November 23, 2009

H.S. FOOTBALL: For the Record

2009 football Lions made a mark on their historic program

By John D'Onofrio<br><a href="mailto:john.donofrio@lockportjournal.com">E-mail John</a>

LOCKPORT — It was a record year for the Lockport football Lions, who finished 5-4 overall this season, advancing as far as the Class AA semifinal.

Seniors David Fluellen and Luke Rankie surpassed several notable all-time school records in categories that include career yards, touchdowns and sacks.

However, among those still in the top five all-time in LHS grid history include present-day coaches Greg Bronson (TD passes), Trait Smith (career sacks) and Tim Tolli (single season and career TD receptions). The three were members of the school’s undefeated 1982 team that won the Section VI championship at Ralph Wilson Stadium (then it was called Rich Stadium) in Orchard Park.

Like the dominating player he came to be known as, Fluellen now dominates the LHS football record book in categories that include single-season and career rushing yards, attempts, touchdowns and points.

Fluellen’s older brother, Jhamal (2001-03) still holds the single season record of 2,055 yards and attempts (237), but David broke both of his brother’s career marks, finishing with 4,274 yards on 646 carries between 2006 and 2009. David’s 302 career points and 50 touchdowns are also LHS records.

Other prominent names still in the rushing top five include former greats Randy Smith (1988-90), Wade Smith (1985-87) and P.J. Harris (2003-04), whose career was cut short by a knee injury his senior year.

A testament to Luke Rankie’s all-around abilities is his rise into the top five in both offensive and defensive categories. His most notable achievement was surpassing Dion Cheatham (1989-91) in career tackles this past season. Rankie has 297 career stops, 54 more than Cheatham and 70 more than one of Lockport’s Finest, Mike Stover (227, third all-time), recorded between 1982 and 1984.

Not to be outdone, steady senior linebacker Sean Mulvey of the Lions finished with 179 career tackles between 2007 and 2009, that’s 11th all-time. Rankie’s five interceptions this year also ties a school single-season record.

Senior defensive back and wide receiver Jake Chenez’s seven career INTs is tied for third all-time and Rankie’s five career INTs is tied for fifth all-time.

Rankie’s 33 career catches at tight end is fifth all-time for Lions receivers. The great streak of lightning Tim Hirschman still holds the career reception record with 84 grabs between 1997 and 1999. In addition, Rankie’s 570 career receiving yards is 6th all-time and his career 17.3 yards per catch is eighth all-time.

Lions junior quarterback Kevin Bronson’s 53 percent completion record this past season is a Lions single season and career record, as is his 1.3-percent interception percentage.

His father, Lions head coach Greg Bronson is still a team top-five record holder in interception percentage and touchdown passes, tossing 11 TD strikes in 1981 (second all-time) and finishing with 18 career touchdown passes (fourth all-time).

Lions assistant coach Trait Smith remains second all-time with 12 sacks in one season, however no record of sacks are available prior to 1981, so it is not known for certain how many more he might have. Smith is listed fourth all-time with 12 career sacks. Tim Mullet’s 18 career sacks (1994-96) is the Lions record.

With eight, LHS track coach Tim Tolli is second all-time in Lions career TD receptions and he’s tied for fourth all-time with five TD receptions in one season.

All-Time Records

All-time football records at Lockport High School, as of this season, as compiled by Lions head Greg Bronson and former coach Mike Finn (2009 records are in bold):

Rushing

Single Season Yards

Jhamal Fluellen 2,055 2003

David Fluellen 1,638 2009

Randy Smith 1,369 1989

David Fluellen 1,354 2008

Jhamal Fluellen 1,297 2002

Career Yards

David Fluellen 4,274 2006-09

Jhamal Fluellen 3,591 2001-03

Randy Smith 3,425 1988-90

Wade Smith 2,065 1985-87

P.J. Harris 1,508 2003-04

Single Season Attempts

Jhamal Fluellen 237 2003

David Fluellen 229 2009

Randy Smith 205 1989

David Fluellen 202 2007

Wade Smith 163 1987

Career Attempts

David Fluellen 646 2006-09

Randy Smith 515 1988-90

Jhamal Fluellen 408 2001-03

Wade Smith 308 1985-87

Eric Williams 248 1995-97

Yards Per Attempt (Season)

Jhamal Fluellen 10.8 2002

Marcus Davis 9.2 2007

Jhamal Fluellen 8.7 2003

David Fluellen 8.5 2008

P.J. Harris 8.5 2004

Yards Per Attempt (Career)

