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Local trio preps for college football openers
Contributed Photos – This trio of local graduates, who are in various stages of their college careers, are getting ready to open the football season over the next couple of weeks. At left, Medina High grad Roosevelt Mitchell is a freshman lineman at the University of Akron, which will open the season on August 31 at Ohio State. Mitchell earned All-State honors his senior year with the Mustangs. Medina grad Jarin Rhim, center, is a junior wide receiver at SUNY Brockport which will host rival Buffalo State in the opener on September 5. Albion grad Cody Wilson, at right, is a graduate student offensive lineman at Sacred Heart University which will host Delaware State in the opener on August 31.
Albion youth football squads score sweep
Contributed Photo – Kenneth Almonte picks up good yardage for the Albion Beginners squad during Saturday’s win over Roy-Hart/Barker.
Albion scored a three game sweep over visiting Roy-Hart/Barker in Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) action on Saturday.
Beginners Division
Albion 33, Roy-Hart/Barker 27
Hudson Palmer’s 8 yard touchdown run on 4th down and his third extra point off the day put Albion up to stay, 33-27. Kenneth Almonte ran for 233 yards and 4 scores, Patrick Westlund added 78 yards and Palmer finished with 34 yards on the ground.
The defense was led by Almonte and Westlund with 7 and 3 tackles. Jai’heem Drisdom, Arlene Beecher, Xavier Weis, Elijah Cornick and Palmer were each in on some tackles.
Mini Division
Albion 12, Roy-Hart/Barker 0
After a big defensive stop inside the 5 yards line, Cayden Farrell had a 60 yard run followed by Elian Almonte’s, second TD of the game to seal the win for Albion. Farrell finished with 116 yards, Almonte had 95 yards and 2 TD’s. Moses Taylor added 22 yards and Kyle Schomske 16.
Kairo Bennett led the Eagles defense with 9 tackles. Almonte and Carter Carithers 4 each. Farrell Jai’Kaih Drisdom, Harrison Froman, Schomske, Conor Murphy and Elijah Warren 2 each.
JV Division
Albion 51, Roy-Hart/Barker 7
Heyden Almonte finished the day with 188 yards rushing, 86 receiving and 4 TD’s to lead the way for Albion. Carter Farrell had 131 yards rushing and 2 scores. Ethan Olles threw for 2 TD passes and ran 12 yards for another score. Camden Holt returned a kick off for a TD as well.
Colton Moreland led the defense with 12 tackles. Holt added 7, Connor Hinckley, Liam Pearl and Hank Aina each had 6 tackles. Almonte and Kolton Berry 4 each. Remi Ebbs, Hudson Armer, Jace DiMatteo, Landon Farrell, Have Wright, Roman Allport and Matthew Colmerero each were in on tackles.
Victory by the JV Division Bengals highlights Lyndonville’s youth football home opener
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Cameron Eckerd breaks away from a Newfane tackler during the JV Division Bengals home opening victory today.
A victory by the JV Division Bengals highlighted the first year Lyndonville youth football program’s home opening contests against Newfane today in Niagara Orleans Football Association action.
The JV Bengals downed Newfane 46-16 as Ay’Marie Rutland scored 3 touchdowns and Damareon Shine and Ja’Keir Taylor 2 each. Kayden Brigham added a pair of two point conversions.
Newfane won the other three games by scores of 36-7 in the Beginners Division contest, 13-7 in the Mini Division and 38-19 in the Varsity Division.
For Lyndonville, Adrian Winters had a touchdown and Bryson Holloway an extra point in the Beginners game; Zach Allen a touchdown and Greyson Buffin an extra point in the Mini contest and Kendrick Russaw 3 touchdowns and Julian Session an extra point in the Varsity game.
Damareon Shine breaks through the line for a good gain for the JV Division Bengals. Helping to escort him are Patrick Grollmes (87) and Prince McGill (72).
Local trio on Alfred U. Equestrian team
Contributed Photos – A trio of local graduates are members of the Alfred University Western Equestrian team. From left are Brooke Boyko a Holley grad who is a junior Business Administration major, Arie Decker a Roy-Hart grad who is a sophomore Biochemistry major and Audrey Pask, an Albion grad who is a sophomore Ceramic Engineering major. Decker has also been a member of the Alfred Hunter Seat and Dressage Equestrian teams and Boyko the Hunter Seat team.
