The shutout beat goes on for the Jamestown Red Raiders.
Friday night at Strider Field, Jamestown won its fourth straight game by a 36-0 margin over the West Seneca West Indians in Class AA South action.
Jamestown, which is ranked 10th among large schools in Western New York, is now 3-1 in Class AA South and 4-1 overall while West Seneca West is 0-5 and 0-5.
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It was also Jamestown's fourth straight shutout and in 20 quarters played this season, it has not allowed a point in 19. The Red Raiders have had only 13 points scored on them and they came in the final 2:12 of their opening-game loss at Frontier. Now in 240 minutes played in five games, the Red Raiders have played shutout football for 237 minutes and 12 seconds.
''The defense has been the backbone of our team so far this year and we feel good about that,'' Coach Tom Langworthy said.
Jamestown held the Indians to 34 yards passing and 22 rushing. Leading the defense was Eric Tyra with 14 tackles and one sack. Ben Whitney had 11 tackles and one sack while John Czech had seven tackles and Cortland Haines six.
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Jamestown’s Terrance DeJesus (50) celebrates as teammate Eric Tyra clutches a blocked punt he recovered in the end zone for a touchdown in the Red Raiders’ 36-0 win over West Seneca West Friday night. See additional photos at cu.post-journal.com.
P-J photo by Jim Riggs
''We had some missed opportunities and we sputtered a little bit offensively, but our kids stuck with it and they took advantage of some opportunities in the second half,'' Langworthy said.
West Seneca West got a taste of the Jamestown defense immediately after receiving the opening kickoff. The Indians first play was a pass attempt that resulted in a 9-yard loss on a sack by David Lanphere. Their second play was a run and it was a 1-yard loss.
The visitors eventually had to punt, but the snap was fumbled by punter Oscar Lopez. He tried to get off a punt, but it was blocked by Czech and Tyra recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. Tyra kicked the extra point and the Red Raiders had a quick 7-0 lead 3:42 into the game.
''They came out a really weird punt formation I haven't seen before,'' Czech said. ''There was a hole wide open and I just ran through his (the punter's) protector), which I didn't think I'd be able to get through as big as he was.''
An then Tyra saw the ball rolling toward the goal line.
''Every defender's eyes get huge when you see that,'' he said. ''Luckily I just fell on it in the end zone and made a play.''
In Indians went three-and-out again on their next possession. Jamestown drove inside the WSW 5-yard line where Jacob Gullo carried for a 2-yard gain before fumbling and the Indians recovered it in the end zone.
But again they went three-and-out and Jamestown drove 69 yards in six plays to score on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Dennis Drew to Gullo. Tyra kicked the extra point and the hosts led 14-0 with 10:49 left in the half.
''I can't give my teammates enough credit,'' said Drew, who finished 6-for-6 for 90 yards. ''All the receivers run great routes, including Gully on that play. The line gives me a lot of time and I just have to find them in the open area because they're always open.''
And Gullo was wide open.
''It seemed like the ball was in the air forever,'' Gullo said about being so open. ''Dennis made a great read. He looked off the corner, the corner stayed deep and I just came up over the seam and Dennis put a perfect ball right there.''
On its next possession, West Seneca West finally began to move and recorded its initial first down after three straight pass completions by quarterback Brandon Hasfurter. But the Indians eventually had to punt and the behind the running of Joe Campion and a couple of Drew pass completions, the Red Raiders reached the Indians 4. One a third-down play, Campion was dropped for a 3-yard loss. Tyra booted a 24-yard field goal, his third in four attempts this season, to increase the Jamestown lead to 17-0 with 1:42 left in the half.
The Indians pulled off an onsides kick to open the second half and recovered the ball at their own 49. They were trailing only 17-0 and if they could score, it would be a huge momentum boost. But there was not change in momentum as on the second play, Gerald Dixie intercepted a pass for Jamestown.
The main drama of the second half came after the Red Raiders second possession ended with a lost fumble. West Seneca West drove to the Jamestown 20 and it appeared the Red Raiders' shutout streak might be in jeopardy. But on the first play from the 20, Campion came through with a big hit that resulted in a fumble that the Indians recovered after a 12-yard loss. On the next play, Whitney and Tyra teamed for a sack and 8-yard loss.
Suddenly the chance of the shutout streak ending was over.
''We just wanted to do what we've been coached to do all season long and that's to play fast and physical,'' Tyra said. ''That's what we did.''
Langworthy said, ''One thing we preach is win the next play and I'm confident if something happens and we face adversity, that's got to set it - the win-the-next-play philosophy.''
The Indians were forced to punt, the snap was fumbled and Czech recovered the ball at visitors 29. Five plays later, Campion spun into the end zone from the right side. The snap on the extra-point kick was bobble and the Red Raiders lead was 23-0 with 1:10 left in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ne'Kyle Taylor hit return man Steve Riggs, who fumbled and Gerald Dixie recovered the ball for Jamestown at the WSW 21. On the first play from there, Drew found a wide open Tyra for a touchdown pass and then Tyra kicked the extra point for a 30-0 lead with 53 seconds left in the third quarter.
Jamestown's next possession started at the Indians' 15 thanks to a 22-yard return by Gullo. Four plays later he scored from three yards out and Tyra's kicked missed to keep the score at 36-0 with nine minutes left.
Campion became the Red Raiders' first 100-yard rusher this season with 117 yards on 23 carries. Gullo had 44 yards on 10 rushes.
The Red Raiders take on the best of Class AA South next when they play at Clarence on Friday at 7:30 p.m. They Red Devils are 3-0 in the Division, 4-0 overall and is ranked seventh in Western New York. They play Frontier today.
''Clarence is the real deal, they're a good football team, but I think we're a good football team, too,'' Langworthy said.
West Seneca West 0 0 0 0 - 0
Jamestown 7 10 13 6 - 36
Jam - Tyra recovered block punt in end zone (Tyra kick)
Jam - Gullo 34 pass from Drew (Tyra kick)
Jam - Tyra 24 field goal
Jam - Campion 4 run (kick failed)
Jam - Tyra 21 pass from Drew (Tyra kick)
Jam - Gullo 3 run (kick failed)