Swifts clench season opener, 63-20

The Nazareth Swifts won a big victory at their home-game season opener against the Whiteface Antelopes, 63-20.

Whiteface got on the board first with a pass completion, putting them in the lead 6-0, but Nazareth answered with a Luke Schulte touchdown to tie the game up. Schulte came back with a rush for another touchdown, to put them in the lead 12-6 and the first quarter came to an end.

The second quarter, Schulte completed a 14-yard pass to Brett Heitschmidt for a touchdown, with Heitschmidt also scoring the extra point, to put the Swifts up 20-6 over Whiteface.

Whiteface battled, but an Antelope pass was intercepted by Tanner Birkenfeld for a touchdown, widening the Swifts’ lead to 26-6.

Sterl Welps came in with a touchdown on a 7-yard rush, followed by an extra point on the kick by Brett Heitschmidt, making the lead 34-6. Schulte cam in with a 17-yard run, with a Heitschmidt extra-point kick by Heitschmidt, putting Nazareth up by 42-14.

With 30 seconds remaining in the period, the Antelopes scored on a 4-yard rush and added an extra point, closing the first half out with Nazareth leading 42-14.

Nazareth continued to gain points in the third quarter, with Schulte rushing for 10 yards and another touch and Heitschmidt collecting the extra point on the kick. Schulte again runs for 43 yards and another touchdown and a twopoint conversion pass by Tell Bagley to Heitschmidt is good, putting the Swifts in the lead 57-14.

The final quarter of the game, the Antelopes scored on a pass completion, but Schulte came back with another 5-yard run and touchdown, giving the Swifts the victory 63-20.

Nazareth had 42 plays with 28 rushing attempts for 275 yards; 10 of 14 passing completions/ attempts for 148 yards; 19 first downs with 13 rushing and five passing; one first down penalty for 5 yards.

Overall stats for the game: Passing

Luke Schulte had five completions of seven attempts, for 78 yards and one touchdown; and Will Young, five completions of seven attempts for 70 yards.

Rushing

Luke Schulte, 20 attempts for 223 yards and six touchdowns; Will Young, six attempts for 39 yards; and Sterl Welps, two attempts for 13 yards and one touchdown.

Receiving

Brett Heitschmidt with three receptions for 69 yards and one touchdown; Sterl Welps, three receptions for 28 yards; Will Young, two receptions for 26 yards; Kayle Rodgers, one reception for 16 yards; and Owen Dyer, one reception for 9 yards.

Defense Will Young had one tackle; Brett Heitschmidt one tackle and TFL; Tell Bagley, one tackle and one interception; and Tanner Birkenfeld, two interceptions.

Kicking Brett Heitschmidt, XP and 8 points The Swifts next game will be an away game against another local team, the Hart Longhorns, on Sept. 1.