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Vikings
blank Williamsville South, 28-0
| by
Eric Keppeler
Grand Island Dispatch, September 15, 2006
You might consider
it a bit of an exaggeration to call the second football game of
the high school season “must-win” - but Grand Island coach Dean
Santorio made a pretty compelling case.
And his team took his words to heart as the Vikings
thumped Class A-North rival Williamsville South 28-0 last week to
even their overall and divisional record at 1-1 and climb squarely
back in the hunt for the league title.
“That’s the problem with high school football,” Santorio
said. “When you only play seven league games and you lose one -
it doesn’t matter who you lose to - you’re behind the eight ball.
If you get a second league loss, you’re probably not going to the
playoffs. So you have to play every game hard, no matter who it
is.”
The Vikings had dug themselves an early hole in the
standings with a season-opening 12-7 loss at home to Albion, one
of the favorites to win the division. But Grand Island answered
with a road win against a team that has given them problems in recent
years - no matter South’s record.
“We’re approaching it the same way we did last year,”
said senior captain James Rayhill. “After we lost to Sweet Home
in Week Two, we took every |
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Williamsville South’s Logan
Struebing, 13, and the Billies try to bring down Grand Island ballcarrier
Darryl Caldwell. (photo by Joe Eberle) |
| game like a playoff game because this division
is so tough. It’s really hard to get into the playoffs with two league
losses, so we knew we had to get on these guys. They have some good
athletes, but we got the job done.” |
Against South, the Vikings
were never threatened as Matt McKenna rushed for a pair of touchdowns
and also caught a third score from quarterback Matt Klock. Grand Island
closed out the scoring late in the third quarter as fullback Alex Webb
scored on a 2-yard run with 1:41 remaining.
Santorio said before the season that he would be comfortable
with either Klock, a junior, or sophomore Joe Oliverio at quarterback
- and both saw action against South. Klock started the game and took more
snaps, finishing 7 of 10 for 89 yards and one touchdown. Oliverio was
3 of 4 for 44 yards.
Grand Island’s Pat O’Donnell, 5, is
wrapped up by Williamsville South’s Andrew Denk, 30, as Kong Chen,
67, of GI blocks. (photo by Joe Eberle) |
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“We’re real happy with what Matt did
here tonight,” Santorio said. “He threw the football really well,
and he’s taken it upon himself to do some extra work and improve
over the last few weeks. But I’m also confident with Joe, or I wouldn’t
have him up here. They understand that - they both work hard and
they can both do the job. They’re both good kids.”
McKenna finished with 12 carries for 69 yards, plus
a pair of catches for 24 yards.
That was more than enough for the defense, which held
the Billies without a first down in the first half and just one
for the game. Rayhill led the defense with seven tackles and three
sacks, while Jason Voltz added six tackles and an interception.
Klock also had an interception.
“Coach (Steve) Steck always prepares us well,” Rayhill
said. “Each guy has an individual job to do, and every guy did his
job tonight. Especially on the defensive line - Mike Davis, Ryan
Harnden and Nick Tomkins - they don’t get lot of tackles, but they
shut everything down and let the linebackers get the tackles.”
The win was nice, but it won’t mean much if Grand
Island looks past Kenmore East (0-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Parker
Field.
“All of the seniors this year remember how close so
many of the games were last year,” Rayhill said. “We cannot take
anybody lightly. It’s already now like every game is a playoff game
for us.”
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