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'Cats clinch first league title since '03 by blanking nemesis Lackawanna
By Steven Dlugosz Times
 | | WE'RE NUMBER ONE...Members of Depew's football team are all smiles after clinching the Class B North Division title Friday by shutting out Lackawanna, 21-0. Depew is currently 5-1 overall, 5-0 in "B." (Times photo) |
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At the start of this football season, Depew head coach Dan McGrath really didn't know what to expect from his team. Several key seniors had graduated from last year's talented playoff squad, and although a handful of starters returned, the 'Cats were very much an inexperienced group in terms of varsity experience.
However, after a disappointing loss to Cheektowaga Central to open the season, Depew has found the right formula for winning, turning heads in the Class B North Division with an unflap- pable, businesslike app roach. Depew had plenty to cheer about aft e r Friday's white- wash of former nemesis Lackawanna- the team that knocked the 'Cats out of the postseason in 2006- in clinching its first league title since 2003.
Backed by a boisterous home crowd, the Wildcats dominated Lackawanna, allowing just 86 total yards of offense in a 21-0 shutout. With the win, Depew improved to 5-1 overall, 5-0 in Class B North, while the Steelers fell to 3-3 overall, 3-2 in league play. The Wildcats, who tomorrow end their league schedule on the road against Class B North foe Alden, hold a head-tohead tiebreaker with Medina, which is 4-1 in league play.
 | | COOL IN THE HEAT... Depew seventh grader Kara Koch cruises during Tuesday's track and field meet at Maryvale. (Times photo) |
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The Wildcats will host an opponent, which has yet to be determined, from Class B South in the Section VI "B" crossover semifinal on October 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Depew's offensive line physically manhandled Lackawanna defenders, opening holes that led to nearly 300 rushing yards. Junior running back Dan Gorski led the way for the locals with 126 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, while fellow junior (74 yards on 12 attempts) and senior Greg Osika (59 yards, one touchdown) also contributed solid performances.
Osika, one of the veteran leaders on the 'Cats, had another solid allaround game, playing well as a defensive spy against shifty Lackawanna quarterback Capone Smith, as well as throwing a huge block early in the second quarter on a punt return to spring teammate Mike Boccio on a 60-yard gallop down to the Steelers' 9-yard line. Depew called Osika's number on the next play on a handoff, which the senior easily took up the middle to pay dirt. The touchdown opened the scoring, and Depew never looked back.
 | | NUMBER ONE...Cleveland Hill sophomore Karen McMahon ran a meet-best time of 22:49 Tuesday at Maryvale. (Times photo) |
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Osika told the Times that clinching the Class B North was Depew's main objective before the start of the season.
"It was the No. 1 thing on our minds when we started," Osika said after celebrating with teammates around midfield. "We knew we just had to play as a team and stick with our game plan."
Junior quarterback Joe Christiano, another member of last season's team that heard Lackawanna fans chanting "goodbye" to him and the rest of the 'Cats in the playoff contest, was thrilled with winning the division crown.
" I t feels awe- some," said Christiano, after he and Osika doused McGrath with Gatorade in celebration. " W e knew we had to play well against (Steelers). A lot of guys remember the playoff loss, and we know they graduated some key seniors, but they're still a good team."
Christiano didn't need to throw much, but he did make perhaps the play of the game for Depew, ironically after an interception he threw late in the second quarter. With the Wildcats driving, Christiano threw a pass that was underthrown and intercepted by Lackawanna defensive back Dwight Barber. Barber returned the pick 65 yards, weaving his way through Wildcats until Christiano, now a tackler on the play, stripped the defensive back of the ball, which was recovered by Depew at its own 20-yard line.
"It's a play we work on in defensive back drills," Christiano said with a sly grin, "when we try to rip the ball away."
Depew defenders did an outstanding job of not letting Smith get outside on option runs, also regularly stuffing running back Jonathan Ramos. The pair combined to rush for just 76 yards. Fittingly, Smith fumbled the ball on the Steelers' fi- nal offensive possession, as Depew senior defensive end Justin Whitehead recovered the pigskin.
Senior Ross Cole (linebacker) also recorded a fumble recovery, and junior defensive back Nelson Holland enjoyed a solid game batting passes away in the secondary.
"To beat a team like Lackawanna, which has so many big-play guys, is great, because it guarantees us the division title," said Cole, a quad-captain along with Christiano, Osika and senior Kevin Dudkowski. "We're in a really good position right now."
McGrath spoke with both pride and admiration when describing his players after the game.
"We knew heading into the year that we had pretty much all unproven kids," the 10th-year coach explained. "This group has really stepped up and made plays. Tonight, our game plan was to run the ball and move the clock, because we know Capone Smith is a serious threat on the field. (Assistant coach) Harry Sugg had an excellent defensive game plan against them…We know we have a tough game coming up against Alden, but right now we're going to enjoy this one."
Gorski added touchdown runs of 20 yards in the third quarter and four yards in the fourth, respectively. The first run to pay dirt capped a 12-play, 86-yard drive that chewed up nearly seven minutes. Depew's rushing was so impressive that the locals did not face a single third down on the drive.
Gorski's second scoring run completed a 60-yard, 10-play march, which featured a key 15-yard run by Gorski on third down.
Quakers deny Redskins
first place in Class AA
The Lancaster varsity football team saw its four-game winning streak come to an abrupt end Friday against the No.1-ranked Western New York Large School, Orchard Park. The Redskins allowed the Quakers to rack up 28 first-half points before the locals got on the board early in the third quarter on a one-yard run by junior quarterback Frank Gregori.
However, the score would not nearly be enough, as Lancaster fell to the first-place Quakers at home, 35-7. The Redskins (4-2 overall, 4- 1 in Class AA South) had already clinched a sectional playoff spot by winning the previous week.
O'Hara crushes St. Mary's in Monsignor Martin rivalry
St. Mary's went into Saturday's rivalry game at Cardinal O'Hara thinking it had the tools to give the first-place Hawks a run for their money. However, the Lancers left the contest with disappointment and a different thought process.
The game couldn't have started out worse for St. Mary's when a Lancer returner fumbled the opening kickoff, which was recovered by O'Hara. From there, it only got worse for the Lancers, who lost a 48- 3 decision to the first-place Hawks.
St. Mary's junior quarterback Greg Justen had two of his passes intercepted and returned for touchdowns, as the Lancers could only manage a 31-yard field goal by junior Jeremy Feary late in the first quarter.
O'Hara senior tailback Reggie Garner rushed for 149 yards on 13 carries, including four touchdowns.
The Hawks have defeated St. Mary's five straight times, including two Monsignor Martin Association League A championships at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Lancers (4-2 overall, 2-1 in league) travel to Eden Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
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