By Jeff Madigan
Olean Times Herald
OLEAN – The Southern Tier Diesel scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, catapulting themselves to a 20-13 win over the Southern Tier Warriors in Northeastern Football Alliance action at Brander Stadium on Saturday.
“I told my team to do three things in the game,” Diesel linebacker J.R. Bennion said. “I told them to sell out, leave it all out there on the field, and play as a team. We did that, but I know we still have a lot of work to do. Now we need to take this momentum into our next game.”
It was the Diesel’s first win of the 2011 season after five losses, one of which was against the Warriors, which are based out of Odessa/Montour (near Watkins Glen). The Warriors had defeated the Diesel in the season opener by a 15-0 score. Both teams entered the game mired with losing streaks – the Warriors had lost four straight (one of which was a forfeit loss) after beating the Diesel in Week 1. The Diesel had lost five in a row entering the game.
The Warriors struck first on the scoreboard. Quarterback Devaun Sledge scored on a 10-yard run, giving the Warriors a 7-0 lead halfway through the first quarter. After the Diesel turned the ball over again, the Warriors scored again on a 76-yard pass from Sledge to Scot Sinsabaugh. Sledge rolled to his right and heaved a pass downfield, which Sinsabaugh corralled over the hands of Diesel defender Keith Adams, and the Warriors led 13-0 early in the second quarter.
Following that second Warriors touchdown, the Diesel methodically drove down the field and scored on a 15-yard pass from Shannon Knight to John Evner. Knight’s two-point conversion pass was caught by Seth Knight, and the Diesel trailed 13-8 at halftime.
The Warriors had one last attempt before the half but Jason Paultisczak’s 27-yard field goal try hit the right upright.
In the second half, the Warriors were forced to punt on their first drive. It was a fake, and Albert Doxey broke up the play, giving the Diesel excellent field position. After converting a 4th-and-10 play with a 23-yard pass to Seth Knight, the next pass was intercepted, thwarting the Diesel drive inside the 5-yard line. The Warriors, pinned deep in their own territory, were forced to punt, giving the Diesel good field position once again.
The Diesel capitalized, as Fred Knight broke free and scored on a 37-yard pass, giving the Diesel a 14-13 lead, their first advantage of the season. They extended that lead nine minutes later on a Fred Knight 29-yard run. The Bradford native ended that game with 109 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.
Shannon Knight finished 6-of-11 for 100 yards and two touchdown to two interceptions. The Diesel still have a problem keeping possession of the ball, as their three turnovers extended the season total to 21. Unlike the last five games though, the turnover problem did not prove fatal for the Diesel.
“We overcame the turnovers tonight,” Bennion said. “We bounced back after turnovers on our first two possessions.”
On the final Warriors drive, Jerad Skiver dropped a sure-fire interception, prolonging the Warriors’ drive. No harm, no foul as the Warriors could not capitalize, as Brandon Emley intercepted a pass a few plays later. From there, the Diesel were able to run out the clock, tasting victory for the first time since July 31, 2010, a 35-0 win over the Cortland Bulldogs.
The Diesel hit the road next week to play at Jamestown (3-3) on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. Jamestown is coming off a 29-28 loss at Buffalo last week. Back in Week 2, the Diesel lost to the Chiefs, 16-14, in Salamanca.
This game will be broadcast live on 105.9 WGWE-FM.
