ROCHESTER -- The North Tonawanda Lumberjacks kept seeing starters going down. But they just gave the ball to

the next guy ... and the next guy.

They all kept making plays, and NT needed them, right until the very last minutes.

NT is headed to the state semifinals for the first time after surviving with a stirring

26-24 victory over Webster Schroeder Saturday evening at downtown Rochester's Marina Auto

Stadium.

"It's breathtaking, more than anything, to see the smiles on all the kids faces, to see all

their hard work kind of come to fruition," said North Tonawanda coach Eric Jantzi. "Good teams

have depth, and this time of year is when you need it. Our depth showed tonight. We had some

kids really step up and make plays for us when guys went down."

Senior Aaron Davis made some key plays this year but reaggravated an ankle injury that has

hampered him late in the season. A shoulder injury relegated two-way senior workhorse Steve

Kijowski to only play on defense and extra ball carriers were called in.

"We just figured we were better off putting the next kid in," Jantzi said of Kijowski's

absence on offense.

Senior Tom Sell took on an expanded role after halftime, running 10 times for 131 yards and

two second-half scores. Junior Joe Medina did his best imitation of Kijowski by bulling his

way up the middle for 48 yards on 10 carries.

The kicking duties normally performed by Davis were taken over by Joe Montesanti, but the

junior did much more than that. He ran 16 times for 148 yards and caught five passes for 78

yards and a touchdown, teaming with senior quarterback Mike Tuzzo (7 of 13, 105 yards, two

TDs, one interception) for several big plays.

"Tommy Sell and Joe Medina filled in real nicely — we have great chemistry with all

of our running backs," said Montesanti, who was named the game's offensive MVP. "When they go

in our whole team has confidence in them."

An estimated crowd of 2,800 lived and died with the last few plays, as Schroeder valiantly

attempted a comeback in a game that had looked well in hand for North Tonawanda.

NT had a 13-10 halftime lead thanks to two Tuzzo TD passes, one to Darrik Bloomfield for 14

yards and one to Montesanti for 20. The teams exchanged interceptions early in the third

quarter, but Sell scored from 2 yards with 2:40 left in the third to give NT a 20-10 lead that

the Lumberjacks would keep their grip on for most of the fourth.

Schroeder tightened it to 20-17 with 3:05 left when Matt Bellucco scored on a 1-yard run,

and when the ensuing kickoff reached the end zone for an automatic touchback, NT was at its 20

needing to go on a long drive to keep the ball away from Schroeder. NT went on a long drive

— very quickly — when Sell took a pitch to the right side, then reversed field to

the left and outraced defenders all the way to the 2 for a 78-yard run. He scored on a pitch

on third-and-goal at the 1.

Schroeder's Pete Noto then returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to set up his 3-yard score

with 1:14 left in the game, but Schroeder's onsides kick failed and, with Schroeder having

only one timeout left, NT was able to run out the clock.

The victory marked the second straight season that Section VI has beaten Section V

(Rochester area) in four of the five games in the regional round. Section VI chairman Chuck

Funke received the inaugural I-90 Series trophy to commemorate which section prevails in

regionals.

Last year's 4-1 performance was the first time either section had registered victories in

four of the five classifications. Sweet Home (Class A), Southwestern (C) and Randolph (D) will

join North Tonawanda in returning to Marina Auto Stadium for next weekend's state semifinals.

The Lumberjacks will face Section III (Syracuse area) champion Baldwinsville (11-0) at 6

p.m. Saturday.