Albion to host Olean in B Bowl semi

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Running back Ed Wolfe (22) and his Albion Purple Eagle teammates will host Olean at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the Section VI Class B Chuck Funke Memorial Consolation Bowl Classic.

Looking to get back on the winning track, Albion will host Olean at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the Section VI Class B Chuck Funke Memorial Classic Consolation Bowl Classic.

Albion, which dropped a narrow 38-31 decision to rival Medina last weekend, brings a 4-3 record into the bowl playoffs while Olean, who closed out the regular season with a 28-12 victory over Springville, is at 3-4.

“Olean is a good football team. They were ahead of undefeated Alden 20-0 before a pick six turned that game around. To go up on Alden by 20 that shows something about the team they have. They can make plays” Albion coach Tony Osburn said. “It will be a good challenge for our kids.”

Leading the Albion attack is senior quarterback John Warne who hooked up with Des Blackmon for three touchdown passes against Medina and running back Ed Wolfe who rushed for 175 yards and one touchdown.

“We have to keep scoring offensively and we have to play better defense,”Osburn said.

The victor will play the winner of the Amherst vs. East Aurora game in the championship next week.

Albion and Olean have met four times in post season play over the past 20 years with the Huskies holding a 3-1 advantage.

The teams last met in 2004 when Olean scored a 14-6 victory in the sectional semifinals. The Huskies also nipped the Purple Eagles by that identical 14-6 score in the 2002 sectional finals.

Albion’s lone win over Olean came in the 2000 sectional semis by a 27-14 margin.

The Huskies won the first post season encounter with the Purple Eagles 35-20 in the 1994 semis.

In two matchup games this week, Holley will visit Hornell at 7 this evening and Barker/Roy-Hart will travel to Starpoint at 2 p.m. Saturday.