N I A G A R A G A Z E T T E naigara-gazette.com
Published: July 29, 2009 11:44 pm
LIONS CLASSIC: Weiser leads North to 30-10 victory
By Nate BeutelNORTH TONAWANDA — Eddie Weiser displayed his toughness
as an accomplished amateur boxer in his younger years.
On Wednesday, the recent Grand Island High School graduate showed a new level of
toughness scoring a touchdown just seconds after receiving stitches in his right
hand on the sidelines.
Weiser’s eight-yard scamper to paydirt on the first play of the fourth quarter
sewed up a 30-10 victory for the North squad in the 34th annual Kensington Lions
Club All-Star High School Football Classic at the Lumberjacks Athletic Complex
Wednesday night.
“Scoring that touchdown was pretty awesome,” the Buffalo State-bound
tailback said as he grinned from ear to ear after the game. “I told them to
hurry up with the stitches. I said ‘tie it up real fast,’ so I could get
back out there and help the team. I knew that was probably my last couple
plays.”
Weiser got plenty of help from teammates as well. Most notably his high school
teammate, Alex Neutz, the Niagara Gazette Player of the Year. The 6-foot-3
University at Buffalo-bound wideout made two incredible catches on the game’s
opening drive. The second one, a one-handed snag, was for a 16-yard touchdown.
“I saw (quarterback) Casey (Kacz) was in trouble… so I tried to post up my
defender in the back of the end zone,” Neutz explained. “When I saw the ball
in the air, my eyes just lit up. I jumped up and the ball stuck to my glove. It
was pretty crazy.”
The North continued with its aerial attack on its second drive as quarterback
Joe Scibilia (Starpoint) found former Class A North rival Dae’Shaune Clark
(Williamsville South) for a 40-yard touchdown strike. Despite a failed extra
point, the North still led 13-0.
“Alex’s catch was very good motivation for us and then when Dae’Shaune
caught that ball that pumped us up even more,” Weiser said.
The South would get on the board the following possession when Maryvale’s
Brooks Estarfaa took a toss around the right side four yards for a score,
capping a 10-play drive that included three North penalties and a key
fourth-down conversion.
The North would respond, though, as Kacz found Mike Doherty (Kenmore East) on
fourth down for a 15-yard scoring hook-up. Weiser set up the touchdown with a
key 15-yard run.
As time expired in the first half, Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora) kicked a
25-yard field goal to cut the lead in half, 20-10. Midway through the third
quarter, though, Scibilia countered with a field goal of his own and Weiser’s
score sealed the deal on the North’s third consecutive victory in the series.
“This is just a great feeling,” Weiser said. “Now I can go on vacation
happy.”
EXTRA POINTS: The North awards went to Casey Kacz (QB, Sweet Home, MVP Offense),
Shaquille Dudley (OLB, Cardinal O’Hara, MVP Defense) and Zach Weiland (OL,
North Tonawanda, MVP Lineman)… The South awards went to Brooks Estarfaa (RB,
Maryvale, MVP Offense), Blair Bell (DL, Cheektowaga, MVP Defense) and Jordan
Sisti (OL, St. Francis, MVP Lineman)… At Tuesday’s player’s banquet, Mike
Doherty (Kenmore East) and Bell were given the Spirit Awards for their
respective teams. The award honors a player that impresses his coaching staff
during the team’s training camp… Legendary North Tonawanda announcer Dick
Grapes was on the mic in the press box that was named in his honor last fall…
Niagara Falls resident Victoria Spanbauer sang the national anthem for the sixth
time… Tonawanda resident Milt Dickerson is the chairman of the Classic.
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.