Photos by Cheryl Wertman

Scoring touchdowns on its first two possessions, Akron went on to defeat the Medina Broncos 39-0 Saturday in the Niagara-Orleans Football Association (NOFA) JV Division playoff championship game at Vets Park. Here Iverson Poole of the Broncos tries to split the Akron defense on a kickoff return. Poole had 39 yards rushing on the day while Lavonn Guy added 22 rushing and 23 receiving and Hayden Woodroe 23 rushing.

Bronco defenders Lavonn Guy, left, and Malik Baity tackle Akron ball carrier Ryan Greiner. Chris Johnson led the Broncos with 10 tackles while Oliver Wilson had 9, Josh Wilson and Joseph Cecchini 6 and Guy 5. Akron finishes the season at 10-0 and the Broncos at 7-2.

Medina/Lyndonville will close out the football season by hosting Williamsville East at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Vets Park in a Section VI match-up game.

The Mustangs improved to 5-3 by defeating Tonawanda 36-14 Friday while the Flames boosted their record to 3-5 with a 33-12 victory over Amherst.

In another match-up contest, Barker/Roy-Hart will host Newfane at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Middleport.

Barker/Roy-Hart is 1-7 and Newfane 0-8.

In the finals of the Section V Class C Connors and Ferris Bowl, Holley will visit Mynderse on Thursday.

Holley defeated Wayland-Cohocton 24-12 and Mynderse downed Marcus Whitman 43-6 in the semifinals.

Contributed Photo – Members of the Kendall girls varsity soccer team who took part in this morning’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk included, in front, Jenna LoSapio, Lizzie Rath,  Eliya Cooper and Coach Pam Beres. In the back row are Megan Hardenbrook, Maya Rutland,  Taylor ReQua,  Taylor  Rutland, Lyndsay Wright, Coralee Freitag,  Annaliese Bosko and Michela Hanlon.

The Kendall girls varsity soccer team is not only successful on the field, but they also know how to give back to the community.

After a tough Friday night sectional game victory, the top seeded, undefeated (17-0) Genesee Region League Divison 1 champion Lady Eagles were up bright and early this morning to participate in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Watt’s Farms in Albion.

The Making Strides Walk has become an annual tradition for the team, as they have participated in the event for the past 5 years.  This year the team raised $599 for this worthy cause.

The girls varsity soccer team walks as part of the Kendall Cares Team, which is made up of students and adults from the Kendall Community.  The Kendall Cares Team, including the girls varisty soccer team’s contribution, donated over $1000 this year.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holly Heil

Medina’s Holly Heil earned first place honors at the Clarence Fall Classic cross-country meet held today at Akron Falls Park.

Heil crossed the finish line first in the girls varsity race with a time of 20:22.

In the boys varsity race, Daniel Heil placed 13th in 18:20 and Jack Hill 22nd for the Mustangs.

In the Junior High race, Medina had Hannah Heil place 4th and Sabrina Quiors 8th.

The JV Medina/Lyndonville football team capped off a successful season with a 42-7 win over visiting Tonawanda on Friday night.

Ronnie Koonce rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns in addition to throwing a touchdown to Johnny Salone.

Salone also had a 53 yard punt return for a touchdown, while Daemon Shatara and Nick Kepner each added rushing touchdowns.

Koonce, Salone, and Diago Russell each ran for a two point conversion to round out the scoring for the Mustangs.

The win brings the Mustangs record to 6-2, matching last years result. The Mustangs posted victories over Wayland-Cohocton, East Aurora, Barker/Roy-Hart, Alden, Albion, and Tonawanda. Both losses were decided during the final minute in games against Riverside and Depew.

Koonce replaced last year’s starter and fellow freshman Izaiah Rhim, who was called up to the varsity squad, at quarterback. Koonce led the Mustangs offense through the air and ground; throwing for 1,040 yards and 15 touchdowns, while adding 793 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground.

