2007 Class "A" North All-League November 13, 2007 --
All the coaches in the Class "A" North met tonight to discuss all-league and other interesting news. Starpoint was represented with three 1st Team All-League players. Mike Regnet was named 1st team linebacker on defense and Brandon Bratek was 1st team running back on offense. Joe Scibilia was named 1st team punter. Starpoint also placed two people on 2nd team, Defense, linebacker Marc Sepanski and Offensive Lineman Andy Mullen. Honorable Mention went to Jeff Hart, Joe Delelio, Chris Dietz and Mike Crage. Congratulations to you for making all-league.
In other news the coaches were informed that long time rival Albion and Lew-Port will drop down to Class "B" North. Pioneer and Maryvale will also drop down to Class "B" South. Akron will drop down to Class "C". The Spartans will most likely play three non-league games next year. Possibly one vs. Niagara-Wheatfield and the two other vs. Class "A" South teams.
Mike Regnet-1st Team LB Brandon Bratek-1st Team RB Joe Scibilia-1st Team Punter
2007 Co-Special Teams POY-Marc Sepanski 2007 Co-Coaches Award-Jeff Hart
2007 Coach Dick Baum Award-Chris Dietz 2007 Defensive POY-Mike Regnet
2007 Lineman Of The Year-Chris Dietz
2007 Co-Coaches Award-Joe Delelio 2007 Co-Special Teams Award-Joe Scibilia
2007 Jack Himes Award-Brandon Bratek
2007 Offensive MVP-Brandon Bratek
2007 Starpoint MVP-Brandon Bratek
2007 Most Improved Player-Andy Mullen
2007 Varsity Captains Brandon Bratek & Joe Delelio
Starpoint Out Shoots Hamburg 39-37 October 26, 2007 --
NONLEAGUE Starpoint 39, Hamburg 37 Hamburg 8 -13-0 -16 -- 37 Starpoint 6 -19-7 -7 -- 39 H: Myles 1 run (Testman pass from Thomas) S: Bratek 38 run (pass failed) H: Myles 75 run (Mol kick) S: Bratek 86 kickoff return (Sepanski pass from Scibilia) S: Bratek 24 run (Harrington pass from Scibilia) H: Myles 87 run (run failed) S: FG Scibilia 31 S: Bratek 17 run (Scibilia kick) H: FG Mol 27 H: Myles 15 run (run failed) S: Regnet 32 run (Scibilia kick) H: Myles 65 run (Mol kick)
Starpoint Beats Williamsville South 38-8 October 22, 2007 --
38 8
Starpoint junior running back Brandon Bratek carried the ball 23 times for 241 yards for four touchdowns to lead Starpoint to a 38-8 victory over Williamsville South in a Class A North contest at Williamsville District Field on Saturday. With his effort, Bratek surpasses the 1,000-yard plataeu for the second consecutive season.
The Spartans flew out of the gate as they amassed a 38-0 lead until Yahs Williams scored the lone TD for South (1-7 overall, 1-6 A North) early in the fourth quarter. Marc Sepanski also ran for a Starpoint TD, while Andy Mullen had an interception return for a score.
Mullen also led the defensiuve effort with 12 tackles, while Sepanski added and Jeff Hart each added nine stops. Joe Delilio had an interception for Starpoint (2-6, 2-5), which will host Hamburg at 4 p.m. Friday in a Class A crossover contest.
Starpoint Suffers Its Worst Defeat in Three Years October 6, 2007 --
34 16
The Starpoint Spartans suffered their worst in almost three years as they lost to the Kenmore East Bulldogs 34-16. The best player on the field was definitly Kenmore's Mike Dorehty as he scored a touchdown rushing, receiving and even throwing one. Starpoint's special teams came through as Marc Sepanski scored on a 89 yard kickoff return. Starpoint's new deep threat Joe Delelio also hauled in a 30 yard pass from Joe Scibilia. Scibilia also connected with Amir Billups and Kyle Thurston on 2 point pass conversions. There wasn't much to write home about the defense as they allowed the Bulldogs to convert third downs all day. Sepanski lead the defense with 5 tackles. Delelio had an interception and Taylor Turpin recovered a fumble on a botched punt return.
