CICERO — The Newfane season was five minutes from being over in the state semifinals against Tioga.
That is until they lined up for the onside kick.
The ball bounced on the turf and came to a stop in the waiting arms of a Newfane player causing the players and their sidelines to leap into the sky with excitement. The dream season was still alive. They had the belief that they were going to pull off the comeback and head to the practice field at Newfane High School on Monday to prepare for the state title game.
But the referees called it Tioga ball before a brief discussion flipped possession and gave the Panthers one last chance to continue the best season in program history.
The Panthers took the ball trying to book their spot at the JMA Dome in the state championship game. However, they were faced with a 4th and 8 from midfield where quarterback Mac Capen overshot his receiver Camlo Flowers, ending their season and giving Tioga a 20-16 win, Sunday, at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Michael J. Bregman Athletic Complex.
The Panthers finished the season with a 12-1 record while winning their first Section VI Class D title in program history, and their first Far West Regional win in team history.
“I’m just proud of all the guys,” Capen said. “We wanted this for a while so just for all the guys wanting, that’s what I’m most proud of, all the seniors, all the juniors, the whole team just wanted it.”
The Panthers offense took the field for the first time with their team down 6-0 and they thought that they had tied the game up on a patented Capen lengthy run. However the score was waved off thanks to a hold on the Panthers who saw their drive come to an end on a turnover on downs from the Tioga three-yard-line.
“Anytime penalties like that occur, it’s super frustrating as a coach especially how we discuss these penalties in film over and over again and why they’re not needed,” Newfane head coach Chuck Nagel said. “It’s just disappointing.”
Late in the second quarter, the Tigers were able to score again to take a 14-0 lead and send Newfane into the intermission trailing for the first time this season. At the break, Capen and his teammates knew they needed to put forth a better effort and fight their way back into the game.
The Panthers got the ball to start the second half and they had another long Capen touchdown run but this one counted to bring their deficit to six at 14-8. The Panthers had a chance to tie or take the lead on their next drive but they turned it over on downs for the second time in this game.
“They’re killers,” Nagel said. “At the goal line, couldn’t punch it in and we’ve been in situations like this before and our linemen know it’s up to them. Everybody’s gotta be firing on all cylinders. I think in those short yardage plays Tioga wanted it more than we did.”
In his final game, Capen finished the day going 6-for-13 for 69 yards passing while adding 14 carries for 120 yards and one touchdown. His leading receiver was Nasir Spencer who had three receptions for 47 yards.
After the game, Nagel gathered his team around on their sideline and told them how proud he was after all that they have accomplished this season. He also was proud of his team’s ability to fight back from the 14-point deficit and put themselves in a position to win this game. Nagel also said he hopes this is the first step to a new-look Newfane program. After this season, the Panthers are returning 31 players.
“They’re full of fight,” Nagel said. “… We’ve been up all year so to be able to battle back from a deficit, especially at halftime, proud coach moment, couldn’t be more proud of these boys and the game they played today.