The Pittsford football team came into week three facing their first piece of adversity in the 2012 season. The Panthers proved to the rest of Section 5 one loss won’t derail their hopes of a Class AA title.
Pittsford defeated Gates Chili 27-8 in a Monroe County Division I matchup Saturday at Pittsford Mendon. The Panthers (2-1) scored the final 20 points of the contest after trailing 8-7 late in the first half.
Pittsford suffered a 21-0 loss to Rush-Henrietta in week two, their first regular season loss since week three of the 2010 season.
“Really it was awesome,” said Panthers senior Glynn Molinich, who finished with 172 yards rushing and two touchdowns. “Coming back form a game where we didn’t play to our ability level, to come back here and dominate it’s a great feeling.”
Pittsford immediately gained momentum as Molinich scored on a one-yard touchdown run to cap a 5-minute, 57-second drive to open the game.
Gates responded to the Panthers opening march as the Spartans tackled Pittsford quarterback Henry Hoffend for a safety with 9:39 remaining in the second quarter. Korey Beasley gave Gates their first lead of the game when the senior running back scored on a 69-yard touchdown run.
“I am impressed with the way (Pittsford) played, I am impressed with the way the teams in this league play,” said Jason Benham, Spartans head coach.
“We have to focus on more what we are doing. We need to improve on our first steps, our basics.”
The Panthers gained the momentum going into halftime as Hoffend connected with Mac Atkins for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Pittsford took a 13-8 lead into the third quarter.
The Panthers offense continued the positive play in the second half, as a four-yard touchdown run by Molinich and 28-yard score by Nick Barclay sewed up the victory. Molinich, who has played tight end and wide receiver earlier in his career with Pittsford, finished with 88 yards rushing in the second half.
“It’s hard when you win a great game the first week and then you make mistakes the second week,” Atkins said. “It was nice to get that win and still be in the run to be able to compete for sectionals.”
Beasley’s run woke up the Panther defense, who didn’t surrender a score the rest of the game.
A Gibran Ahmed interception ended the Spartans first drive of the second half. Gates only had the ball two times the rest of the half, with one drive ending in a punt and the other resulting in a turnover on downs.
“Everyone just doing their part, doing their job and not looking at the scoreboard, letting their play take care of that,” said Ben Kroll, senior linebacker, about Pittsford’s defensive deffort. “Our play took care of that. Everyone did a great job and the linebackers covered ground.”
The Pittsford football team came into week three facing their first piece of adversity in the 2012 season. The Panthers proved to the rest of Section 5 one loss won’t derail their hopes of a Class AA title.
Pittsford defeated Gates Chili 27-8 in a Monroe County Division I matchup Saturday at Pittsford Mendon. The Panthers (2-1) scored the final 20 points of the contest after trailing 8-7 late in the first half.
Pittsford suffered a 21-0 loss to Rush-Henrietta in week two, their first regular season loss since week three of the 2010 season.
“Really it was awesome,” said Panthers senior Glynn Molinich, who finished with 172 yards rushing and two touchdowns. “Coming back form a game where we didn’t play to our ability level, to come back here and dominate it’s a great feeling.”
Pittsford immediately gained momentum as Molinich scored on a one-yard touchdown run to cap a 5-minute, 57-second drive to open the game.
Gates responded to the Panthers opening march as the Spartans tackled Pittsford quarterback Henry Hoffend for a safety with 9:39 remaining in the second quarter. Korey Beasley gave Gates their first lead of the game when the senior running back scored on a 69-yard touchdown run.
“I am impressed with the way (Pittsford) played, I am impressed with the way the teams in this league play,” said Jason Benham, Spartans head coach.
“We have to focus on more what we are doing. We need to improve on our first steps, our basics.”
The Panthers gained the momentum going into halftime as Hoffend connected with Mac Atkins for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Pittsford took a 13-8 lead into the third quarter.
The Panthers offense continued the positive play in the second half, as a four-yard touchdown run by Molinich and 28-yard score by Nick Barclay sewed up the victory. Molinich, who has played tight end and wide receiver earlier in his career with Pittsford, finished with 88 yards rushing in the second half.
“It’s hard when you win a great game the first week and then you make mistakes the second week,” Atkins said. “It was nice to get that win and still be in the run to be able to compete for sectionals.”
Beasley’s run woke up the Panther defense, who didn’t surrender a score the rest of the game.
A Gibran Ahmed interception ended the Spartans first drive of the second half. Gates only had the ball two times the rest of the half, with one drive ending in a punt and the other resulting in a turnover on downs.
“Everyone just doing their part, doing their job and not looking at the scoreboard, letting their play take care of that,” said Ben Kroll, senior linebacker, about Pittsford’s defensive deffort. “Our play took care of that. Everyone did a great job and the linebackers covered ground.”
