Underwood, Maeweathers powered Lackawanna past Cheektowaga, 20-16

Overview

• Lackawanna defeated Cheektowaga 20-16 on Oct. 9 at Lackawanna High School.
• Kobey Underwood threw two touchdown passes and recorded two sacks.
• Cody Maeweathers scored on a kickoff return and a reception, while D'Andre Gatson led Lackawanna with 12 tackles.
• Anthony Gordon III scored both a rushing and a receiving touchdown for Cheektowaga.
• Both teams finished the game 2-4 overall; Lackawanna improved to 2-3 in B2, while Cheektowaga fell to 1-4.

Lackawanna turned a two-point deficit entering the fourth quarter into a 20-16 victory over Cheektowaga on Oct. 9 at Lackawanna High School, getting two touchdown passes from Kobey Underwood in the final period.

The teams were tied 6-6 after the first quarter. Cheektowaga scored two points in the second to take an 8-6 halftime lead, and neither team scored in the third. Lackawanna outscored Cheektowaga 14-8 in the fourth to earn the B2 win.

Lackawanna coach Marcus Rivers identified Underwood's move to quarterback in the fourth quarter as the turning point. Underwood completed two of three passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. Nate Smalls caught a 39-yard touchdown pass, and Cody Maeweathers had a 16-yard touchdown reception. Rivers credited Underwood with both fourth-quarter touchdown throws and singled out Maeweathers' touchdown catch in that period.

Maeweathers also scored on a 90-yard kickoff return, according to Rivers' notes. He finished with 115 yards on two kickoff returns and five tackles.

Underwood contributed 55 rushing yards on six carries and seven tackles, including two sacks for 20 yards lost. D'Andre Gatson led Lackawanna with 12 tackles, three for loss, and added 47 rushing yards on eight carries. Rivers highlighted Gatson's defensive work in helping preserve the win in the fourth quarter. Sincere Turner recorded 10 tackles, two for loss, and a sack, while K'jon Clark added eight tackles.

Anthony Gordon III accounted for Cheektowaga's two touchdowns, scoring once on the ground and once through the air. He rushed for 25 yards on three carries, caught three passes for 45 yards and made five tackles. Damahjay McClure had two catches for 47 yards, and Isaiah Carpenter added three receptions for 40 yards.

Jayden Karnuth led Cheektowaga with eight tackles and recovered a fumble. Jaxon Dubard and Marius Mingo each recorded four tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Dubard finished with seven tackles and Mingo with six. Jordan Graham intercepted a pass and returned it 12 yards.

Lackawanna improved from 1-4 to 2-4 overall and reached 2-3 in league play, sharing fourth place with Olean in the supplied B2 standings. Cheektowaga fell to 2-4 overall and 1-4 in the league, tied for sixth with East Aurora/Holland.

B2 standings through Oct. 9