Published: November 02, 2009 01:52 pm      

Hawks 'bedeviled' in semifinals

Attica thumps Holley 40-6

Plagued by turnovers and unable to get untracked offensively, the Holley Hawks dropped a 40-6 decision to the Attica Blue Devils Sunday in the Section V Class C semifinals at Rhinos Stadium.

Brad Clark scored five touchdowns to spearhead the attack for Attica, which capitalized on five Holley turnovers including three fumbles and two interceptions.

“We gave up more points and had more turnovers today than we’ve had combined all season,” Holley head coach Chad DeRock said.

A bobble on the opening kickoff return, which forced Holley to start from its own 10-yard line, set an ominous tone for the afternoon for the Hawks.

The Attica defense held on downs and the Blue Devils quickly moved in for a score after taking possession at midfield following the Hawks’ punt.

An 18-yard pickup by Brandon Banks got the Attica offense off to a quick start, and two plays later Clark scored on a 28-yard run, putting the Blue Devils on top to stay just 2:38 into the game.

Plagued by bad field position most of the half, Holley started two drives in good position, at the 39- and 49-yard lines, but quickly had those opportunities dashed by lost fumbles.

Attica, meanwhile, boosted its advantage to 20-0 at the half on a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs by Clark in the second quarter.

“We got in a hole and offensively we just couldn’t do anything,” DeRock said. “We came out a little flat and never recovered and we missed a lot of blocks.”

Capitalizing on an interception and a fumble recovery, Attica broke the game wide open in the first nine minutes of the second quarter on touchdown runs of seven and three yards by Clark giving the Blue Devils a commanding 33-0 lead.

Holley finally broke onto the scoreboard when quarterback Guy Hills scored on a two-yard run with 2:50 to go in the third quarter. A big 67-yard pass completion from Hills to Mike Pernicano down to the Attica 2 set up the tally.

It marked the only time in the afternoon that Holley crossed the Attica 45-yard line.

Attica though got that one right back as Banks scored on a seven-run run on the first play of the fourth quarter to up the Blue Devils lead to 40-6.

Attica, which nipped Holley 3-0 on a last second tied goal during the Genesee Region League campaign, now faces Letchworth for the Class C title Friday night at Rhinos Stadium.

Holley, which shared its first ever G-R title with Attica and Notre Dame, finishes the Hawks best gridiron season to date at 7-2.

“We are very proud of the kids,” DeRock said. “We said at the beginning of the season that we wanted to make history and we did. The kids worked very hard and this season is something to build a tradition on.”