Niagara-Wheatfield clinches football playoff berth

by Eric Keppeler
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, October 12, 2006

Coach Al Pogel of Niagara-Wheatfield has his team in first place in the AA-North Division. (photo by Larry Austin)

It wasn’t pretty, but the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons kept their 2006 Class AA-North record perfect last week with a 28-21 victory over visiting Kenmore West, clinching a berth in the Section VI football playoffs in the process.

The Falcons (4-2 overall, 3-0 league) can wrap up their first division title since moving up to Class AA in 2004 with a victory at 2 p.m. Saturday over Niagara Falls at Terry Harvey Field. They close out the season the following week at Williamsville North.

“It’s always nice to have a winning season, especially when every single kid molds together,” said senior captain and receiver Mike Guariglia. “But we still need to come out strong and win our last two games, so we can have the best season that we can have.”

N-W coach Al Pogel wasn’t thrilled with the way his team performed against Kenmore West, especially after almost blowing a 21-0 halftime lead.

The Blue Devils never quite managed to pull even, but nor were the Falcons ever able to comfortably pull away from the visitors in the second half.

“We talked about the things that could allow them to get back into the game, and those are things we can’t allow to happen,” Pogel said. “We talked about special teams, and we didn’t do what we needed to do. It wasn’t from lack of effort, but we made critical errors and we were fortunate.”

The Falcons got off to a great start as quarterback Jon Smith hooked up with Jake Koshinski for a 36-yard touchdown on their first possession. N-W went up 14-0 late in the first quarter when junior Kevin Ogiba picked off West quarterback Sam LaDuca and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. And Smith delivered a potential knockout blow with an 11-yard TD scamper with 39 seconds left in the half.

But the Blue Devils didn’t go away.

“They came out playing harder than us in the second half,” Guariglia said. “We started out strong in the first half, firing off the ball on every single play. We came out of the locker room a little dull, and then we had to set it back up and play defense. Each play is a big play because any of them can change the whole game around. Every down counts.”

West quickly cut into the lead on an 8-yard touchdown run by Matt McDougle and a 1-yard sneak by LaDuca.

The Falcons earned some breathing room when Smith found Guariglia on a post pattern that went 46 yards for a score with 1:30 left in the third quarter.

“We thought we knew what the coverage was going to be,” Pogel said. “We had multiple options, but when Jon dropped back he saw that the post was open. It was first down or touchdown, and he took the touchdown – and we’re happy that he did.”

McDougle closed out the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run with 10 minutes left, but the Devils were unable to tie the game.

Niagara Falls limps into Saturday’s contest at 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the division. The Wolverines were blanked 7-0 last week at home by the Lockport Lions.

Pogel insists that no one is about to look past Niagara Falls and think about the playoffs – especially after what almost happened against Kenmore West.

“They have tough linemen and speed, and we all know that speed can be the great equalizer in any situation,” Pogel said. “You have to play every play, because these guys can break one at any time. People think it’s cliché, but the only thing we’re talking about is Niagara Falls.”