Bears Edge Tigers in Rivalry Football Battle

The Vestal Golden Bears edged the Union-Endicott Tigers Saturday afternoon at Ty Cobb Stadium by a final score of 11-6.  The Vestal win spoiled U-E's Homecoming and was played before a large crowd on a sunny afternoon.

Vestal took the lead with 6:16 to go in opening quarter. Matt Thrasher, Vestal's top running back, scored from 11 yards out and then carried in the two-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead.  The Golden Bears upped their lead to 11-0 on a Mason Mabee 30-yard field goal.  Vestal kept the Tigers off the scoreboard for the remainder of the first half.

The Tigers got their lone score with 7:41 to go in the third quarter.  Running back Darrius Billingsley carried the ball in from the 16 yard line.  A two-point conversion attempt failed and the score remained 11-6 Vestal.  Neither team could score in the fourth quarter as the Golden Bears held on for the 11-6 victory.

Union-Endicott's starting quarterback Zach Pilarcek was knocked out of

the game late in the first quarter after Vestal's defense flushed him from the pocket and he took off downfield and took a hard hit from Alex Thrasher, just called up from the JV squad.  Dunovan Hogan replaced Pilarcek and played the remaining part of the game at quarterback for the Tigers.

With the win the Golden Bears up their record to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in Section 4 Division1.  The Tigers fall to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in Division 1.  Next up for Vestal is a Friday home game against the Binghamton Patriots at Dick Hoover Stadium.  WNBF will broadcast that game as part of our "Game of the Week" package.  Kickoff is set for 7:00 P.M.