Kendal Donovan punched in a score for the Spartans that cut the Jamestown lead to 35-34, just a kick away from a tie ballgame, but Williamsville North had other ideas. The Spartans decided to go for the 2-point conversion to take the lead, but that proved to be a costly choice.

The Spartans decided to hand the ball to Donovan again, but there were two big problems in the way of the lead. First it was Jamestown’s Aziyon Wilson-Earl making initial contact in front of the goal line, then Sean O’Brien finished off the tackle to help the Red Raiders hold on to the lead and ultimately the 35-34 victory.

Jamestown (2-2, 2-0) got off to a hot start, scoring the first 21 points of the game on the legs of Carson Bane and in the hands of Darius Freeney. Bane punched in scores from 15 and 9 yards out, while Freeney received a 38-yard pass from Trey Drake.

Drake used his legs in the second quarter to help put Jamestown up 28-7 on a 5-yard scamper.

Jamestown’s Carson Panebianco races down the sideline during Friday’s game against Williamsville North at Strider Field. P-J photo by Tim Frank

Williamsville North (2-2, 1-1) fought back before halftime with a 23-yard touchdown run from Donovan and then two scores from Mitch Kelly on the ground that made it 28-20 at half in favor of Jamestown.

Jamestown lost its lead in the third quarter when Donovan reached paydirt and converted on a run on the 2-point attempt, but that did not last long thanks to Drake and company.

Drake connected with Freeney again for a 31-yard touchdown and Ella Propheter finished up a perfect night with her fifth extra point conversion that made the lead 35-28.

That score stood until Donovan broke the plane just before the two-minute warning giving the Spartans a chance to tie or take the lead. Unlike the two previous attempts, Jamestown stood up Williamsville North on the 2-point attempt to hold on to the 35-34 lead.

Williamsville North’s last effort was on the onside kick, but Jamestown recovered and Bane picked up the first down so the Red Raiders could run out the clock.

Standing out for Jamestown on offense was Freeney with 210 receiving yards on seven catches, two of which were touchdowns; Drake finished 14 of 21 through the air for 315 yards and two touchdowns; and Bane ran for 89 yards on 13 attempts with two touchdowns. Defensively, Sean O’Brien made 17 tackles, including five for loss and Eric Reese recovered two fumbles.

Williamsville North 6 14 8 6 — 34

Jamestown 21 7 7 0 — 35

JHS–Bane 15 run (Propheter kick)

JHS–Bane 9 run (Propheter kick)

JHS–Freeney 38 pass from Drake (Propheter kick)

WN–Donovan 23 run (kick fail)

JHS–Drake 5 run (Propheter kick)

WN–Kelly 4 run (pass fail)

WN–Kelly 6 run (Kelly run)

WN–Donovan 2 run (Donovan run)

JHS–Freeney 31 pass from Drake (Propheter kick)

WN–Donovan 5 run (run failed)