Following two straight appearances in sectional finals, the Pittsford football team was eager to hit the field for the 2012 season. When the Panthers played at Webster Thomas Friday, they didn’t appear to have any of those season opening jitters that many teams succumb to this time of year.
Pittsford defeated the Titans 35-0 in a Monroe County Division I matchup. The Panthers scored on the opening drive of the contest, and coasted to their 11th consecutive regular season victory.
“Our defense held (Thomas) down tonight,” said Pittsford senior running back Nick Barclay, who finished with 86 yards rushing on 11 carries. “Anytime they got close to the goal line, we didn’t really let anything get by us.”
The Panthers had 28 seniors on this year’s roster, however the losses of starting quarterback Grant Heyman and tailback Dominick DeLucia left some people wondering how their offense would perform. Pittsford apparently didn’t need long to get comfortable with their new quarterback and tailback.
Barclay put those fears to rest right away, scoring a two-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the game. The Panthers impressive opening drive went 68 yards in nine plays, eating up 4 minutes and 15 seconds.
Barclay carried the load on the drive running the ball four times. New starting quarterback Henry Hoffend completed three passes on the drive.
“There were no secrets, it was power, power, power,” said Keith Molinich, Pittsford head coach. “We were going to try some play action pass and try some perimeter passes to loosen them up. We found the weaknesses and we were able to exploit them.”
Hoffend recorded his first career touchdown when he scored on a one-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first quarter. The touchdown, which put the Panthers ahead 14-0, came on fourth and goal.
Pittsford junior Mac Atkins took care of the scoring the rest of the second quarter.
Atkins picked off Thomas quarterback Steven Zaccardo and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown with 3:33 left in the second quarter. Atkins then outran the Titans defense for a 64-yard touchdown reception to give the Panthers a 28-0 lead going into halftime.
“That was a pop and go, and (Hoffend) red it and I just bounced outside,” said Atkins, who caught four passes for 101 yards. “(Austin Degrazia) had a great block, and that is what made the play.”
The Pittsford defense flustered the Titan offense throughout the contest, forcing four punts and three turnover on downs. Linebacker Ben Kroll led the Panthers with six tackles.
Pittsford forced a Titan on their first possession of the second half. Glynn Molinich capped the scoring with a 44-yard touchdown run on the ensuing possession.
“Our kids are very sound,” Molinich said. “They are students of the game. We went deep and we had three levels playing and they were all playing well. We were happy they could be out there and be successful.”
The Panthers are back in action at 2 p.m. on Sept. 8 at R-H, while the Titans play at Hilton at 8 p.m. on Friday.
Following two straight appearances in sectional finals, the Pittsford football team was eager to hit the field for the 2012 season. When the Panthers played at Webster Thomas Friday, they didn’t appear to have any of those season opening jitters that many teams succumb to this time of year.
Pittsford defeated the Titans 35-0 in a Monroe County Division I matchup. The Panthers scored on the opening drive of the contest, and coasted to their 11th consecutive regular season victory.
“Our defense held (Thomas) down tonight,” said Pittsford senior running back Nick Barclay, who finished with 86 yards rushing on 11 carries. “Anytime they got close to the goal line, we didn’t really let anything get by us.”
The Panthers had 28 seniors on this year’s roster, however the losses of starting quarterback Grant Heyman and tailback Dominick DeLucia left some people wondering how their offense would perform. Pittsford apparently didn’t need long to get comfortable with their new quarterback and tailback.
Barclay put those fears to rest right away, scoring a two-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the game. The Panthers impressive opening drive went 68 yards in nine plays, eating up 4 minutes and 15 seconds.
Barclay carried the load on the drive running the ball four times. New starting quarterback Henry Hoffend completed three passes on the drive.
“There were no secrets, it was power, power, power,” said Keith Molinich, Pittsford head coach. “We were going to try some play action pass and try some perimeter passes to loosen them up. We found the weaknesses and we were able to exploit them.”
Hoffend recorded his first career touchdown when he scored on a one-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first quarter. The touchdown, which put the Panthers ahead 14-0, came on fourth and goal.
Pittsford junior Mac Atkins took care of the scoring the rest of the second quarter.
Atkins picked off Thomas quarterback Steven Zaccardo and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown with 3:33 left in the second quarter. Atkins then outran the Titans defense for a 64-yard touchdown reception to give the Panthers a 28-0 lead going into halftime.
“That was a pop and go, and (Hoffend) red it and I just bounced outside,” said Atkins, who caught four passes for 101 yards. “(Austin Degrazia) had a great block, and that is what made the play.”
The Pittsford defense flustered the Titan offense throughout the contest, forcing four punts and three turnover on downs. Linebacker Ben Kroll led the Panthers with six tackles.
Pittsford forced a Titan on their first possession of the second half. Glynn Molinich capped the scoring with a 44-yard touchdown run on the ensuing possession.
“Our kids are very sound,” Molinich said. “They are students of the game. We went deep and we had three levels playing and they were all playing well. We were happy they could be out there and be successful.”
The Panthers are back in action at 2 p.m. on Sept. 8 at R-H, while the Titans play at Hilton at 8 p.m. on Friday.
