Hornell's Austin Dwyer cuts up field for the first down in the third quarter of the Red Raiders' 28-13 win over the Bulldogs in Livonia.
HORNELL — Three years ago local football experts were wondering how in the world the Hornell football team could ever replace David Zapata, Section V’s all-time leading rusher.
Austin Dwyer has made those experts say, “David Who?”
The senior running back exploded for 263 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns as the Red Raiders downed host Livonia 28-13 in Livingston Conference D-I action Friday night at Saunders Field.
“My offensive line gives me a great push, and they have all season,” said Dwyer, who has now rushed for nearly 700 yards and seven TD’s in three games. “I’d much rather run over someone, than go around them.”
He did a lot of that Friday, especially early on.
After each team traded early possessions, Hornell put together a 5-play, 45-yard scoring drive that finished with a Dwyer 13 yard TD run with 5:50 left in the first that put the Red Raiders up 6-0 following the blocked extra point.
But Livonia responded as they took the momentum off a nice Jeff Wester kick-off return to go on a 5-play, 64-yard scoring drive that saw Mike Knapp haul in a 38-yard TD pass from Bobby Schuster. Wester’s PAT kick gave Livonia the 7-6 lead with 3:24 left in the first.
It took Dwyer and Hornell all of two minutes to respond as the Red Raiders capped off an 8-play, 61 yard scoring drive with a Dwyer 4-yard TD run.
Hornell made it 14-7 when Dylan Dunn caught the PAT from Dom Scavo.
On the scoring drive, Dwyer rushed for 63 yards on six touches.
It stayed that way until the middle of the third period as Hornell scored again, this time on a 4-play, 59-yard scoring drive that saw Scavo, the talented sophomore quarterback hit 6-foot-2 junior wideout Jordan Schwartz on a well-thrown 13-yard slant pass that went to the end zone giving the Red Raiders the 20-7 lead.
Livonia’s Ryan Hierlwimmer blocked the PAT.
Hornell made it 28-7 with 3:31 left in the game as Dwyer started the scoring drive with a 35 yard run that set up a 30-yard TD run by junior running back Sam Stonerock.
Dunn would catch the PAT pass from Scavo.
Livonia would make things respectable as the Bulldogs scored on a 4-yard TD run by Wester that made it 28-13 late in the game. The scoring drive was set up by a 22 yard pass to Knapp and a 18 yard strike to Wester.
“We have to put this loss behind us and move forward,” said Wester, who was held to just 16 yards on six touches. “We didn’t finish a few drives off when we had the chance. But we proved we can play with them we just have to execute better. We will see them down the road.”
Schuster, Livonia’s senior quarterback, finished 13-of-20 for 176 yards and one TD. He was picked off once. He also ran for 39 yards on 12 carries.
Junior Steven Diener led Livonia with 40 yards on four carries.
For Hornell, Scavo finished 9-of-17 passing for 94 yards and one TD.
“Hornell is a well-coached team — they deserved to win tonight,” said Livonia coach Steve Girolmo. “I told my kids afterwards that I can’t fault them for their effort.”
Hornell is 3-0 while Livonia fell to 2-1.
Both teams entered the game ranked in the state in Class B.
Hornell was 20th while Livonia was 17th.
