WILLIAMSVILLE — Led by their dually-crowned all-time rusher and Homecoming King, the Lockport football Lions were once again running on all cylinders Saturday, cruising to a 41-14 Class AA North victory at Williamsville North.
With the win, head coach Greg Bronson’s Lions clinched a postseason berth. A win next Saturday against visiting Niagara Falls and the Lions (4-2 overall, 3-1 AA North) clinch a home playoff game.
Against the Spartans (2-4 overall, 2-2 AA North), Fluellen hopped, skipped and jumped his way to 191 yards and four touchdowns a week after breaking his brother’s all-time LHS rushing mark.
Lions junior fullback Tom DiCarlo and senior tight end Luke Rankie also scored touchdowns for LHS, which led 34-6 at halftime, thanks in part to three Spartans turnovers.
Lockport scored on its opening two possessions as Fluellen ran it in from five yards out, then the bulldozer DiCarlo broke several tackles and scored on a five-yard burst up the middle.
“It was a lot of fun out there today,” DiCarlo said. “That was my first touchdown — ever. I’ve played football, but I never played fullback. I was always on the O-line or D-line, so it was nice. It was a great team effort today. Everyone stepped up. The offensive line opened huge holes all day.”
Lions junior quarterback Kevin Bronson — arguably the most improved quarterback in Section VI this season — engineered scoring drives of 74, 55, 53, 56 and 37 yards in the first half, finishing a stellar 7-of-12 passing for 135 yards and a TD.
Bronson’s favorite target on Saturday was Rankie, who hauled in a 48-yard scoring pass to open the second quarter. Rankie, who doubles as an All-Western New York linebacker, finished with a career-best five catches for 118 yards and a TD.
Turnovers also played a big role in the game as Lockport benefited from two interceptions (Fluellen, Jake Chenez) and a fumble recovery (Dorian Polk) in the first half. Chenez intercepted his second pass of the day on the game’s final play.
The Spartans got touchdown passes from two different quarterbacks. In the second quarter, sophomore Zach Barrett tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Edwin Young, then late in the fourth quarter, junior Kevin Hall fired a 23-yard scoring pass to junior Matt Scheff.
“We shot ourselves in the foot too many times in the first half,” said Will North’s veteran head coach Mike Mammoliti. “And turnovers are tough to overcome when you’re up against a good team.”
Sports
Related Photos
H.S. FOOTBALL: Lions clinch ‘AA’ playoff berth
Fluellen runs for 191 yards, four TDs in 41-14 win at Williamsville North.
- Sports
-
-
Wolverines tame the Lions
Three Niagara Falls Wolverines players hit double-figures in Thursday’s 74-45 Niagara Frontier League boys basketball win over visiting Lockport on “Senior Night” in the Wolvearena.
-
Running miles for acres
Runners of all shapes and sizes will run 10 miles for 52 acres of land this weekend at the 2012 YMCA/Camp Kenan Y-10 race downtown.
-
Miller, Sabres blank the Bruins
With Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff nursing three broken ribs and watching from the press box, goalie Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his second shutout in three games in a 6-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
-
Roy-Hart swimmers dominated
Pictured are members of the Royalton-Hartland boys varsity swim team, which recently captured its sixth straight Niagara-Orleans League title and swept the annual league meet in Akron by winning every event. From left, first row, are Josh Beabout, Kurtis Parker, Roy Phipps and Zach Yates; second row, Cody Jones, Luke Brauer and Patrick Jones; third row, Jason Beabout and Lyle Wagner.
-
Syracuse beats Georgetown in OT, 64-61
Kris Joseph scored a career-high 29 points, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of overtime, and No. 2 Syracuse beat 12th-ranked Georgetown 64-61 on Wednesday night to give coach Jim Boeheim his 880th career win.
-
Lions sweep Lewiston-Porter
It was a full moon and the vampires and werewolves were out in the Lady Lions Den.
-
Cotto training in Lockport
Professional boxer and World Boxing Organization Lightweight champion of the world Jose Miguel Cotto (32-2-1) has chosen Lockport as his training camp for his upcoming fight with Jose Luis Castillo (63-11-1) on March 24 in Houston Texas.
-
Roy-Hart dominates boys all-League swm meet
Undefeated (10-0) regular-season champion Royalton-Hartland dominated the competition Tuesday taking first place in all 11 events at the 2012 Niagara-Orleans League boys individual swim championships.
-
Ruff stuff
As if the Buffalo Sabres haven't endured enough injuries already this season. Add coach Lindy Ruff to the list.
-
Super Bowl draws record viewers on NBC
For the third consecutive year, the Super Bowl set a record as the most-watched television show in U.S. history.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Red Wings and Maple Leafs to Play at Big House
Parade for the New York Giants Super Bowl Champs
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Giants Beat Patriots 21-17 to Win Super Bowl
Manning Named Super Bowl MVP
Giants Beat Patriots in Super Bowl 46
Rodgers Wins AP MVP at 'NFL Honors'
Aaron Rodgers Wins AP NFL MVP
Martin, Five Others Elected to Football Hall
Brady, Manning Headline Super Bowl XLVI
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Rangers' Hamilton Confirms Alcohol Relapse
Goodell: Player Safety Is Top Priority
Coaches Update Injuries Ahead of Super Bowl
Pats Mesko Fulfills American Dream at Super Bowl
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Gronkowski's Ankle Still 'Day to Day'
Umenyiora Explains Missed Media Session
Fans Having a 'Super' Time in Indianapolis