Starpoint travels to Masters Field to take on the Grand Island Vikings next Saturday. Kickoff is at 2:00 P.M.
Starpoint Loses 6th Game of the Year By One Touchdown Or Less October 13, 2007 --
DOUG BENZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER GETTING HIT: Grand Island’s Alex Webb (6) makes it into the end zone for a touchdown, despite the best efforts of Starpoint’s Joe Dililio on Saturday afternoon at Gene Masters Field. Grand Island prevailed, 20-14. DOUG BENZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER /
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HS FOOTBALL: Vikings win, return to playoffsBy Nate Beutel beuteln@gnnewspaper.com GRAND ISLAND — A year away from the playoffs was one too many for the Grand Island Vikings.
GI, a perennial contender in Class A North, wrapped up a playoff berth with a hard-fought 20-14 win over visiting Starpoint at Gene Masters Field on Saturday afternoon.
“Last year was very disappointing and coming into this year we felt like we had an opportunity to get back, so we’re really excited about this right now,” GI coach Dean Santorio said.
GI, the No. 2 seed from Class A North, will await the outcome of Friday’s showdown between Class A South unbeatens Cheektowaga and Iroquois to determine which team they will visit in the opening round of the Section VI Class A playoffs.
Clinching the playoff spot was no easy task for the Vikings, though. In fact, with the clock running inside five minutes to go, the Spartans looked as if they were driving for the potential game-winning touchdown. Tailback Brandon Bratek was methodically picking his way through the GI defense, which was also flagged for pass interference on the drive.
But just as the Spartans reached the red zone, quarterback Joe Scibilia fumbled the ball, allowing big GI defensive tackle Nick Tomkins to pounce on it with 2:38 remaining. GI would then run the clock out with a series of plays highlighted by a key third-down conversion when QB Joe Oliverio found a kneeling WR Alex Neutz just past the first-down markers.
“If (fullback) Mike Regnet gets the ball on the handoff, he’s gone and we probably win 21-20,” Starpoint coach Al Cavagnaro said. “But that only proves the point that there’s a fine line between winning and losing. And in this league, you have to earn wins.”
It appeared as if the Vikings had potentially put a firm grasp on the contest when Lance Robinson scored on an 80-yard bomb from Oliverio on the final play of the third quarter. But the Spartans would not let down as they came right back with a nine-play drive that culminated with Scibilia finding Marc Sepanski for a 31-yard TD pass.
But Starpoint could not capitalize on GI fullback Eddie Weiser’s fumble on the next possession. It’s those kinds of defensive stands that ultimately won the game for the Vikings, according to Santorio.
“We knew Starpoint was going to give us a tough game, but for the most part I like the way we hung there and kept playing,” the coach said.
Middle linebacker Christian Nestark led the Vikings’ defense with 16 tackles, while Tomkins added nine stops and a fumble recovery and Weiser had eight tackles.
GI also got a boost with just under a minute to go in the first half when running back Alex Webb, who had 138 yards on 22 carries, scored his lone TD on the day. Cavagnaro estimated that to be the third or fourth time this season that an opponent had scored late in the first half.
“That’s always disappointing,” he said. “You can’t do that to yourselves, especially when you’re just not making enough plays.”
Earlier in the opening 24 minutes, Oliverio — who finished 6-for-8 for 140 yards — found tight end Greg Stephen for a 3-yard TD strike. Starpoint responded in the second quarter when Scibilia and Amir Billups hooked up for a 36-yard TD pass.
GI improves to 5-2 overall and 5-1 in the league, while Starpoint drops to a disappointing 1-6, 1-5. Still, Cavagnaro is proud of his team’s continued effort and enthusiasm.
“We’ve been so close so many times and we all know this team is better than a one-win football team,” he said.
