Gainesville - The Oatkan Knights move to 6-0 on the year with an impressive 54-14 win over the Letchworth Indians played under cool and crisp conditions in Gainesville. The LeRoyans rolled to a 46-0 lead in which they scored via the ground, air, and the capitalization of Letchworth miscues. The win will maintain the Knights' #4 ranking in the state C poll and set up the much anticipated gridiron clash with our neighbors to the west, the Batavia Blue Devils, on Friday evening, October 18th. The Class A Devils are 4-2 on the year as Coach Jon SanFratello has the talented Batavians playing excellent ball.

Under the bright lights of the fantastic Letchworth sports facility, the game got underway with a Brendan Fulmer boot through the end zone. The LeRoy defense came out fired up with big Ian Christiansen wreaking havoc in the early going for the Knights on defense. The Indians went 3-and-out and LeRoy began their first series on offense. The Knights marched down the field for their first score of the game with senior star RB Joe Cosimeno finding the seams in the locals' defense. Sophomore RB Andrew Fox, sprung by an excellent block from senior RB Joe Caccamise, capped the scoring drive with a 13 TD dash around right end at the 6:57 mark. With the Fulmer kick for PAT, the Knights went up 7-0.

Letchworth began deep in their territory on their second offensive series and again found the Knights' defense to be too strong and quick. After another 3-and-out, the Knights received the pigskin at their own 37. A rare Shaughnessy passing miscue was intercepted and the Indians were in business at their own 47 yard line. After a nice gainer, the Indians were pushed back by a Jake Syracuse sack. A 3rd down gain by Letchworth broke into LeRoy territory and the hosts were faced with a short yardage 4th down scenario. LeRoy's Jason Hodge, Kenny Smith, and Ian Christiansen thwarted the gamble with a run-stuffing gang tackle. It was close enough to measure and inches short. LeRoy's ball on their own 43.

A half dozen plays later the Knights were again on the board after a series of Letchworth penalties and a nice pass and run between QB Joe Shaughnessy and star WR Brendan Fulmer. Joe Cosimeno notched his first TD of the night on the first play of the 2nd quarter on a fine 7 yd dash. The Fulmer boot made it 14-0.

Letchworth continually tested the LeRoy middle on their next series only to be consumed by the likes of Donny Miller and company. Tim Dieffenbacher was quick to the ball all evening and played beyond his sophomore experience level. On 4th down the Indians botched the snap back to the punter and the Knights were given a short field of 25 yards to the goal line. Some solid defense by Letchworth, led by Steve Buttles and rugged wrestling star Adam Shaffer, stopped the Knights on this series. Coach Moran called for a Fulmer field goal attempt of 41 yards. At the 8:04 mark, the ball sailed through the goal posts with ease and the Knights enjoyed a 17-0 lead.

Fulmer's kick sailed through the end zone on the ensuing kickoff and the 20 would be the spot of the Letchworth drive start. Two plays later, the Letchworth QB dropped back to pass only to have his aerial attempt picked off by Shaughnessy who ran down the left side of the field before cutting back against the grain and racing past all of the would-be Indian tacklers for a TD return of 41 yards. One minute after the field goal it was 24-zip. The Knights would score twice more in the remaining 7:06 of the first half.

Letchworth went 3-and-out again and the Knights were back at their 26 yard line after the punt. LeRoy plowed up the middle with Fox grinding through the Letchworth defense. Fulmer snared a pass for a good size gain on the outside. Offensive coach Chris Cappotelli called for Jake Whiting's number and the versatile junior rambled 25 yards for another sizable LeRoy gain. With 59.6 seconds remaining in the half, Joe Cosimeno ran hard through the Indians for a 5 yd TD to put his squad up 31-0 following the Fulmer PAT.

Defensive genius Andrew Paladino once again came up with the scheme to thwart the Indians on their next series. Letchworth gambled on 4th down, deep in their territory to try and get the yardage to prevent another possession change. Fulmer picked off the 4th down trick pass and the Knights took over. A series of penalties, fine plays, spiked balls, and whatnot put the ball at the Letchworth 5 with little time left before halftime. Shaughnessy was given the freedom to make his call and he called for a quick fade to Fulmer. The dynamic duo connected on the play to put the Knights up 37-0. The PAT kick sailed wide.

The Knights received the ball first in the second half and marched through the Indians on plays that gained double-digit yardage. A Fox 11-yarder, gains by Joe Cosimeno of 15 and 11 yards, and back to back passes to senior wideout Sam DeFazio of 11 and 9 yards (the 9 yarder was for a TD) led to yet another LeRoy tally and a 44-0 lead. Letchworth could muster no offense against the LeRoy defense and were victims of a safety later in the quarter after the LeRoy second teamers drove deep into Letchworth territory and were stopped near the goal line. Joe Cosimeno showed his defensive prowess with his 4th solo tackle which caught Letchworth speedster Tony Feroleto in the end zone for the safety. It was 46-0 after 3 quarters.

Letchworth did score on a nice HB option play against the LeRoy reserves in the 4th quarter. Jake Backer's
6 yd snag of a Feroleto toss prevented the shutout at the 8:14 mark of the final quarter. Joe Barton's run for 2 points was good and the Indians were on the board with 8 points. LeRoy's Jeremy Cosimeno finished the scoring for the visitors when he received an excellent block by Casey Moran and dashed 64 yards around left end with 6.5 minutes remaining in the contest for a TD. Reserve QB Brandon Klinkbeil hooked up with WR Slade Fitch for the 2-point PAT.. Letchworth's Tony Feroleto added the game's final score on a fantastic cutback run of 28 yards, leaving Knights in his wake. The final score, LeRoy 54, Letchworth 14.

The Cosimeno brothers led the offense in rushing with Jeremy collecting 84 yards on 8 carries and Joe darting for 67 yards on 10 carries. Andrew Fox handled the workload inside with 53 yards on 9 carries. Shaughnessy was solid in the passing department going 8 of 13 for 100 yards and 2 TDs. Brendan Fulmer grabbed 3 balls for 33 yards and a TD and sure-handed Sam DeFazio had 2 receptions for 20 yards and a TD. Jake Whiting also had 2 receptions (15 yards) and Joe Cosimeno showed his receiving skills with an acrobatic grab for 32 yards. The defense was led by Tim Dieffenbacher with 6 tackles from his LB position, 4 of them solo. Ian "Gator" Christiansen and Kenny Smith smashed Indians as well as their own helmets to split 10 tackles between them. Sophomore Jason Spencer played excellent with 5 tackles as well, 3 of them solo. Four tackles were recorded each by Donny Miller, Jason Hodge, Ryan Duthe, and Joe Cosimeno.

Be sure to arrive early for Friday's 7:30 pm clash with the Batavia Blue Devils. This marks the first meeting between these neighboring towns in 43 years. It should be a classic matchup between two very talented squads.