By: Lucas Vargas
SPENCERPORT, NY - The 1-4 Spencerport Rangers football team faced off against the 1-4 Victor Blue Devils, with the Blue Devils ultimately emerging victorious with a 35-14 win. Weather conditions played a role in the game, with 17-mile-per-hour winds affecting both offenses.
“When you're with the wind, your play sheets a little bit bigger when you're against the wind, you got to really think about it definitely plays a factor,” Spencerport head coach Brian Hugelmaier said.
The first quarter saw Spencerport take the lead as running back Amari Marianetti-Smith scored a nine-yard touchdown. In the second quarter, the Blue Devils responded strongly, with wide receiver Eric Young breaking free for a 64-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at seven.
Victor continued their offensive momentum, with wide receiver James Mack III catching a pass from quarterback Gus Pappajohn for a 15-yard touchdown. Despite missing the extra point, the Blue Devils led 13-7.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, the Rangers drove the ball down to the two-yard line. At the ten second mark, Marianetti-Smith, running the Wildcat formation, threw a pass to tight end David Blahowicz to give the Rangers a slim 14-13 lead heading into halftime.
However, the Rangers struggled to maintain their momentum in the second half, committing turnovers and miscues that proved costly. Fumbles and an interception hindered their offense, allowing Victor to score 22 unanswered points in the second half.
“I want to take full accountability, because I fumbled twice in situations that I shouldn't have," Marianetti-Smith said. “I think that really messed us up on our offense and our just our spirit, our momentum was swinging, and then those two things happen, and the game gets messed up from there.”
Kyle Saeger made significant contributions for Victor with two touchdown catches, including a 26-yard reception for a score.
“Felt like we gave up in the second half," Blahowicz said. "We weren't hitting as hard in the second half, and then offense wise, we’ve got to run the ball better.”
Despite the promising end to the first half, the Rangers struggled to maintain their form after the break, leading to a disappointing second-half performance.
“It was there at the end of the half, and then we just came out, and we just played slow and now I can't say a lot, because we're all hyped when it happened…,” Marianetti-Smith said. “And, you know, things happen.”
Victor improved to 2-4 on the season, while the Rangers fell to 1-5. Spencerport's next game is scheduled against Brighton for next Friday at 7 p.m.
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