Starpoint Can't Get It Done, Lose To The Lancers 7-6. September 29, 2007 --
070928 LP/Star football2 - sports DAN CAPPELLAZZO /STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lewiston, NY- Lew-Port? Alex Penders turns the corner in first quarter action against Starpoint at Lew-Port High. DAN CAPPELLAZZO /STAFF PHOTOGRAP / HS FOOTBALL: Lew-Port proudly unveils its new artificial turf complex
By John D'Onofrio donofrioj@gnnewspaper.com
YOUNGSTOWN —The Lewiston-Porter Lancers needed just two-and-a-half minutes to christen their new sports complex with a touchdown, then held on for the remaining 45:26 of their homecoming to edge the visiting Starpoint Spartans 7-6 in an important Section VI Class A-North contest.
Sophomore quarterback Matt Cattarin tossed a five-yard touchdown pass to senior Nick Polley on the Lancers’ opening possession, a six-play, 71-yard drive that came just minutes after district officials, local government officials and representatives of each Lew-Port varsity sport cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the official opening of the Blakeslee Field’s new, $900,000 synthetic rubber, all-weather surface.
The Spartans (1-4 overall, 1-3 A-North) nearly tied the game in the third quarter when senior running back Mike Regnet blasted in from two yards out. But junior Joe Scibilia’s extra point after a bad snap sailed wide left and the Lancers led by one.
“We played with a lot of heart tonight,” said Lancers head coach Richard Lindamer, whose team improved to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in A-North.
“I’m very pleased with the way we ran the ball tonight.”
Lancers backs junior Alex Penders (23 carries, 124 yards) and senior Vincent Gambino (14 carries, 109 yards) ran effectively throughout, but it was the Lancers defense that came up the biggest, stopping four of five Spartans drives inside their own 30 that made the difference.
“I can’t believe we laid another egg,” said Starpoint head coach Al Cavagnaro.
This was Starpoint’s third straight loss by a combined eight points, including back-to-back one-point losses.
“Five times inside their 30 and just six points,” Cavagnaro said. “We played hard. Don’t get me wrong. We just didn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”
The loss spoiled yet another outstanding rushing day for Spartans junior tailback Brandon Bratek, who finished with 34 carries for 189 yards.
• The new field garnered rave reviews from players, coaches and residents alike. Said Blair McEvoy, whose granddaughter is a Lew-Port cheerleader, “I graduated here in 1962 and this is absolutely incredible. I’m sure Daryl Johnson would be proud.”
Albion Beats The Spartans on Homecoming 20-19. September 22, 2007 --
070922 Starpoint/AlbionFB2- Sports Albert T. McCracken /Contributor Pendleton, NY- #5 Mike Regnet of the Spartans driver down field against Albion during game action at Starpoint High School on Saturday September 22, 2007.
Bratek scores two TDs, but Purple Eagles win A-North showdown
Staff Reports Niagara Gazette
PENDLETON — The Starpoint Spartans went for the lead late in the game and failed on Saturday, dropping a hard-fought 20-19 Class A North contest to visiting Albion on Homecoming at Tudor Stadium.
Starpoint junior tailback Brandon Bratek scored his second touchdown of the game with just over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to cut the Purple Eagles’ lead to one, 20-19. The Spartans then went for a two-point conversion pass, but it was incomplete.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Albion coach Dick Diminuco said. “They gave us all we wanted.”
An interception by Kevin Walter just before halftime, which set up a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Ward to Jeff Andalora, and an 86-yard return of the second half kickoff by Morris Taylor, keyed Albion’s attack. The Purple Eagles got what proved to be the game-winning touchdown later in the third quarter on a seven-yard run by Colby Ellis.
Taylor’s second-half kickoff return for a TD was his second in as many games. He has three kickoff returns for scores this season. The others covered 100 and 95 yards.
Bratek rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns to spearhead the attack for Starpoint, which also got a touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Scibilia to Mike Regnet.
“It’s a tough one, as that is two in a row we’ve let get away,” said Starpoint coach Al Cavagnaro whose Spartans dropped a slender 27-21 decision to undefeated Sweet Home last week. “Brandon ran hard and had a real good game. We came to play, we just couldn’t hold it.”
