Rangers drop football opener

Spencerport cut a three-touchdown first half deficit to nine points with a third quarter surge but fell short against defending Sectional champ Gates Chili in a 35-12 loss.

The Rangers offense turned the ball over in their own territory the first two times it had the ball leading to two of Gates Chili running back Ernest Jackson's four touchdowns before Spencerport head coach Anthony Lipani called time out to regroup.

The offense did just that, putting together a drive on long runs by Alphonse Sasso, Rouson Dinkins and Sean Simpson before the field goal attempt was blocked.

The third quarter comeback started when Kyle Muir pinned the Spartans on their own one-yard line with his punt. On second down, the defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Dinkins at the five-yard line. Simpson ran the ball to the one on first down and David Wilbern carried a keeper to a half-yard line before Sasso scored on a misdirection play. The extra point attempt failed.

On the Spartans next possession midway through the third, Dinkins hit the quarterback forcing another fumble, which was picked up by Simpson, who ran it 77 yards for the score. A two-point conversion attempt failed making it 21-12.

Gates Chili put the game away with a touchdown late in the third quarter and another in the fourth.

Jackson led with 210 yards rushing on just 11 carries for Gates Chili. Sasso paced the Rangers with 70 yards on the ground with Simpson getting 58 to go with five tackles, an interception and the fumble return. Daniel Tomasso topped the defense with six tackles and Robert Kelly had five. Quarterback Joseph Millitello was 3-10 for 44 yards passing.

"That was a good football team we played, but you can't turn the ball over twice deep in your own territory against anybody and win," said Lipani. "We showed some heart by coming back in the third quarter, so that's what we'll build on."