BUFFALO — When the clock hit zero, the buzzer ended Grand Island’s season.
But the Vikings knew they had a lot to be proud of following their 22-0 loss to No. 4 McKinley in the Section VI Class A semifinals. Just six days earlier, No. 8 Grand Island routed top-seeded Williamsville North.
And Thursday’s loss created motivation for next season and beyond for a team that is losing 15 seniors and a reflection on the ride they went on this season.
“It’s gonna motivate me a lot, cause I know we got dogs still on the team,” Grand Island sophomore quarterback Anthony Mantione said. “I know we have a lot of sophomores that made a big impact. I think the weight room is going to be huge and I think if our team hits the weight room, we’re coming to the section next year.”
The Macks got off to a quick start in this one when they turned an interception into a touchdown and a two-point conversion to go up 8-0 with 9:48 to go in the first quarter. They very quickly followed that up by forcing a turnover on downs on the ensuing Vikings drive. The Macks were able to add 14 more points in the half to go up 22-0.
The hosts could have been up by more, though if not for miscues when they had a penalty erase a gain that would have brought them all the way down to the half-inch mark and a fumble within the Vikings’ five-yard-line.
“Very, very frustrating. That’s one thing that we’ve been working on all year, pretty much honestly, is trying to eliminate the penalties,” McKinley head coach Brian Davis said. “Which we have been doing a better job at but we’re killing ourselves. We’re getting explosive plays and we get stupid penalties and it’s bringing us back and it’s really hurting us. But going forward though, we’ve just been preaching clean it up, clean it up, clean it up and trying to be a disciplined football program. So, therefore we don’t have these issues anymore.”
The Vikings also had chances to fight their way into the game but were doomed by three interceptions and a turnover on downs in the Macks’ red-zone in the opening half. The visitors made a big play to open the second half when they forced a Macks turnover on downs on their first drive of the second half. The Vikings’ defense stood tall the remainder of the half, holding the Macks off the scoreboard.
“We just told our kids at halftime, let’s see what type of pride we have and what type of football player we’re going to be in the second half and go out and play the way Grand Island Viking football players have played for years,” Grand Island head coach Dean Santorio said. “I think we did that, so I appreciate that effort in the second half.
In the loss, Mantione threw four interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. The sophomore finished the game going 5-for-24 for 38 yards and four interceptions. He also had 13 carries for 69 yards on the ground.
“They were four picks, all four I blame on myself,” Mantione said. “I think every single one I could get out. I think it was good enough protection for me to complete a decent ball and I have to make the right decision. I think that was a big momentum switch on the start of the game to throw that pick and it gave our linemen a little bit of heads down because they were thinking it’s their fault. As a leader, I shouldn’t be doing that.”
The Vikings have finished the season 6-4.