Jhamal Fluellen 8.8 2001-03

P.J. Harris 8.6 2003-04

Marcus Davis 6.7 2006-07

Wade Smith 6.7 1985-87

Randy Smith 6.65 1988-90

PASSing

Single Season Completions

Dan DeNardo 92 2000

Scott Finn 80 1998

Treg Koel 79 1988

Tim Hunt 71 2006

Kevin Baker 64 1994

Career Completions

Dan DeNardo 92 2000

Scott Finn 80 1998

Treg Koel 79 1988

Tim Hunt 71 2006

Kevin Baker 64 1994

Completion Percentage (Season)

Kevin Bronson 53% 2009

Scott Finn 53% 1988

Tim Hunt 53% 2006

Scott Boudeman 48% 2006

Scott Finn 47% 2006

Completion Percentage (Career)

Kevin Bronson 53% 2009

Tim Hunt 53% 2006

Scott Finn 50% 1997-98

Andy Brim 45% 1984-85

Dan DeNardo 44% 1999-00

Touchdown Passes (Season)

Scott Finn 14 1998

Greg Bronson 11 1981

Justin Guyton 10 2007

Dan DeNardo 10 2000

Ron Zugelder 10 1984

Touchdown Passes (Career)

Scott Finn 20 1997-98

Ron Schmidt 20 2001-03

Dan DeNardo 19 1999-00

Greg Bronson 18 1980-81

Justin Guyton 16 2006-08

RECEIVING

Single Season Receptions

Tim Hirschman 41 1998

Marcus Maroney 38 2000

Greg Duval 31 2006

Todd Esposito 28 1988

Rocky Surace 24 1998

Career Receptions

Tim Hirschman 84 1997-98

Marcus Maroney 53 1999-01

Daren Stone 44 2000-02

Todd Esposito 39 1986-88

Luke Rankie 33 2007-09

Greg Duval 33 2005-06

Yards Per Reception (Season)

Jeremy Brown 31.2 2003

Jermaine Patterson 31.0 1999

C.J. Lee 22.9 2002

Bertie Knowles 22.7 1991

Lance Maroney 21.9 2001

Yards Per Reception (Career)

Jermaine Patterson 29.9 1998-99

Jeremy Brown 27.3 2002-03

Rocky Surace 20.8 2006-07

Lance Maroney 20.1 2000-01

TD Receptions (Season)

Tim Hirschman 10 1998

Jeremy Brown 6 2003

Rocky Surace 6 2007

Jermaine Patterson 5 1999

Tim Tolli 5 1981

TD Receptions (Career)

Tim Hirschman 17 1997-99

Tim Tolli 8 1980-81

Jeremy Brown 7 2002-03

Rocky Surace 6 2006-07

Bertie Knowles 5 1991-92

Jermaine Patterson 5 1998-99

Scoring

Points (Season)

Jhamal Fluellen 128 2003

David Fluellen 114 2009

Randy Smith 108 1989

David Fluellen 98 2008

Randy Smith 94 1990

Points (Career)

David Fluellen 302 2006-09

Randy Smith 280 1988-90

Jhamal Fluellen 212 2001-03

Wade Smith 184 1985-87

Tim Hirschman 102 1997-99

Touchdowns (Season)

Jhamal Fluellen 22 2003

David Fluellen 19 2009

Randy Smith 18 1989

David Fluellen 16 2008

Touchdowns (Career)

David Fluellen 50 2006-09

Randy Smith 45 1988-90

Jhamal Fluellen 35 2001-03

Wade Smith 29 1985-87

Defensive Records

Tackles (Season)

Kevin Yeager 130 1992

Luke Rankie 121 2008

Luke Rankie 119 2009

Bryan Eaton 115 1993

T.J. Davis 114 1999

Tackles (Career)

Luke Rankie 297 2007-09

Dion Cheatham 243 1989-91

Mike Stover 227 1982-84

Tom Covey 224 2001-03

Angelo Maldonado 216 1985-87

Interceptions (Season)

Luke Rankie 5 2009

Nick Bond 5 1998

Mike Snowden 5 1992

Interceptions (Career)

Nick Bond 9 1997-98

Randy Smith 8 1988-90

Jacob Chenez 7 2008-09

Wade Smith 7 1985-87

Sacks (Season)

Andy Rossow 14 1985

Trait Smith 12 1981

Jason Widelski 11 1989

Tim Mullett 10.5 1996

Angelo Maldonaldo 9 1985

Sacks (Career)

Tim Mullett 18 1994-96

Angelo Maldonaldo 15 1985-87

Andy Rossow 14 1985

Trait Smith 12 1981