Due to multiple missed opportunities and four Dunkirk turnovers, the Marauders fell to the visiting Olean Huskies 12-7 in a Class B2 football game at Karl Hoeppner Field on Friday night.

“We’re an exciting team to watch. You just never know what’s going to happen with this group,” said Dunkirk head coach Mark Benton. “We’re doing the best we can. I’m happy with the effort, but obviously we’re frustrated with being 0-2.”

Dunkirk (0-2, 0-1 Class B2) held a slight advantage in both passing yards (108-99) and rushing yards (154-145), and also led the time of possession (28:17-19:43) and total first downs (17-12). The Marauders even had more first downs in every way — passing, rushing, and by penalty, along with a stopped two-point conversion and a blocked extra point. Still, the Marauders let the game slip through their fingers yet again for the second straight week.

“It’s so frustrating for the kids and for us, being so close,” said Benton. “It seems like the gods are against us.”

Dunkirk Marauders running back Quanteer Neallard (7) carries the ball during the first half of a game against the Olean Huskies, Friday, at Dunkirk High School. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen.

Olean (2-0, 2-0 Class B2) overcame two interceptions from freshman quarterback Joe Mest and a goal-line fumble by Memphis App — that eventually resulted in a Huskies touchdown — to escape Dunkirk with a second Class B2 victory.

“The kids are obviously disappointed we lost, but I think they realize we are competitive. We’re in these games,” said Benton. “We played a good team very tough tonight.”

The Marauders held a one-point lead at halftime, 7-6, after a blocked extra point by Noah Sikes kept the Huskies from tying the score just before the break. Olean found the end zone on a deep ball from the freshman quarterback Mest to senior receiver Cade Anastasia for 24 yards in the back right corner of the end zone.

Both teams struggled with turnovers early, with Olean’s Mest throwing both of his interceptions in the first half, while Dunkirk fumbled twice — first by Sikes on fourth down on the opening drive, next by Quanteer Neallard on a botched pitch at the Olean 40-yard line. By the end of the night, all three Dunkirk fumbles — by three different players — came in Olean territory.

Still, the Marauders had plenty of chances to win the game.

Olean quarterback Joe Mest avoids the Dunkirk pass rush. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen.

Olean recovered a fumble for a touchdown that appeared headed out of the back of the end zone for a touchback for Dunkirk, but the ball was batted back by Dunkirk to stay in play and the Huskies later recovered.

Then, Benton showed tremendous confidence in his team by going for it on 4th-and-1 from Dunkirk’s own 21-yard line, down by 5 with 8:34 left in the game. Mike Hanlon converted on a 3-yard carry to keep the drive alive. That call came after Benton already called a double-pass at his own 2-yard line where receiver Dylan Bankoski — standing in his own end zone — connected with Hanlon for 16 yards.

Later in the drive, after a 29-yard run by Neallard set Dunkirk up in Olean territory, Sikes threw a jump ball into the end zone from 40 yards away — with Bankoski in single coverage — that fell incomplete. Sikes was shaken up on the play and had to leave for the ensuing 3rd-and-20, which resulted in an incompletion. Then on 4th-and-20, Sikes re-entered and hit Neallard in the hands with a pass down the Dunkirk sideline that would have resulted in a first down, but it was dropped. The ball went over to Olean on downs with under four minutes left to play.

Dunkirk still managed to get a stop to get the ball back at its own 17 with 55 seconds left. However, two plays into the drive, Sikes tried to force a throw on the run and it was intercepted to seal the Olean victory.

“We had a lot of mistakes again tonight,” said Benton. “But I thought our defense did a great job. … Some kids really stepped up and played well. Miguel Santiago played a great game in the middle for us, Connor Jakubowicz and Nate Garcia on that line both ways, and Noah Sikes is playing with his heart on his sleeve — he has really turned into something. Mike Hanlon as well, playing both ways. I can’t say enough about those kids.”

Dunkirk quarterback Noah Sikes (3) celebrates his 1-yard touchdown run in the first half of Friday’s game against Olean. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen.

Dunkirk hits the road next week to face East Aurora-Holland in a Class B2 matchup of two 0-2 teams. East Aurora-Holland had a 14-0 lead over Olean in Week 1 before eventually losing 35-14.