Starpoint jumped out to a 13-0 lead by scoring twice within a four-minute span midway through the second quarter on a 10-yard Scibilia to Regnet pass and a 2-yard run by Bratek. A big 40-yard run by Bratek set up the first score with 7:19 to go in the period and Scibilia added the extra point kick. Regnet then had a big 23-yard pickup on a quick hitter up the middle to set up the second TD, which came with 3:03 to go.
The Albion defensive unit, though, finally came up with a big play to ignite the comeback on a Walter interception in which he returned 40 yards to the Starpoint 20-yard line.
It took the Purple Eagles offense just one play to capitalize as Ward hooked up with a wide-open Andalora for a 20-yard TD pass with just over a minute to go in the half and Dan Monacelli added the extra point kick cutting the deficit to 13-7.
Andalora then had an interception just before the half, stopping another Spartans drive at the Albion 35.
“The interception was really the momentum builder for us,” Diminuco said. “That play and Jeff’s were both outstanding.”
Keeping the momentum, the Purple Eagles then moved on top to stay at 14-13 as Taylor sprinted 86 yards for a touchdown with the second half kickoff and Monacelli added the extra point kick.
“The ball just got deep on us,” Cavagnaro said of the bouncing kickoff. ‘We didn’t intend to kick it deep.”
The Albion defensive unit then quickly stopped Starpoint on downs forcing a punt and the offensive unit kept rolling by putting together a 14-play, 69-yard scoring drive capped off by Ellis’ 7-yard touchdown run with 3:47 to go in the third quarter for a 20-13 lead. A 16-yard run by Brandon Brewer and a 10-yard Ward pass to Shane Woolston got that drive going.
Regnet finished with four rushes for 33 yards and two receptions for 20 yards and a TD for the Spartans. Defensively for Starpoint, Mike Crage and linebacker Andy Mullen had 11 tackles apiece. DT Adam Giberson added eight stops.
Brandon Brewer was Albion’s top rusher with 76 yards on 23 carries. Ward finished 6-of-9 for 62 yards and a TD. Starpoint out-gained the Purple Eagles, 270 total yards to 190.
Next up, Albion next hosts Grand Island at 7 p.m. Friday, while Starpoint visits Lew-Port at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the first game to be played on the Lancers’ new, all-weather synthetic surface — the first such high school sports facility in Niagara County.
September 22, 2007 --
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Sweet Home Rallies to Beat the Spartans 27-21 September 16, 2007 --
Mark Mulville/Buffalo News
Starpoint’s Brandon Bratek dives for extra yards over Sweet Home’s Ibrahim Ramadan during Saturday’s Class A North showdown.
Sweet Home gamble nets big payoff
Starpoint’s bidat upset falls short
By Mary Jo Monnin NEWS SPORTS REPORTER Updated: 09/16/07 6:48 AM
PENDLETON — Starpoint coach Al Cavagnaro stopped just short of saying Sweet Home was lucky to beat his team on Saturday, but he did suggest his coaching counterpart might stop at the casino on his way home.
“We let them off. We let them out of here,” said Cavagnaro. “John [Faller] is probably heading to the casino tonight.”
Sweet Home scored a late touchdown to eke out the 27-21 win in a Class A North game played before an estimated 400 at Tudor Stadium. But it was Faller’s gamble on a previous set of downs that really decided it. With the game tied, 21-21, with 5:51 left, the Panthers had the ball at their own 10-yard line facing fourthand- one. Instead of trying to punt out of trouble, they went for it and were stuffed off-tackle.
“We had a foot-and-a-half to go. If we punt into the wind, they’re going to get the ball 10 yards further away,” said Faller. “We’re not going to gain any field position by punting it 10-15 yards. If we make it, we can run some clock.”
Starpoint took over on downs staring at its best chance to beat Sweet Home for the first time in the school’s history. After three running plays went nowhere, it tried a 27- yard field goal with 4:58 left. The kick was blocked by hard-charging senior Josh Blango, who came around the corner.
