Depew Beats Lancaster 28-21 to Finish 2003 Perfect Regular Season By MARY JO MONNIN Buffalo News Sports Reporter 10/25/2003 Just how big was Depew's 28-21 victory over Lancaster before a packed Constantino Complex on Friday night? "Ah, it's the biggest thing in the world," said Depew senior running back Tim Hall. "It really is - you want the trophy." Hall played as big as anyone as Depew beat the rival Redskins for the second time in three years to put the final touches on its first undefeated regular season since 1993. Depew (8-0), the No. 1-ranked small school in Western New York, will host No. 4 Southwestern (7-1) in a Class B semifinal playoff game next Friday. The Trojans beat Springville, 35-28, on Friday. Depew did not disappoint the big crowd that filled the stands and lined the field. The Redskins had no answer for Hall, who rushed for 145 yards on 25 carries, giving him 1,009 yards this season. He scored three touchdowns, kicked four extra points, excelled at defensive back and returned punts and kickoffs. "Everybody did their part so that's the only way I play well," said Hall. Lancaster kept it interesting until the final horn, rallying for 14 points in the game's final 3:10. Trailing, 28-7, wideout Ryan Evans caught a 68-yard pass from Robert Pitzonka, then Pitzonka returned a blocked punt 54 yards, bringing Lancaster within a touchdown. But it wasn't enough because Depew scored 28 unanswered points after falling behind, 7-0, in the first quarter. Depew's defense, which had been giving up just 7.1 points per game, stiffened in the second half, holding Lancaster to minus-4 yards rushing. Lancaster also hurt itself by turning the ball over three times and being flagged for 10 penalties for 85 yards. Depew took advantage of Lancaster's giveaways, converting them into 14 points. The loss added to Lancaster's frustrating and injury-plaqued season. "Depew made big plays because they just ground the ball. That's their forte and they just beat us at the line of scrimmage," said Lancaster coach Len Jankiewicz. "We just weren't consistent (on offense), although we started out OK. The problem was we didn't maintain anything in the second half. What Depew did in the second half is what we wanted to do - they controlled the ball, made big plays, had the turnovers and cashed them in." Hall's touchdown runs were 18 and 13 yards, and he also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Dan Aquilio. Aquilio scored Depew's fourth TD on a 1-yard keeper. Lancaster quarterback Andy Gawron and tight end Mike Moran hooked up on a 3-yard pass on fourth down to give Lancaster a short-lived 7-0 lead with 4:46 left in the first quarter. Lancaster leads the series, 43-27-6. There was more bad news for Lancaster (4-4). Jamestown beat Williamsville North, 21-7, Friday to knock Lancaster out of the Section VI playoffs. The Redskins needed Jamestown to win by eight points or less to gain the fourth playoff spot in Class AA.