OAKFIELD — As it traveled down Route 63 to Oakfield-Alabama High School, where the Irish would meet the Bodie Hyde-less Aggies on Friday night, Notre Dame smelled blood in the water.
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba was coming off its first defeat in 26 regular-season matchups, which came at the hands of the Avon Braves in Week 3, and the Irish could sense their Class D rival reeling. Notre Dame took full advantage of its opponent’s misfortune, pouncing on a turnover committed by O-A/E on its first drive and riding their early momentum to a 21-7 win over the defending Section V Class D champions.
Gabe Castro and George Woodruff each scored first-half rushing touchdowns as Notre Dame built a 13-0 halftime lead before protecting its advantage throughout the final two quarters of play. Quarterback Jay Antinore helped propel ND’s victory, delivering a number of clutch plays that helped his team extend drives, while the Irish defense put forth a herculean effort in the 14-point win.
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba was playing its second game without its four-year starting QB Hyde, as the Aggies dropped their second straight contest to fall to 2-2 on the year. The victory for Notre Dame was its first, as the Irish improved to 1-3 within a muddled Class D.
“We’ve got a young team still trying to find their way,” said O-A/E head coach Tyler Winter. “A lot of guys are playing competitive minutes of football, and it’s a new experience. The loss hurts, but the goal remains the same. If we can persevere and build upon the positives, our best football is still in front of us.”
Avery Watterson enjoyed a successful night as his team’s lead ball carrier, recording 21 carries for 103 yards rushing and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough. First-year O-A/E starting QB Gavin Armbrewster was limited to just 4 of 9 passing for 30 yards and 7 carries for 51 yards, while there wasn’t much else to write home about regarding the Aggies’ offensive effort. Oakfield-Alabama/Elba’s leading tackler, Ashton Bezon, finished with a monster night, recording a game-high 16 tackles, 4 of which came for a loss.
Notre Dame did not submit a statistical report from Friday’s game.
There will be no rest for the weary as O-A/E looks ahead to a matchup with 3-1 Canisteo-Greenwood next week. Notre Dame will have a golden opportunity to build on its momentum when it takes on winless Geneseo/Mt. Morris in Week 5.