“When you get first-and-10 at their 10, and you get 3 yards in three plays — you can’t do that,” said Cavagnaro. “They may have escaped here, but their defense held us. They forced us into a field goal.”
Sweet Home took over and marched down the field, scoring the game-winner on a 28-yard pass to Brandon Hudson from Casey Kacz with 3:10 left.
“He led me out pretty far, so I just reached out and grabbed it,” said Hudson, who missed last week’s game with a high ankle sprain. “I fumbled with it a little bit, but I was thinking I can’t drop it because the game was on my hands.”
The drive was set up by a 44-yard run by Marcus Johnson (136 yards on 17 carries). Kacz was 9 of 17 for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
Starpoint running back Brandon Bratek ran for 220 yards last week against Williamsville East, but he had no such luck against Sweet Home’s line as he finished with 58 yards on 21 attempts.
His biggest contribution came on defense when he helped the Spartans rally from a 21-6 halftime deficit with a 91-yard interception return for a score. “I was on No. 11 [Ryan Gutt], and they threw it to a guy who was running a streak route. I just jumped in the middle and then took off,” said Bratek. “Sweet Home’s a much bigger team. More powerful. With eight in the box I thought our line really did a great job today.”
Sweet Home jumped out to a 13-0 lead after the first quarter when William Reese caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Kacz and Hanif Russell found a seam and returned a punt 67 yards for another score.
The teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter as Starpoint’s Bratek carried it in from the 1 and Sweet Home’s Johnson caught a 31- yard pass from Kacz. Starpoint scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter, but Sweet Home did what it had to in the fourth to win.
Starpoint is now 0-6 against Sweet Home. This was more than a league loss for Starpoint, it was a missed opportunity to establish itself as a threat in Class A.
“One of these days we have to step up and play with the big boys,” said Cavagnaro. “We’ve won that bowl game, which is great, but it’s about time we got in the big dance.”
September 15, 2007 --
Spartans Come Back And Beat The Flames 22-17 September 9, 2007 --
Starpoint 22 17 Williamsville East Junior Brandon Bratek accounted for 20 of the 22 points that the Spartans scored as they beat the Williamsville East Flames 22-17, for the fifth time over the past two years. Bratek rushed for 211 yards on 28 carries three touchdowns and tackled a Flame running back for a safety. Jeff Hart set up the winning touchdown as he hauled in a 69 yard reception from Joe Scibilia. Joe Scibilia kicked the extra points to account for the rest of the scoring. Marc Sepanski had 10 tackles and Mike Regnet added 5 tackles, Mike Crage also had a good day on defense. Joe Delelio had an interception to seal the victory late in the forth quarter.
Spartans Lose Home Opener To N-W 21-13 September 1, 2007 --
21 13 Starpoint lost its home opener of the 2007 season 21-13 to the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons. By Nate Beutel beuteln@gnnewspaper.com Their starting running back went down on the fourth play of the game. After marching out to a 14-0 halftime lead, they allowed the opposition to drive it right down the field to begin the second half. They even allowed them to score a touchdown and get within one score with under a minute left. But through it all, the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons stayed strong and gutted out a 21-13 non-league win over host Starpoint at Tudor Stadium on Saturday afternoon. “It’s a positive quality that the kids answered the call,” N-W coach Al Pogel said. “We knew they were going to come out and play hard to the end. It was a good test