By SPENCER BATES
ALLEGANY — Every game is another step.
Three weeks into its return to the 11-man football scene, Allegany-Limestone is making considerable strides. The most recent example of that trend being its 28-12 defeat to Class D leaguemate Franklinville/Ellicottville.
While it was a third consecutive loss to start the season, there is plenty for the Gators to be excited about. They started off the year with a substantial 49-8 defeat to non-league opponent Portville/Cuba-Rushford/Bolivar Richburg, they then went on to remain competitive for a significant amount of time in an eventual 44-13 loss to Randolph in their league season-opener, and on Sept. 18, they kept themselves within striking distance of a Titans program with lofty aspirations for this season.
“That’s what coaching is about,” A-L coach Marcus Grove said. “It’s about seeing a really raw product, teaching and your kids, (getting them to believe) in themselves, and getting that confidence that, even after a couple of tough, lopsided losses to some strong opponents, they can come out and put a game together. … There’s a lot of strong teams in this league. So we know, week-in and week-out, it’s never going to be easy, but it’s how can we put the right foot forward and continue to improve, and through the first three weeks of the season, we’re seeing those improvements come to life.”
A-L got its night going on a positive note too, roping in an interception on F/E’s game-opening possession. But despite the turnover, the Titans came up with a defensive stand of their own, which they turned into the game’s opening touchdown.
Possession changed hands a number of times throughout a quick first half, but the score remained 6-0 going into the break, much in part thanks to a four-down stand by the Gators inside their own five-yard line that prevented the Titans from jumping ahead by two scores.
Allegany-Limestone’s Tayden Margeson (5) attempts to shake off a Franklinville/Ellicottville defender while scrambling out of the pocket. Margeson threw for 186 yards against the Titans. (Spencer Bates)
That positive momentum carried through the half for A-L as Mat Burnett tore off a 63-yard touchdown catch and run on just the second play from scrimmage out of the intermission. Burnett, who finished with 40 rushing yards, 66 receiving yards and six tackles, has been a major factor for the Gators this season, scoring each of the first four touchdowns for the team on the year.
“He’s a game changer for us in all facets of the game, whether it’s special teams, offense or defense,” Grove said of Burnett. “He’s always somebody that can flip the script with just one touch of the ball. We’re finding ways to get him the ball in space, to really use that athleticism, that speed and that vision to get down the field and make big plays for us.”
But Burnett was not the only asset A-L had operating at a high level on the evening. Its by-committee quarterback duo of Dylan Schultz and Tayden Margeson kept the Titans on their heels and amassed 278 combined passing yards — 92 for Schultz and 186 being attributed to Margeson.
“We’re through three weeks, and those guys are splitting every single snap unless an injury says otherwise,” Grove said of his duo. “Schultz, unfortunately, hasn’t had the luck to progress, because he’s been behind two pretty good quarterbacks, Michael Frederick (and) Vincent LaBella last year, who stepped in and did a really good job. So, as a senior, he’s stepping in, and really, for the first time he’s seeing the 11-man level. He’s played 8-man the last two years. So we’re proud of him and proud of the growth that he’s showing. On the other side, we got a freshman in Tayden Margeson that’s stepping up to the task. We’re getting some growing pains out. We’re letting T kind of come out here and throw the ball around and see the 11-man game and learn from mistakes.”
However, the Titans were not about to allow a complete momentum shift coming out of the half as they returned the favor, jumping back ahead with a touchdown on their first possession of the half. And after forcing a punt from the Gators, they gave themselves a 15-point buffer with a second consecutive touchdown.
In that lies the story of the game, according to Grove.
On too many occasions, his team found themselves marching down the field only to stall out at the most crucial moment. That being said, mistakes are something that he and his coaching staff understand are going to happen given the fact that a significant portion of the team is still getting a handle on the 11-man game.
“Anytime that you have momentum going and you have a setback it can be deflating,” Grove said. “Little mistakes here and there can stall an entire drive and stall out the momentum. We just got to clean up that little stuff. And with a young team, that’s what we expect. We expect those growing pains and the false starts and missing a blocking assignment or something like that, it’s going to happen. We just got to keep learning from it, watching it on film, and then get better each week.”
A-L gave itself a chance late with a three-yard touchdown pass from Schultz to Sawyer Prince, a score that was set up via a near-40-yard catch and run from Prince on the previous play.
But one final F/E score inevitably put the game to bed.
Allegany-Limestone’s Jax Amore (4) breaks off a run down the sideline. (Spencer Bates)
Result aside, the game signified the return of 11-man football to Allegany-Limestone, after the team spent its first two weeks on the road. This is something Grove and his players take pride in, noting that a return from 8-Man was always in the cards.
And now that it is back, the goal is to foster their players’ love for the game, keep the program on an upward trajectory and attach a positive connotation to the culture of Gator football.
“The plan was always to get back, we just didn’t have the men at the time,” Grove said. “To have a strong sophomore and junior class that are excited about football and showing up every week, it’s what we need. It’s what we want. We’re trying to shift the culture here and make it a football town. … It is a proud moment to see the plan from three years ago pan out, now we just got to keep getting better week-in and week-out, so that we can start putting some wins in the column.”
Allegany-Limestone’s next chance to grab its first win of the season will come on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. when it is set to host Gowanda /Pine Valley.
AT ALLEGANY
Allegany-Limestone: 0 0 6 6 — 12
Franklinville/Ellicottville: 6 0 15 7 — 28
First Quarter:
Franklinville/Ellicottville — Freer 8 run; two-point attempt no good, 6-0
Third Quarter:
Allegany-Limestone — Burnett 63 pass from Schultz; extra point attempt no good, 6-6
Franklinville/Ellicottville — Neal 27 pass from Benjamin; two-point attempt good, 14-6
Franklinville/Ellicottville — Learn 20 pass from Benjamin; extra point attempt good, 21-6
Allegany-Limestone — Prince 3 pass from Schultz; two-point attempt no good, 21-12
Fourth Quarter:
Franklinville/Ellicottville — Freer 15 run; extra point attempt good, 28-12
——
Team Statistics:
Allegany-Limestone:
First Downs: 14
Rushes-Yards: 17-49
Passing Yards: 278
Comp-Att.-Int.: 16-29-2
Total Offense: 327
Fumbles-Lost: 1-1
Penalties-Yards: 4-42
Punts-Avg.: 3-38.0
Total Plays: 49
——
Franklinville/Ellicottville:
First Downs: 22
Rushes-Yards: 37-180
Passing Yards: 230
Comp-Att.-Int.: 11-18-1
Total Offense: 410
Fumbles-Lost: 1-1
Penalties-Yards: 4-24
Punts-Avg.: 1-28
Total Plays: 56
