Internal combustion spoils Huskies’ Homecoming

By HUNTER O. LYLE

OLEAN, NY – Separated by 53 yards by way of the gridiron, and just seven points on the scoreboard, the sidelines at halftime told the story. Across the way, Iroquois were light, energized and bouncing to the soundtrack playing through their portable speakers. Closer to home, the Huskies’ huddle was tense and irate.

Despite lagging behind by just one score, the Olean football team’s frustrations would only build through the final two quarters of play, ultimately sending them back to the loss column with a shutout 14-0 defeat to the Red Hawks.

“We’re playing with teams, competing with the best teams in the league but we’re just not finishing,” said Olean head coach Terry Burrows. “Until we can get over that hump, it’s going to be tough.”

The powder keg had been built up through the first two quarters where Olean’s early highs were immediately met with lows. An initial trip to the Red Hawks’ doorstep on their first drive came up short. A first-quarter fumble recovery gave way to a reciprocated fumble less than two minutes later, which in turn, gave up an Iroquois touchdown to start the second quarter.

Liam Ruggles comes down with a catch during the Huskies' Week Five matchup with Iroquois. On Olean's first drive of the night, they marched down to the Red Hawk's 36-yard line before being turned away. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle — Liam Ruggles comes down with a catch during the Huskies’ Week Five matchup with Iroquois. On Olean’s first drive of the night, they marched down to the Red Hawk’s 36-yard line before being turned away. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

But while the Huskies’ continued to trip over themselves offensively, their defense picked up what slack they could.

Besides the inaugural touchdown, Olean protected the endzone by hook or by crook. The effort started on the inaugural drive of the night, where Dom Myers came up with back-to-back tackles for loss on Iroquois’ first pair of snaps, and was replicated to close out the half, seeing the Huskies enter the intermission with successive stops within their own six-yard-line.

“Defensively, that was outstanding. (Iroquois) is a really good run-play-option team and we took a lot of things away from them,” said Burrows. “It was a really, really good effort.”

Coming out of the break down by just one score and starting with the ball, the Huskies were far from out of contention. All they had to do was clean up their offense and find some sense of momentum. However, the tide immediately turned against them, manifesting in a first-snap interception just eleven seconds into the third quarter.

Dom Myers narrowly pulls the trigger before absorbing a hit during the Huskies' loss to Iroquois. Myers ended with 54 passing yards on the night. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle — Dom Myers narrowly pulls the trigger before absorbing a hit during the Huskies’ loss to Iroquois. Myers ended with 54 passing yards on the night. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Although Olean managed to apply the breaks at once, forcing Iroquois into a stalled drive from another big tackle for loss from Myers, their offense once again failed to materialize, instead falling to their second three-and-out of the evening. Then, their bend-don’t-break defense finally gave way.

Continuing to drill the ball through the trenches with their hard-headed leading rusher, Trey Pfeiffer, the Red Hawks ground their way up the gridiron, chunking out yards in bunches as they approached the goal line. Taking a snap from the Huskies’ 15, Iroquois shuttled the ball to Roman Williams who burst through a pair of blown tackles and across the plane.

With the Huskies’ sidelines sullen and deflated, a total implosion began. Another three-and-out on their next drive was immediately followed by another interception. And while they were able to regain their composure on defense, stopping Iroquois again on the goal line, their offense continued to spiral into submission, all but accepting their fourth loss of the season.

Myers finished with 54 yards through the air, completing four of his 13 attempts and also recording 10 solo tackles. Colby Booth ended with 32 rushing yards for the Huskies, who now fall to 1-4 on the season.

Approaching the final stretch of the season, the Huskies’ are not totally out of reach of a spot in the Class B2 playoffs. Looking down the line, their final three matchups – at Dunkirk (1-4), home versus Cheektowaga (3-3) and at Lackawanna (1-5) – are not predetermined contests.

While things will have to certainly have to fall their way from here on out, Burrows and Co. haven’t given up hope just yet.

“As crazy as it is, we have three games and if we win them, we’re in fourth place in our league. It seems gloomy, but it’s not doom and gloom,”said Burrows. “We just have to fix the little things, which continually seems to be the issue.”