Salone, also a freshman, made 36 receptions for 748 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Brendan Luthart hauled in two touchdown passes and Trenton Jones caught one. Shatara, Kepner, William Braswell, and Iszon Richardson added one rushing touchdown a piece.

Salone also led the Mustangs defense, a unit which allowed just 12.8 points per game, finishing with 58 tackles and making five interceptions. Ian Joseph chipped in with 52 tackles, Justice Hughes made 48, sophomore Mike Eckerd added 30. Luthart and Rickie Pitts both contributed 2 interceptions.

The Mustangs roster included sophomores Kyson Bellan, Thomas Culmo, Mike Eckerd, Joe Gates, Zack Hill, Jesse Iniguez, Trenton Jones, Ian Joseph, Brendan Luthart, Jorge Phillips, Iszon Richardson, Elijah Sones; freshman William Braswell, Brandon Heschke, Justice Hughes, Zach Johnson, Nick Kepner, Michael Kleinhans, Ronnie Koonce, Blaire Prest, Chase Prest, Rickie Pitts, Juan Rivera-Nava, Tim Roy, Diago Russell, Johnny Salone, Daemon Shatara, Chase Stinson, Evan Wicox; and 8th grader Bobby Geiger.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman

Highlighting today’s annual Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) championship games at Vets Park was the presentation of the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award. The local recipients of the award included, from left, Mark McNeil from Medina, Tyler Rotoli from Albion and Jason Boyle from Roy-Hart. The award is given in memory of the late Roy-Hart youth football Coach Jim Ellegate to individuals or organizations for their dedicated contributions to local youth football.

Contributed Photo

Fresh from earning their historic first victory, the Lyndonville/Medina boys volleyball team will close out its inaugural regular season by hosting Cardinal O’Hara at 6 p.m. Monday at Lyndonville. Helping lead the Tigers to that initial come-from-behind four set victory over NE/NW College Prep of Rochester on Friday were, from left, Zach McAdoo, Luke Cook, Eddy Schildt, Dustin Joy, Kenny Kalson and Trevor Thaine.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s sister duo of Taylor Rutland, left, and Maya Rutland go high after the ball against Campbell-Savona’s Olivia Ceasar during the host Lady Eagles sectional victory this evening.

In an instant replay of last year’s postseason opener, undefeated top seeded Kendall blanked No. 8 Campbell-Savona 6-0 this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section V Class C2 girls soccer playoffs.

Kendall, which bested Campbell-Savona by the same score in last year’s quarterfinal, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half on goals by Taylor Rutland and Hailee Mitchell, both off assists from Taylor ReQua.

Kendall’s Emily Boyle tries to advance the ball by Heather Dilly of Campbell-Savona.

Improving to 17-0 on the season, the Lady Eagles then put a lock on the victory with four second half goals including two by Maya Rutland and one each by Keri Furness and ReQua. Michela Hanlon and ReQua earned the assists on the first two tallies.

Kendall next faces the winner of the No. 5 Warsaw vs. No. 4 Bishop Kearney game in the semifinals on Tuesday.

Kendall’s Taylor ReQua tries to kick the ball toward the goal past Campbell-Savona defender Heather Dilly.

Class B2

Dansville 1, Holley 0
A goal in the first five minutes proved to be just enough to earn No. 3 Dansville a 1-0 victory over visiting No. 6 Holley in a Class B2 quarterfinal.

No. 16 seed Roy-Hart bested host No. 8 Alden 6-1 this afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Section VI Class B girls soccer playoffs.

Amber Villella scored 4 goals and Emma Lindke 2 to advance to Tuesday’s semifinal round against No. 4 Tonawanda which topped No. 5 Newfane 3-2 in a penalty kick shootout.

Marguerite Loughrey made 13 saves in goal to anchor the Lady Rams defense.

No. 2 Wilson also advanced to the semis by nipping No. 7 Falconer 2-1 on second half goals by Kayla Neuman and Rachel Senek.

Wilson will face No. 3 Olean in the semifinals on Tuesday. Olean nipped No. 6 Akron 2-0 in a penalty kick shootout.