Published: October 24, 2009 10:59 pm      

HS FOOTBALL: Flu contained but Lockport prevails

LOCKPORT — It wasn’t pretty, but this wasn’t a prom date.

Senior tailback David Fluellen rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries Saturday, lifting the Lockport Lions past visiting Jamestown, 26-14, in a flag-filled, mistake-prone Section VI Class AA quarterfinal.

The Red Raiders contained the Lions’ all-time leading rusher Fluellen for the most part, but “Flu” broke free for a 54-yard TD run in a 19-point Lions second quarter that helped make the difference.

With the win, head coach Greg Bronson’s team improved to 5-3 overall and advanced to this week’s semifinal round at 7 p.m. Friday at 8-0 Lancaster. Friday’s other AA semifinal pits defending state champion Orchard Park (7-1) at undefeated North Tonawanda (8-0).

“If we have any hope of winning next week, the first things we’ve got to eliminate are the turnovers and foolish penalties,” coach Bronson said. “Most of the time, the only thing that stops us is us.”

The Lions fumbled the ball away on their first possession, setting up the Red Raiders with excellent field position, but Lockport’s defense, led by senior linebacker Luke Rankie’s game-high 17 tackles, kept the game close until the LHS “O” could get on track.

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“It’s a great feeling being one of just four teams left in the playoffs, but we made just too many mistakes today,” Rankie said. “It’s great to move on, but we won’t get away with that many mistakes again. We’ll need to play better.”

Jamestown (3-5) drove down inside the Lions’ 10-yard line three times without scoring, fumbling the ball away twice and missing a field goal on another try.

Despite the miscues, the Red Raiders were slightly out-playing the Lions when they took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 4-yard TD run by bruising junior running back Dylan Monroe (29 carries, 159 yards, TD) and senior Cody Kane’s extra point.

The Lions bounced right back, driving 56 yards on seven plays, capped off by a bizarre, 21-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Kevin Bronson (5-for-7 passing, 88 yards, 2 TDs; 5 rushes, 33 yards, TD) to senior wide receiver Deshaan Vincent. Bronson rolled left and fired a pass down to the goal line, where Vincent had fallen down, but showed good concentration, reaching up with two hands to somehow snatch it out of thin air. Senior Brian Orzechowski’s extra point tied the game at 7-7.

The Red Raiders drove down to the LHS 10 but a high snap and sack on fourth down gave the Lions the ball at their own 46. On Lockport’s next play, Fluellen hit a hole and cut left, racing 54 yards to paydirt.

The blue and gold D held again and capped off their stand with junior Tyler Davis blocking the Red Raiders punt, giving Lockport the ball at the Jamestown 29 with a half minute to go before halftime.

Bronson calmly play-actioned on second down and found streaking senior wide receiver Jake Chenez open on a post pattern for a 21-yard TD strike, and the Lions led 19-7 at intermission.

“We made too many mistakes against a good team today,” said Jamestown senior quarterback Bret Heath. “They capitalized on our mistakes and we didn’t capitalize enough on theirs.”

Bronson gave the Lions a 26-7 lead in the third quarter when he scrambled 14 yards for a TD.

“I looked up ahead and everyone was still following their blocks. The hole just got bigger and bigger and I had no choice but to take it,” Kevin said.

The Red Raiders closed the scoring in the final seconds on a 16-yard TD pass from Heath to Jaron Pollino.