'Cats end season on winning note against Blazers

November 08, 2008|By JACK HILL III

The Williamsport Wildcats completed their 2008 season on a high note, shutting out the Clear Spring Blazers 40-0 Friday night in an MVAL Antietam football game.

Williamsport (3-7, 2-3) posted shutouts during two of its three wins this season.

"It is a dream come true," said senior linebacker Andrew Likely, who led the Wildcats' defense with 10 tackles and made four of his six extra-point kicks. "My goal at the beginning of the year was to come out and play hard in every game.

"Winning my last game is just great. I can't explain it. From the beginning of the game, we were planning on a shutout. I am just happy for everybody. I'm proud of all the guys that I have played with, especially the seniors. I am proud of the coaches."

The Blazers had a chance to score in the second quarter when they had a fourth-and-goal at the Wildcats' 1-yard line. The Blazers attempted a run, but a wall of Wildcats prevented the touchdown.

Williamsport coach Adrian Custer said he was impressed with his team's effort and performance.

"It was a total team effort," Custer said. "We prepared well and we practiced well. We came out and executed. I am proud of these seniors. They have done everything that we have asked them to do. They finished the season with a win."

Mike Russ gained 93 rushing yards on only nine carries, while Rico Thompson added 83 rushing yards on 11 carries for the Wildcats. Williamsport quarterback Blake Bandeff completed six of his 11 passes for 115 passing yards.

Mike Etzel finished with 98 rushing yards for Clear Spring (1-9, 0-5), which trailed 13-0 at halftime.

"I thought that we came out and played strong in the first half," Clear Spring coach Craig Bathgate said. "There was a lot of motivation in rivalry week. In the second half, we started to get overmatched because of our low numbers. They just threw a few deep passes and they increased their lead. Our boys did not quit. They battled until the end of the year."

Williamsport took a 6-0 lead with 6:54 remaining in the first quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by Joey Sutch.

Sutch scored his second touchdown on an 8-yard run with 8:04 to go in the second quarter.

Russ had a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:59 left in the third quarter to push Williamsport's lead to 20-0.

Bandeff then threw the first of his three touchdown passes to Cortez Boyce, a 42-yarder, to jack the Wildcats' lead up to 27-0 with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter.

Bandeff fired a 44-yard touchdown pass to Boyce later in the third quarter, and the pair connected for a 5-yard TD completion early in the fourth to complete the scoring.

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