Albion, Medina to host Homecoming games

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 October 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – BIG GAME UP COMING: Albion quarterback John Warne, shown here throwing a pass to Des Blackmon during last Saturday’s win at Newfane, and his Purple Eagles teammates will host Maryvale for Homecoming at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Medina will also host Lew-Port for Homecoming at that same time.

One team will be looking to rebound and the other to keep the momentum as Medina and Albion both host B North Division Homecoming contests at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Medina, which is looking to bounce back from a 51-12 loss to Burgard, hosts Lew-Port while Albion, which is looking to keep rolling after thumping Newfane 49-6, entertains Maryvale.

The contests are pivotal as both the Mustangs and Purple Eagles are battling to claim one of the division’s four sectional playoff berths.

Medina is currently at 2-1 in the division trailing Burgard (4-0) and Cheektowaga (3-0) in the title race with Bennett close behind at 2-2.

“We took a bit of a beating last week so we’re hoping to get back on the winning side of things,” Medina coach Eric Valley said. “We’re in a must win situation.”

Albion is at 1-2 in the division and in a log jam with Maryvale, Lew-Port and Amherst, also all at 1-2.

“We control our own destiny and that’s a good thing,” said Albion coach Tony Osburn whose Purple Eagles also have division games remaining against Lew-Port and Medina. “We started to turn things around in the second half of the loss to Cheektowaga and we got off the bus fast against Newfane. We want to build momentum off of that. We’ve got to keep dialing it up each week.”

In Lew-Port Medina will face a Lancers team that is looking to snap a two game losing streak including a 36-14 loss to Bennett last weekend.

“Lew-Port always plays us tough so we have to be ready for a very physical game,” Valley said.

Lew-Port holds a narrow 10-9 lead in the all time series against Medina which began in 1955. The Mustangs though won the last meeting 22-12 in 2010.

Leading the Medina offense is quarterback Jason Hellwig, who has thrown nine touchdown passes including two each to Kyle Barna, Dylan Lewis and Ben McPherson and one each to Dan Brown, Drake Grabowsk iand Ty Hrovat. Barna has scored a team leading seven touchdowns and Brown six.

Albion holds an 11-0 lead in the all time series against Maryvale including a 21-7 victory in the last meeting in 2010.

Quarterback John Warne threw three touchdown passes to lead Albion past Newfane including two to Des Blackmon and one to Trey Hart who also had a 75 yard interception return for another score. Ed Wolfe and Dominic DiCureia ale added rushing touchdowns for the Purple Eagles.

Friday’s other B-North games will have Barker/Roy-Hart (0-4) at Cheektowaga and Amherst at Burgard. Barker/Roy-Hart is looking to have starting quarterback/defensive back Jacob Haight back after he missed last week’s game due to an injury.

In the Genesee Region League, Holley will host Alexander at 1:30 p.m. Saturday for Homecoming as the Hawks look to snap a season long four game losing streak. The Trojans are 2-1 in the league and 3-1 overall.

B-North Standings

Burgard 4-0, 4-0; Cheektowaga 3-0, 3-1; Medina 2-1, 3-1; Bennett 2-2, 2-2; Albion 1-2, 2-2; Lew-Port 1-2, 2-2; Maryvale 1-2, 1-3; Amherst 1-2, 1-3; Barker/Roy-Hart 0-4, 0-4.

G-R Standings

Notre Dame 4-0, 4-0; Attica 3-1, 3-1; Alexander 2-1, 3-1; Elba/Byron-Bergen 2-2, 2-2; Oakfield-Alabama 1-2, 2-2; Pembroke 0-3, 1-3; Holley 0-3, 0-4.