GALLERY: Hornell 18, Dansville Wayland-Cohocton 12
From Hornell High School Athletics, photos by JC’s Photography
The Hornell Raiders and the DWC made the trip to Alfred University on Saturday to live out every high school football team dream: A Saturday night game under the lights in a college stadium.
$4500 from the gate, to custom t-shirt sales, and 50-50 drawings was raised for the Golisano Children’s Hospital.
It was a dream come true as Hornell Coach Ismail Mehr explains:
“Saturday night was nothing short of amazing. Mother nature provided a cool crisp fall evening made for High School football. For us it was exactly what we needed before going into the playoffs.”
The game was tight with the Raiders being successful in the final moments of the game using a “hurry up offense.” A final pass from Brody Flaitz to Aaron Mcinerney ended the battle and with the mix of grit and grace every football coach dreams of:
“Brody Flaitz our junior quarterback was hurt and in significant pain as he took a shot earlier in the 4th. He stood tall leading the team down the field methodically and put that last ball perfectly over the defender to McInerney for the winning TD,” said Coach Mehr.
Two seniors took an extra spotlight, Drew Giblin(Canaseraga) and Devin Moran(Arkport) played both some of the first, and one of their last high school games. Giblin responded when an injury required that he step up on offensive line for the first time. Moran, starting his first varisty game ever, had a banner evening causing fumbles and nabbing an interception. “Words cannot say enough about these fine young men,” Coach Mehr said with pride.
Coach Mehr and the team celebrated for a few hours, got some sleep, and were back on the field Sunday morning getting ready for the upcoming sectional game in Bath this Friday at 630pm.
