LE ROY - It's been a long time coming, but four decades after the Letchworth Indians last beat the LeRoy Oatkan Knights in a football game, they finally did it again. And they made it look easy.

In a dominating performance that saw the Indians roll up 496 yards rushing, Letchworth pitched their fourth shutout in four games cruising to the 49-0 victory last Friday at Hartwood Park.

The defending Class C sectional champs struck early and often, and then couldn't slow themselves down, even after their entire (five-man) bench was emptied.

It was Le Roy's worst defeat in 84 years.

After holding LeRoy on the opening series, the Indians drove from their own 35 to the LeRoy 35 in eight plays, and on fourth and four, junior Chris Nevinger broke a shovel pass from junior quarterback Ryan Owens to the one. Nevinger punched into the end zone and Owens kicked the PAT for the 7-0 score with 4:26 to play in the first.

Letchworth would squeeze another touchdown into the quarter after holding LeRoy to three and out, and returning the punt to the 44. On first down the Indians' line opened a monster hole and senior Alan Bookmiller raced through it all the way to the end zone for the 56-yard score. Owens kicked the point for the 14-0 lead with 2:13 left in the quarter.

"That was one of biggest holes I've ever seen," said Bookmiller. "I was just hoping I could beat the one guy who was out there."

Owens would intercept the ball on the next series to give the Indians the ball at the LeRoy 46, and eight plays later Clifton Bacon went over the top for a two-yard score. Owens added the extra point to make it 21-0 with 8:47 to go in the second.

After a punt to the end zone gave Letchworth the ball at the 20, the feisty Nevinger broke to the LeRoy 47, the rugged Bacon went to the 28, and the athletic Owens carried to the 11, then ran it in from there on the next play, and added the point to make it 28-0 with 4:29 left in the second.

That would end the scoring for the half, but Letchworth received the ball to start the third, and marched from the 20 in six plays, culminating in a 25-yard touchdown run by Nevinger. Owens added the PAT to make it 35-0.

The Indians began their next drive at the 20 as well, and it would be the only one they wouldn't score on, but only because they shot themselves in the foot twice. The first miscue came by way of a dropped pass in the end zone, and the second came on a holding call that negated a run to the one.

A failed field goal attempt ended the drive, and LeRoy took over on the 20. From there the Knights drove to the 40 before Bacon picked off a ball and returned it to the 17. Nevinger took it to the house on the next play, and Owens made it 42-0 with 10:08 to play in the fourth.

With nothing to lose on the next series, the Knights attempted a fourth-down pass from their own 26, which fell incomplete, and two plays later Bacon was in the end zone again, this time from the 21. Owens added the final PAT to make it 49-0 with 7:27 left in the game.

Refusing to surrender, the still-proud Knights mounted a drive to the Letchworth seven aided by a horse-collar penalty, but the Indians held to preserve the shutout, and ran out the clock for the win.

"This (beating LeRoy for the first time since 1970) means a lot to everyone," said senior lineman Joe Ricotta. "It says a lot about the advancement of the team."

"It's about time," added Owens, "after all the practice time and preparation we've put in, especially the coaches. We wouldn't be here without them."

"The kids showed a lot of heart out there," said head coach Tim McMullen, a Le Roy grad. "They've also shown a lot of dedication, and have really immersed themselves in the program. We're grateful for as well as the support of the parents and everyone else involved."

Nevinger led the Indians with 197 yards on 18 carries, followed by Bacon with 13 carries for 116 yards, Bookmiller with 78 yards on just 4 carries, and Owens rushing 5 times for 61 yards. Bacon and David Woolley led the defense with 10 tackles each. Tommy McQuillen led the Knights' offense with 122 yards on 22 carries. Zack Hogle led the LeRoy defense with eight tackles.

Friday, September 24, 2010 (07:30 PM)
League game at Hartwood Park, LeRoy NY
Livingston County Division II

Letchworth Indians 49, LeRoy Oatkan Knights 0