Falcons brace for game with Lumberjacks

by Eric Keppeler
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, September 28, 2006

The North Tonawanda Lumberjacks have what Niagara-Wheatfield football coach Al Pogel and his team want.

The Lumberjacks currently own the Section VI Class AA-North division crown, but Pogel’s Falcons can take a giant step toward stealing that title when the two teams collide at 7 p.m. Friday at the Lumberjack Sports Complex in North Tonawanda.

Simple geographic proximity makes this big game even bigger, says Pogel.

“This is a border rivalry,” he said. “Kids from both sides circle this one when the schedule first comes out. Our games always go down to the wire.”

Since each team in AA-North plays only five division games this season, each contest takes on an added importance. The Falcons already have played their three non-league games and have beaten division rival Lockport in Week Three to sit at 2-2 overall and 1-0 in league play.

The Lumberjacks are 3-1 overall but 2-1 in the division after beating Lockport and Niagara Falls but bowing to Kenmore West in Week Three.

The winner of Friday’s game will be clearly in the driver’s seat as far as aspirations of a division crown, since every team besides the Falcons has at least one league loss.

“It goes without saying that it’s a big game,” Pogel said. “It’s a divisional game and it will be a dogfight to the end. But crazy things have been happening in our division from week to week, so right now we’re really just focusing on NT and not worrying about anyone else. This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

The Falcons fell last week at AA-South rival Jamestown, 17-14 in overtime. The Red Raiders dominated the line of scrimmage, rushing 49 times for 194 yards and winning it when Alex Foulk hit a 24-yard field goal in the extra session.

The N-W scores both came in the third quarter after the Raiders had opened up a 14-0 lead. Mike Guariglia returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown and Kurt Williams later added a 7-yard touchdown run to force the overtime.

“We know we played poorly and we still almost won that game,” Pogel said. “But we just didn’t get the job done up front. We didn’t get off the ball and that made it hard for us to do what we wanted offensively. Our defense was just on the field far, far too much.”

The Lumberjacks bounced Niagara Falls last week at Sal Maglie Stadium, 20-6. NT, known for effectively running the triple option offense, has added a few new wrinkles this season, but it all starts with senior quarterback Scott Gregson, who has been a varsity starter since his sophomore year.

“They really spread things out, but they can also run the traditional option,” Pogel said. “They’re multi-faceted, and Gregson can do any of the things they want to do. But we have to be careful not to concentrate on just one aspect of their offense. They’re too talented and that can only lead to a downfall. We have to play with discipline.”