NORTH TONAWANDA — In a matchup of two teams who have historically met at Ralph

Wilson Stadium, only one could go this year. And it won't be the defending state champion.

North Tonawanda dominated Orchard Park, 21-7, in the Class AA semifinals Friday night

before an estimated 2,000 at the Lumberjack Sports Complex.

NT (9-0), ranked third in the large school poll, took a 14-0 halftime lead and didn't let

No. 4 Orchard Park (7-2) score until there were less than two minutes to play.

A year after losing to Orchard Park in the Section VI title game at The Ralph, the

Lumberjacks will return there to face Lancaster in this year's championship. The kickoff is at

8:30 p.m. next Friday, and it will mark the first time since 2000 that OP will not be playing

in the finals.

"We just played all three aspects of the football game very well," NT coach Eric Jantzi

said. "With the intensity we had in practice, I felt we were ready for a team of this caliber,

and we went out and showed it. You know that you're playing pretty good football if you can

handle a team like this. We're looking to roll full speed ahead."

NT controlled the line of scrimmage for much of the game, holding OP to just 42 yards

rushing while it ran for 219.

"We avenged what we did last year and that's what we came out to do," senior quarterback

Mike Tuzzo said. "[OP is] always a great team. It's a wonderful feeling to come out here as

seniors, our last game as seniors on this field, and it's one we'll always remember."

The Lumberjacks' control of the game began early. After ending Orchard Park's first

possession with a punt, NT scored on just its second play from scrimmage.

Joe Montesanti (nine carries, 95 yards) took a pitch to the right from quarterback Mike

Tuzzo (11 carries, 63 yards) and he followed two great blocks on the outside as he sprinted to

the end zone on a 49-yard score. Aaron Davis kicked the first of what would be three extra

points as NT took a 7-0 lead with 7:51 left in the first quarter.

NT set up its next score with a turnover. OP faced a second-and-15 at its 25 when a Dave

Janca pass to the left sideline was tipped by senior Darrik Bloomfield — one of several

big plays in the game by the senior — and reeled in by Davis to give NT the ball at the

OP 35.

On third-and-3 at the OP 4, Tuzzo hung up a pass to the right side of the end zone and

Davis — looking like the All-Western New York basketball player he is — fought off

a defender and went up and got the ball for what would be a 14-0 lead with with 6:37 left in

the second quarter.

NT missed a field goal attempt late in the third quarter, but that drive chewed up about

seven minutes.

OP appeared it might be poised for a comeback when junior quarterback Kyle Witkowski, who

played much of the second half, converted a fourth-and-13 at the NT 39 by hitting senior Dan

Nesci (11 catches, 139 yards, touchdown) for a 42-yard gain to the NT 19.

NT responded with its own big play soon after thanks to Bloomfield, who

intercepted a Witkowski pass inside the OP 5 with 8:18 left.

Bloomfield had one catch for 37 yards, three rushes for 27 yards, the tipped pass that led to an interception, his own interception and nine tackles. He also delivered some outstanding blocks on the outside that turned pitch-runs into big gains and was also a factor on special teams.

"He's a special player," said Jantzi. "He makes plays. To watch him go up and catch a football or make a break on a ball gives you goose bumps."

NT added another touchdown when Tom Sell took a handoff to the right side, ran around the

corner and down the sideline for a 21-yard score and a 21-0 lead with 2:48 to go.

OP scored with 1:49 to play on a 13-yard pass from Witkowski to Nesci.

Steve Kijowski led NT with 14 tackles while junior Travis Charsley had 12.

Orchard Park's Gary Davies had 12 tackles.

Nesci not only had a standout receiving day, he took several snaps out of the shotgun in a wildcat formation, running for 24 yards on 10 carries. OP standout Okoya Anderson did not run with much success in the first half and sat out much of the second with an apparent injury.

"They came out strong — we didn't stop them and they made some big plays," said OP

coach Gene Tundo. "We didn't score when we could have. We couldn't stop them, and we couldn't

finish, and that ends up in a loss. We had a lot of penalties, and you don't win a big game

with penalties and missed opportunities."