and a good win for us.” The Falcons came out strong, though, as the running game chewed up much of the first quarter. They pounded the ball, despite losing starting tailback Emmet Printup to a shoulder injury. After stalling on the opening drive, the tandem of quarterback Kevin Ogiba and running back Elijha Printup took over and marched the Falcons to their first score at the end of the quarter when Elijha Printup dove in from a yard out. On the Falcons’ next drive, Ogiba tossed a perfect fade pass to Tom Piciulo from 30 yards out to make it 14-0. The score was set up by a stellar 21-yard scamper by Ogiba, who finished with 116 yards on the ground and 86 through the air. The N-W defense was relentless in the first half as it allowed only 15 yards of offense from a Starpoint team, which was out of synch throughout the opening 24 minutes. “You have to play four quarters and I’m really disappointed in that first half,” Starpoint coach Al Cavagnaro said. “There’s absolutely no reason for that kind of start.” Still, Starpoint was in the game and began the third quarter strong when it used a 13-yard, 70-yard drive to get into the end zone for the first time and cut the lead in half. Junior tailback Brandon Bratek, who finished with 55 yards rushing, capped the drive when he bulled in from a yard out. But it was the ensuing kickoff that sealed the Spartans’ fate. Piciulo returned the kick 73 yards to the Starpoint 17 and essentially broke the Spartans’ backs. “I saw an opening, had some good blocks and I thought I was going to score, but I hesitated a little at the end,” Piciulo said. “After that drive, we needed something to get the team pumped up.” A facemask penalty moved the ball to the nine and set up Elijha Printup’s second touchdown of the day. He finished with 91 yards on 18 carries. “To come out and drive it down their throat and then get a couple guys missing tackles on the kick, it just kills you,” Cavagnaro said. “When you play up a division, you can’t make those kind of mistakes.” Starpoint quarterback Joe Scibilia found Marc Sepanski for a 15-yard TD pass with less than a minute remaining, but again N-W came up big as Chris Gruarin recovered the ensuing onsides kick. “We still have to learn to finish off some of those drives, but overall I was really pleased with the way our kids responded,” Pogel said.
Joe Scibilia 7/5, 7/6, 7/9, 7/10, 7/11, 7/12, 7/13, 7/16,
Joe Delileo 7/5, 7/6, 7/9, 7/10, 7/11, 7/13, 7/16, 7/17,
Mike Bair 7/5, 7/6, 7/9, 7/10, 7/11, 7/13, 7/16, 7/17, Taylor Turpin 7/5, 7/6, 7/9, 7/10, 7/11, 7/12, 7/17,
Corey Eggert 7/6, 7/9, 7/10, 7/13, 7/16, 7/17,
Marc Sepanski 7/6, 7/9, 7/10, 7/11,
Nick Doyle 7/9, 7/13, 7/16, 7/17,
Justin Baumann 7/5, 7/13, 7/17,
Greg Buchanan 7/9, 7/13, 7/17,
Chris Dietz 7/5, 7/10, Amir Billups 7/13, Nick Deane 7/9, Greg Dirschedl 7/16, Sam Mattina 7/10,
Andy Mullen 7/10,
Kyle Schwab 7/13,
Martin Loyd 7/5, 7/9, 7/11, 7/12, 7/13, 7/16. 7/17,
Alex Kavney 7/5, 7/6, 7/10, 7/11, 7/12, 7/16,
Kodiak Allan 7/9, 7/10, 7/10, 7/11, 7/16,
Bren. Reinert 7/9, 7/10,7/10, 7/11, 7/16,
Paul Reed 7/5, 7/9, 7/11, 7/13, 7/16,
Steve Houghton 7/12, 7/13, 7/16, 7/17,
Cory Regnet 7/12, 7/13, 7/16, 7/17,
Josh Elizalde 7/10, 7/13, 7/16, 7/17,
Troy Dunn 7/5, 7/11, 7/12,
Bill Drexler 7/10, 7/11, 7/13,
Dalton Maska 7/9, 7/10, 7/16,
Dom Scarpine 7/12, 7/13, 7/17,
Joe Marshall 7/5, 7/6,
Joe Miller 7/5, 7/6,
Jeff Palmer 7/16, 7/17,
Shiloh Allan 7/10,
Tyler Kroening 7/16,
Christian Siezega 7/17,
Dylan Richardson 7/10,
Tyler Weeks 7/16
NOTICE: WHO'S BEEN IN AND WHO HAS NOT BEEN IN.....NO EXUSES, YOU CAN WORK THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO PLAY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. USE THIS AS MOTIVATION...BRING A TEAMMATE TO LIFT, AND ONCE YOU ARE THERE.... LIFT AND TRAIN, LINEMEN SHOULDN'T BE PLAYING CATCH!!!!
