By Nate Beutel<br><a href="mailto:beuteln@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Nate</a>
MEDINA — Veteran Niagara-Wheatfield coach Al Pogel asked his kids to run the race to the finish after two crushing defeats to Orchard Park last month. The Falcons did just that Wednesday night. Unfortunately they placed as runners-up to Clarence.
The Red Devils rushed for 455 yards en route to a 42-20 win in the Section VI Class AA Consolation Bowl Championship game at Medina’s Vets Park. Tailbacks Josh Rawdin and Cooper Wittig each had three touchdowns in the win, offsetting a great passing performance by N-W senior Paul Smith (20-of-35, 234 yards, two touchdowns, one interception).
“This team has a ton of character,” Pogel said. “They rallied together and ran the race to the end.”
That theme even played out in Wednesday’s tilt when Rawdin, who finished with 298 yards on 38 carries, scored twice in the opening quarter. The Falcons (3-7 overall), though, responded with a pair of Smith-to-Chris Gruarin hook-ups in the second period to tie the game at 14 heading to the half. Gruarin had each one of his seven catches in the first half as he was plagued by cramps in the second 24 minutes.
William Nalbone took the lead at the receiver position in the second half, hauling in six of his seven catches in the third and fourth quarters. Two of his grabs set up Smith’s seven-yard keeper to close the gap to a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Red Devils (7-3) then went back to their power-run game, going 80 yards on nine plays to ice the win. Wittig capped the drive with an eight-yard scoring burst on fourth down with seven minutes left. He added another touchdown about five minutes later.
“They have some good players and they execute very well,” Pogel said.
Defensively for N-W, Richard Burr had 10 tackles and an interception, Mike Hardy had eight stops and Jim Donner added a sack and a fumble recovery.
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.
