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Nightingale a multi-threat in Mendon's convincing win
Del Newell, November 08, 2008 5:18 p.m.

MENDON - C.J. Nightingale was Mendon's point-a-minute man Saturday afternoon at John Schwartz Field.


Nightingale, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound junior quarterback, ran for two touchdowns, passed for a third and ran a kickoff back for a fourth, leading Mendon to a 43-7 victory over Pittsford in a Division 8 prep football district final.


And he did it in 24 minutes - plus 15 seconds, the time it took Nightingale to race 88 yards with the second-half kickoff.


Mendon's 11th straight win this season sets up a collision on the road at 1 p.m. next Saturday against perennial playoff power Muskegon Catholic Central (11-0).

In the final Associated Press polls, Mendon was ranked No. 1 in Division 7 and MCC No. 1 in Division 8.


Nightingale scored on runs of 1 and 13 yards and passed 6 yards to Dylan Andrews for another score as Mendon, after a scoreless first quarter, put 28 points on the scoreboard in the second.


Jordan Higgins, another junior and Mendon's leading rusher this season, scored on a 9-yard run, also in the second quarter.


Nightingale, however, was hurt early in the third quarter and didn't play the rest of the game.


"I got a helmet on my knee and it was more precautionary (not playing) than anything," Nightingale said.


"I'm fine. I'll be ready for next week, that's for sure."


Before his afternoon was over, Nightingale was 8-of-10 passing for 96 yards, plus on defense he intercepted a Pittsford pass.


Higgins came out on offense, too. Higgins ran the ball twice in the second half and ended with a game-high 80 yards on 15 carries.


"We've been a heavy run team all year," Nightingale said. "Jordan's been getting the ball 25-30 times a game. But Pittsford had nine players in the box and we knew we had to throw it."


"We need to pass," said Mendon coach John Schwartz, whose Hornets teams have won nine state titles and 202 games since he took over as head coach in 1989.


"We're going to need to throw next week and we plan on throwing. That's why we kept the offensive line out there and had them play four quarters," Schwartz said.


Mendon's offensive line of seniors Matt Collins (6-2, 290), Ryan Avery (6-3, 200), Mike Cleveland (6-3, 220) and Richie Steinacker (5-10, 220) and junior Aaron Saunders (6-4, 210) again helped the Hornets gain 221 yards along the muddy turf and total 345 yards of offense.


And Mendon's defense, although Pittsford produced 214 yards of offense, made the big stops and blocked a punt.


After the Hornets had put together a 13-play, 73-yard scoring drive that Nightingale finished off at the 11:57 mark of the second quarter, Pittsford had to punt on its next series.


Junior Nathan Bower swept in and blocked the punt, with Mendon taking over at Pittsford's 9. Higgins scored on the next play.


Mendon built the lead to 34-0 before Pittsford went on a 13-play, 70-yard drive that junior quarterback Garet Lee capped with a 2-yard run.


Mendon scored the last nine points of the game in the fourth quarter, with sophomore Cody Bingaman going a yard and booting a 31-yard field goal.


"Flat out, they're stronger than we are," said Bob Clement, who's been head coach at Pittsford for 30 years.


"They're a great football team. Our kids have a lot of fight in them. They fought back but it wasn't enough."


Collins, Mendon's two-way tackle, said Saturday's game was special for him and all the seniors.


"Being a senior, this is actually my last time playing on this field. I knew I had to do everything I can to make it worth it. Walking off the field, it just hit me," Collins said.


Working against Collins on the Pittsford side was senior Lance Wilson (6-0, 300). "It was a good battle, but I felt I did pretty well," Collins said.


Regarding Muskegon Catholic, which Mendon nipped last year, 7-6 in the regional finals at Mendon, Schwartz said: "I know they're awfully quick. I saw them play Friday night. Those guys are for real."