The Le Roy football team turned the ball over five times, missed two field goals and nearly gave up a 21-0 lead, but managed to hold on and beat Letchworth 21-14 in the Section 5 Class C semifinals Saturday at Aquinas High School.
Andrew Alexander was a big reason why, rushing for 336 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries.
The Oatkan Knights were dominant early with a high-powered rushing attack, but wound up seeing it turn into a game in the second half.
Le Roy marched right down the field and Andrew Alexander had his first touchdown of the game 3 minutes in on a 7-yard run.
After the Indians went three-and-out, Alexander broke off a 30-yard run and eventually scored on a 10-yard rush.
Le Roy had a 14-0 advantage after the opening period of play as Alexander picked up 139 on the ground in the first 12 minutes.
The game appeared to start becoming a blowout in the second quarter when Travis Fenstermaker scored on a 13-yard run.
Alexander had an interception right before the half and the Oatkan Knights had a 21-0 lead.
The Oatkan Knights fumbled the ball away at the start of the second quarter, but Mike Humphrey saved a score when he picked off a pass.
Le Roy turned the ball over again when freshman Chris Nevinger caught a tipped pass and returned it 20 yards for a TD.
The Oatkan Knights coughed the ball up again, with the Indians recovering the ball. Quarterback Travis Tones scored a little bit later on a 1-yard TD run.
Le Roy had a shot to score early in the fourth quarter, but missed a second field goal attempt.
Letchworth failed to drive on its first series of the final frame, but forced Le Roy into a three-and-out.
Letchworth moved the ball into Le Roy territory and came up just short on a third down attempt, setting up a fourth-and-1. Nevinger took the handoff and was stopped inches short, allowing the Oatkan Knights to run out the clock and move on to the finals next week at PAETEC Park.
Tones finished with 103 yards rushing to lead the Indians.
Letchworth falls to 5-3 while Le Roy improves to 9-0.
