Clarence Central School - Saga Yearbook (Clarence, NY)

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The 1986 Varsity Football team fin- ished with a won 8, lost 1 record. They finished in second place in Di- vision II, losing only to Orchard Park by a 6 to 3 score. That loss came on a “monsoonish” Friday evening, where neither team was able to display its true talents because of the field and weather conditions. Due to the team’s outstanding playing ability during the season, they were select- ed by the WNY Football Federation as the “wildcard” entry in the Rich Stadium post-season playoffs. The team finished strong by defeating the powerful and perrenial Division V champions, the Springville Grif- fins, by a score of 21-12. Outstanding members of the team were: Dave Lally: best offennsive lineman, Ron Kiener, best offensive reciever set a Clarence record with 30 pass catches, and was chosen MVP, White Letter Winner and selected to the first team All WNY as a defensive back. Mark Dalfonso: best offensive back set a Clarence total yards pass- ing record and was awarded the Fred Barone trophy for best player in the Rich Stadium Playoff game. Jim Thorpe was best defensive line- man and was selected as Division II All-Star defensive lineman. Jeff Da- mico was our best defensive back and first team Division II All-Star defensive linebacker. Todd Burks recieved the coaches award and sec- ond team Division II all-star running back. Playing in Rich Stadium in 1986 was the biggest thrill of my sports career. Last year was great, but being a senior this year, and knowing that this was my last High School football game, meant much more. I knew we were ready when we pulled into the stadium and the bus was filled with the sound of a solitary scream “Are you ready?” and 39 others screaming back “READY!!!” This was a grueling game and Springville was just as ready as we were. They scored first, but we didn’t give up. Our offense came back and scored a TD. We were leading 7-6 and Springville scored again, but failed to convert the extra point for a 2nd time. Our defense held the opposing offense to a standstill for the rest of the way and the offense punched the ball in for 2 more TD’s. We won the game 21-12. The game’s MVP was Mark Dalfonso. Dalfonso, Ron Kiener, and Todd Burks had the TD’s for Clarence with Tom McLaughlin kicking 3 extra points. Credit the defense for holding the power- ful Springville offense to 12 points. Gee coach, what do I do know?

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1 ex lr;i - c u rricu iuh '.«'rades in hi ;h grades in coll ac ieve schools on and long- is Ion en long hours, pressure, competition and leadership, this in itself is the training groufrt'for'success in lat- er life. 1— If we could see for miles and , miles down the road we would c— successful leag educators,, past, emejj school and the college level, ex- tremely successful coaches in high school and college, and most im- portantly fine human beings. Based on successful elementary and junior high athletic programs, he gun goes off to start the race r a successful life in High School thletics. 25

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Another victory at Rich! Dalfonso sets up to pass THE STRING CONTINUES Tom McLaughlin kicks one of his Western NY record breaking field goals During the second quarter of the game we had a good offensive drive going, in which we moved the ball all the way to the opponents 20 yard line. It was the next play that, although I had no intentions of what I did, that made my field goal attempt so long. It was the 3rd. down and we had a pass play called. The pass was caught by a running back and I was blocking for him and because the pass was over the line of scrimage I was called for pass “interference.” This penalty negated the first down and brought the ball back to the 32 yard line where it would be 4th. and long. I knew this could be my only chance to break the record. I looked at the line of scrimage and figured that it would be almost a 50 yard attempt. As soon as I kicked it I knew it was right down the center and was going to be close and when the referee signaled that it was good the team came running on to the field to congratulate me and I had then realized how excited I was. -Tom McLaughlin ROW 1 Mark Dalfonso, Ron Keiner, Jeff Damico Row 2 Tom McLaughin, Tom Schwartz, Jeff Stein, Don Allessi, Tom Kelkenberg, Dave Hammond, Rich Walter, Dave Lally, Dan Michlinski, Rollie Duttweiler, Paul Casilio, Jim Thorpe Row 3 Mike Greis, Anthony DiGaudio, Kevin Maley, Scott Martin, Jeff Benzing, Robb Walter, Jon Floss, Bill Loewer, Scott Corey, Rich Rores, Jason Pow- ers, A1 Pagliano Row 4 Pat Lackowrski, Jim Hockwater, Carl Kustell, Joe Weller, Tim Andruschadt, Todd Burks, Dan Meldrim, Paul Marcinowski, Craig Law, Bob Paul- sak, Jim Leonard , Walter Bechi Row 5 Coach Faust, Coach Goddard, Coach Kensy, Coach Anderson