RallyNorth.net

Fri, Sep 06, 2013 07:00 PM @ Alvirne

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Timberlane	6	6	0	8	20
Alvirne	7	7	0	0	14

Furey, Owls win thriller

HUDSON – Down six in the fourth quarter and pinned against their goal line Timberlane needed something, anything.

Enter Tyler Furey. The sophomore tailback picked up 13 of his 30 touches during a 17-play, 98-yard drive that took seven minutes and culminated with Furey scoring to put the Owls ahead late in the fourth quarter.

“We had good blocking up front and we were just driving down field,” Furey said. “The same play seemed to work so we just kept using it. It seemed like everyone picked it up and kept going.”

Timberlane held off Alvirne's final push to take the season opener 20-14. Furey had a game-high 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Alvirne had four rushers with 27 yards or more.

. . .

Timberlane committed three turnovers during the game, including an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Andrew Stevens, but the Owl defense dug in and wore down the Broncos.

“Our defense kept us in it when we turned the ball over,” Timberlane coach Kevin Fitzgerald said. “ You can't do that at any level and expect to win. I thought we did a better job in the second half up front; I thought we wore them down a bit. Both sides of the ball played well. We had a bunch of new faces playing and I thought they acquitted themselves well.”

The Owl defense kept Alvirne's offense from crossing the Timberlane 30-yard line for the final two-and-a-half quarters.

. . .

Furey was at his best biding his time an extra moment and waiting for the line in front of him to open a whole. During the game-winning drive the left side of the line gave Furey numerous holes off tackle and off center.

Furey was able to get beyond the linebackers before he was even touched. Eleven of his runs were six yards or more.

“The patience was the key offensively,” Fitzgerald said. “It was a good team victory. I'm happy with what we got.”

. . .

With Furey garnering the bulk of Alvirne's attention, Timberlane quarterback Erik Nelson was able to go over the top of the Alvirne defense. The senior finished 7-13 with 140 yards passing. He connected with fellow senior Zach Downey for a 68-yard touchdown for the Owls' first score of the year less than four minutes into the game.

. . .

Timberlane opens their home slate next weekend when they entertain Spaulding. Before then, though, Fitzgerald and Furey said there is plenty for the team to improve on.

“We're by no means a finished product,” Fitzgerald said. “We have a lot of things to work on.”

“I think we need to work on executing our plays and executing our blocks, and I think we should be good this year,” Furey said.