Throwback Feature: Warriors make long trip worth their while (1998)

Weitzel scores three TDs in 33-8 win over Newfane

NEWFANE — Adam Weitzel ran for three touchdowns an rushed for 12 6 yards on 26 carries as he helped the Salamanca Warriors varsity football team earn a 33- 8 victory over Newfane (3-4) of Division IV.

Weitzel opened up the scoring in the 1st quarter with a 1 yard plunge. Weitzel added his second touchdown on the afternoon on another 1-yard run to put Salamanca on top 13-0. A 9-yard pass from quarterback Dan Earley t o Chad Bartoszek open the flood gates as the Warriors went into the half with a 19-0 lead.

Salamanca' s defense was able to shutdown Newfane's top rusher Brian Wise, who had over 800 yards in his first six games, limiting him to just 59 yards on 14 carries . Wise only managed 14 yards of total offense the second half as the warriors' defense took over the game.

"We had to get used to Wise's speed and good spin move. Early in the game he had a nice 35-yard run and then a 10-yard gain, but the rest of the game our defense shut him down," said Salamanca head Coach George Whitcher.

"We felt we could not afford to key on Wise, but we were aware of his presence . I don't know when we ever keyed on just one back in over my 25 years of coaching . I thought about it but I did not want to disrupt what we were doing."

Newfane got on the board in the third quarter on a 16-yard pass to Jonas Stevens from Brandon Smith followed by a two-point conversion . The touchdown would Smith's only highlight of the day as the Warriors' defense-sacked him six times for a total loss of 39 yards . Mike Potter also intercepted a Smith pass attempt to stop a Newfane drive.

Salamanca's offense got back into the scoring mix in the fourth quarter when Bartoszek caught his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard toss from Earley. Bartoszek also added the extra-point on another catch from Earley. Weitzel closed out Salamanca's scoring with his third touchdown after another 1 yard run.

Th e Warriors also got big games from fullbacks Josh Hostuttler (6 attempts, 42 yards) and Dana Hill (2-attempts, 15 yards) as they were aided by an awesome offensive line which dominated the entire game.

Earley added seven rushes for 45 yards, while teammates Jason Siafakas (20 yards) . Mike Potter (11 yards), and Logan Pascarella (1 each for 20 yards) also played a big part on offense.

"We played a solid ball game. On their first drive we were back on our heels a bit but from there we started scoring one possession after another." stated Whitcher.

Salamanca (6-1) who clinched a home playoff game last week, will host Gowanda at 8 p.m. Saturday Gowanda will be back in town on Halloween as they will be Salamanca' s opponent in the opening round of the Section VI Class' C playoffs.