Published: November 02, 2009 10:05 pm      

HS FOOTBALL: Bloomfield keys NT to 21-7 win over Orchard Park

North Tonawanda, NY — Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Orchard Park, the defending state Class AA football champion and winner of five straight Section VI titles, saw its post-season reign of terror over Western New York programs come to an end Friday night at North Tonawanda.

The Lumberjacks rendered the Quakers’ ground game ineffective and made some huge defensive stops to topple Orchard Park 21-7 in the Class AA semifinals, shattering OP’s bid to play in the sectional finals for the ninth-straight year.

“It’s an indescribable feeling. I can’t even explain it, I’m so happy,” said NT senior Darrik Bloomfield, who was exceptional in all three facets of the game. He had a big kick return that led to NT’s first touchdown. He also deflected a pass that was intercepted by Travis Charsley and led to NT’s second score, and had a monster fourth-quarter interception with the Quakers driving and NT holding a 14-0 lead.

NT moves to 9-0 this season, and will play Lancaster (9-0) in the Section VI Class AA final at 6 p.m. Saturday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Friday’s win over Orchard Park was NT’s first against the Quakers in three years, and was sweet revenge for last year’s sectional final loss to OP.

“Last year we lost in sectionals and we wanted to reverse that trend this year and go farther,” senior quarterback Mike Tuzzo, who rushed for 63 yards on 11 carries. “We want to go deeper into the state playoffs, all the way to Syracuse, and that’s what we’re going to keep doing. The train doesn’t stop here.”

The Lumberjacks showed they were ready from the start, forcing OP to punt on its first drive. Bloomfield’s return on the ensuing kick gave the Jacks the ball near midfield. It took NT just two plays and 45 seconds to strike first, when junior Joe Montesanti (nine carries, 95 yards) took an option pitch from Tuzzo 49 yards to the house.

North Tonawanda’s vaunted defense continued to stand strong, while several penalties hurt Orchard Park’s first few drives. The Quakers were penalized nine times in the game. Charsley’s pick led to NT’s second score, a 4-yard strike from Tuzzo to senior Aaron Davis on a fade pass. Bloomfield got the Jacks into the red zone on that drive with a leaping grab for 37 yards.

Early in the fourth, he picked off OP’s Kyle Witkowski near the goal line, a huge turnover that prevented OP from making it a one-touchdown game. After that, the Jacks’ defense came up with two big third- and fourth-down stops later in the quarter to seal the win.

“That interception was huge, a momentum changer big time. That was a great play,” NT coach Eric Jantzi said.

NT put the game away on senior Tom Sell’s 26-yard score with under three minutes remaining. The Quakers’ only touchdown was a 13-yard pass from Witkowski to Dan Nesci late in the game.

“They came out real strong. We didn’t stop them,” Quakers coach Gene Tundo said. “They made some big plays. We didn’t score when we could have. ... We didn’t stop them and we didn’t finish.”

As one of OP’s main offensive weapons, the Jacks knew they’d need to contain Nesci, as well as sophomore running back Okoya Anderson. The defense did a solid job on both. Meanwhile, NT out-gained the Quakers 219-42 on the ground.

“We just played all three aspects of the football game pretty well,” Jantzi said. “The intensity that we had in practice I felt that we were ready for a team of this caliber and the kids came out and showed it tonight.”

The Jacks’ jubilation after the game showed just how important the victory was.

“It feels great. They’re a great team, they’re always a great team. It’s just a wonderful feeling to come out here — this was our last game on this field. It’s one we’ll always remember,” Tuzzo said.

“The second half was a struggle. They definitely picked it up, they didn’t roll over and die. That’s what’s great about their team — they never give up. They just keep going, and it’s great that we were able to overcome that and come out and get this win,” Tuzzo added.

Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.