By Brandon Koch
The Tonawanda News
NORTH TONAWANDA —
Kenmore West head coach Rich Harris knew about all of the story lines going into Week 1 at North Tonawanda. The Jacks graduated a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, but they were also returning as reigning state champs.
Perhaps most important, though, Harris knew he had a lethal combination in the Blue Devils’ backfield and a improved team all around.
Junior quarterback Marcus Lobdell and tailback Martin Bailey were scintillating in a 30-22 win Friday night under the lights at the Lumberjacks Athletics Complex to kickoff the 2010 grid season.
The loss marks the first since 2008 when the Jacks were defeated, 28-13, by Orchard Park in the Class AA title game at Ralph Wilson Stadium and is NT’s first loss at home to a division rival since 2006 when then Jacks were upended by Niagara-Wheatfield, 15-13.
“I feel good,” Blue Devils head coach Rich Harris said. “Going into it, they’ve got such a tradition here of good football and we knew they graduated some kids and we’re obviously a better team then we were last year. The kids felt good about their chances tonight.”
The play-making ability of Lobdell and Bailey coupled with several turnovers marred NT’s chances of continuing its winning streak. Bailey finished with a game-high, eight rushes 114 yards and two scores, to go along with a receiving touchdown as well. Lobdell had 26 scampers for 46 yards and a touchdown, as well as four completions for 131 yards and a TD through the air.
“We looked like a Week 1 team with the turnovers and stuff,” NT head coach Eric Jantzi said. “We’re not going to beat anyone with the amount of turnovers we had tonight.”
Ken West displayed its speed early on when Lobdell hooked up with Bailey on a quick screen that ended in a 61-yard scamper that was called back on an illegal block in the backfield.
On the ensuing punt, Jacks starting quarterback Joe Montesanti went the distance, returning a 71 yarder to get on the board, followed by a Dan Montesanti catch and run for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.
The Blue Devils stormed right back, however, with the same exact screen pass that was called back earlier, but this time Bailey cashed in on a 53 yarder that stood for six. Ken West would subsequently tie with a two-point conversion of their own.
From that point on, Ken West would convert on every opportunity.
Later in the first half, NT’s Justin Bacon would begin a myriad of turnovers for the Jacks, coughing up a punt deep in his own territory, leading to seven more from Ken West.
In the second half, Nick Fisher would tack on a field goal before Bailey blazed through NT defenders for yet another long, 47-yard run to pay dirt to up the lead to 24-8.
Joe Montesanti and the Jacks were not ready to keel over just yet.
Following a questionable called fumble by Rob Wikierski, Ken West recovered in its own territory only to cough up the pig skin on the very next play. The Jacks would storm down the field, where Joe Montesanti would put the finishing touches on a scoring drive with a 14-yard scramble.
On the ensuing drive, Bailey would lay the ball on the dirt. Linebacker Tyler Durham recovered, putting the Jacks back in business, down 24-16. Montesanti would once again lead the NT offense to six more with a 11-yard run to the right pylon to make it 24-22. On the two-point conversion, Montesanti found an open Travis Charsley, but it went for naught, ricocheting off his face mask incomplete.
The Jacks would try an onside kick, but it was recovered by Kenmore West.
Jantzi said he was proud of the fight in his squad.
“It was gutsy. I’m proud of the way they came back,” he said. “They could have hung their heads and called it in, but they have a lot of fight in them and hopefully we’ll see that the rest of the season, too.”
Bailey would tack on another 53-yarder to seal the contest, 30-22.
Joe Montesanti led the Jacks, accounting for all three scores. Running back Justin Bacon added 60 yards on the ground for NT.
Montesanti said he is looking forward to improving on the little things.
“I’m not going to get down on us at all because we’re really young,” Joe Montesanti said. “Everybody is new at their positions. It’s a wake up call, for sure, but I still think we’re going to have a pretty good year.”
EXTRA POINTS
North Tonawanda honored two fallen heroes before the game, having a moment of silence for Jordan Bunker, who lost his life in December in a tragic car accident, and Tim Serwinoski, who lost his life in Afghanistan as a marine.
Bunker’s No. 55 and Serwinowski’s No. 5 were hung on the fence below the scoreboard to pay tribute to the former Jacks.
Former Section VI chairman Chuck Funke, who died Wednesday of stomach cancer, was also remembered before the contest.
