards on 13 carries. On the day, West rushed for 387 yards to just 81 for Lockport, according to stats provided by the Blue Devils (4-2 overall, 4-1 Class AA North).
“We’re spreading the ball around between those guys,” Harris said.
Lockport got on the board in the second quarter when quarterback Justin Guyton found senior wide receiver Brynell Middleton for a 13-yard scoring strike. The pair had a 60-yard reception earlier on the drive to set up the touchdown.
Miscues, though, would do in the Lions (3-3, 3-2). A holding penalty in their own end zone cost the Lions two points in the form of a safety.
Shortly before the half, Hersey scored his fourth touchdown of the day and it was 30-7 at the break.
Pantano added a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter and Hersey completed his scoring spree with a 2-yard run in the fourth to account for West’s points. Alfonzo Maye found the end zone from 9 yards out to complete the scoring for Lockport, which will represent Class AA North as the third seed in the Section VI playoffs.
Contact editor Jay Skurski at 693-1000, ext. 117.
Crunch 2008
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DOUG BENZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
October 12, 2008
CRUNCH: Hersey's TD parade leads West over Lockport
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