B-2 title on the line as Albion visits Dunkirk

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Line play will be key when Albion visits Dunkirk Friday in a clash of unbeatens for the B-2 Division title. Here Purple Eagle linemen Kirk Ellison (55) and Tyler Kast (64) lead the way for running back Demetrius Gardner during a recent win over Roy-Hart/Barker.

Looking to end an 11 year title drought Albion will visit Dunkirk at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a key clash of unbeatens for the Section VI Class B-2 Division football championship.

Albion, which last captured a division title in 2006, is 4-0 in B-2 competition and 5-0 overall while defending Section VI Class B champion Dunkirk is 3-0, 5-0. Both teams have already locked up sectional playoff berths.

“It’s a big game for the kids because they’ve worked so hard. They never give up and they haven’t broken yet,” said Albion Coach Adam Krenning. “We’ve got to win the battle up front because Dunkirk is a heck of a team. They are big and fast so our defense will have to come up big and our offense will have to fire on all cylinders.”

Quarterback Bryce Pritchard leads the Albion offense whose weapons also include running backs Ugene Harrison (8 rushing touchdowns) and Demetrius Gardner along with receivers Nate Moore (3 TD receptions) and JaQuess Harrison (2 TD receptions).  JaQuess Harrison has also returned two punts and a kickoff for touchdowns.

Keying the offense for the Purple Eagles is the front line quintet of center Tyler Kast, guards Ben Restivo and Caleb Pettit and tackles Kirk Ellison and Jon DePuy.

The meeting will be the third ever between the Purple Eagles and Marauders. Dunkirk scored narrow wins in the first two 20-19 in 2010 and 22-20 in 2014.

Medina/Lyndonville will visit Alden at 7 p.m. Friday in a B-3 Division matchup of two teams desperately needing a victory in order to keep their slim sectional playoff hopes alive.

Both teams are 2-2 in the division and on the outside looking in at the eight team field which will comprise the Section VI Class B playoffs. Alden is currently 9th with a plus 3 points while Medina/Lyndonville is 11th with a minus 9 points.

The Medina vs. Alden game, along with Friday’s Depew vs. Olean and the Oct. 13 Burgard vs. Pioneer contests, will play a major role in determining the final two teams which will complete the sectional field.

The top six teams which have already locked up playoff spots, and their point totals, include Maryvale (+54), Lackawanna (+53), Cheektowaga (+47), Albion (+45), Newfane (+44) and Dunkirk (+42). Depew is currently seeded seventh with +11 and Burgard eighth with +6.

Alden holds a 10-6 lead in the series but Medina/Lyndonville scored a 42-28 victory last fall to snap a six game losing streak to the Bulldogs.

Quarterback Izaiah Rhim, who has passed for 9 touchdowns, to five different receivers, and run for 4 more leads the Mustangs offense. Jalin Cooper has caught 3 TD passes, Brendan Luthart and Mason Lewis 2 and DaRon Bellan and Brian Fry 1 each.

Streaking Newfane, which has won four in a row after a season opening 22-6 loss to Lackawanna, will visit Roy-Hart/Barker (1-2, 1-4) in another B-3 contest at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Barker.

Holley will look to make it three wins in a row as the Hawks face Oakfield/Alabama/Elba at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Elba.

Quarterback Jeremy Mallett and running back Jacob Affronti have each scored 4 touchdowns and running back Camron Labarge 3 during the Hawks current two game winning streak.

Holley is 2-3 and Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 1-4 after losing 34-0 to Caledonia-Mumford/Byron-Bergen last week.