Low numbers a concern as Mustangs prep to defend their C North Division title
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Medina varsity squad include, in front, Ethan Carson, Brody Fry, Carter Woodworth and Kolton Fletcher. In back are Elijah Doxey, Cole Callard, Frankie Stephens, Avion Johnson and Christian Moss.
Four time C North Division champion Medina faces two big challenges – low numbers and major graduation losses – as the Mustangs begin a quest to claim a fifth straight crown.
“Numbers are our biggest concern” said Mustangs Head Coach Eric Valley whose squad numbers just 22 players when preseason practice began this week. “Our goal is to get our best 11 players on the field, stay healthy and play fast.”
Offensively, the Mustangs are led by junior running back Christian Moss who rushed for 1,362 yards and scored 18 touchdowns last year to earn C North Division Offensive Player of the Year honors.
The Mustangs also have a strong offensive weapon in senior place kicker Cole Callard who made good on 44 of 46 extra point kick attempts and 4 field goals, including a school record 47 yarder, last year.
Senior linebacker/running back Brody Fry, who earned C North Defensive Player of the Year honors, is shifting to a line position on offense as is senior tight end/defensive end Brayden McEwen-Miller to help offset major graduation losses on the line.
Those line losses included the starting quartet of Roosevelt Mitchell, Xavier King, Kole Campbell and Sawyer Kingsbury.
The Mustangs returning experience on the line includes senior Ethan Carson, juniors Xavier Moyer and Frankie Stephens and sophomore Matthew Jacobs.
Sophomores Preston Woodworth and Hadrian Batista are vying for the starting quarterback spot as Julian Woodworth and Noah Cudzilo, who took all the snaps last year, have both graduated.
At the skill positions the Mustangs also return senior Carter Woodworth and junior Avion Johnson at tight end, juniors Jerrell Nealy and Kolton Fletcher and sophomore Elijah Doxey at wide receiver and sophomore Jayzon Wills at running back.
Graduation losses at those positions included Justin Pitts and Kaedon Cleveland at wide receiver and Amari Soule, Liam Castricone, Xavier Bloom and Will Prest at running back.
Medina, which went 6-0 in the division and 10-1 overall last fall, will open the season on September 6 with a C North contest against Roy-Hart/Barker on Barker’s new artificial turf field. The Mustangs home opener will be September 13 against Newfane.
Roy-Hart/Barker returns plenty of experience
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Heading Roy-Hart/Barker’s veteran group are, in front, RJ Townsend, Jackson West, Wyatt Sherman and Ireland Brady. In back are Tysen McCaa, Ronan Klug, Dan Aquilina and Anthony Adinolfe.
A good number of underclassmen got plenty of playing time for the Roy-Hart/Barker varsity football team last fall giving the Bulls plenty of experience heading into this season which begins on September 6 with a home game against Medina on Barker’s new artificial turf field.
Junior quarterback Tysen McCaa will lead the way for the Bulls large veteran contingent which also includes seniors Wyatt Sherman (RB/DE), Dan Aquilina (WR/LB), Ireland Brady (FB/LB). Jackson West (OL/DL), Caleb Alexander (OL/DL), Jacob Munn (OL/DL) and Ronan Klug (RB/LB) along with juniors Anthony Adinolfe (RB/WR/DB) and Vince Fazzio (FB/LB) and sophomores RJ Townsend (OL/DL), Carter DerSarkissian (WR/LB) and Ashton Ark (WR/DB).
“We’ve got a lot of guys back with experience,” said Coach CJ Knight of his 31 member squad. “Last year we had some key injuries so a lot of young guys played. Now they bring that experience and the confidence they built into this season.”
The Bulls went 1-5 in the C North Division and 2-7 overall last fall.
“The big thing we are stressing right now is execution” said Knight. “We have to execute a lot better than we did last year if we want to improve our record.”
The Bulls will play three of their four home games at Barker the others being October 11 against Maritime and October 5 against Franklinville/Ellicottville. The other home game will be at Middleport for Roy-Hart’s Homecoming on Thursday September 19 against Newfane.
Purple Eagles aim for a rebound season
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Getting set to help lead Albion into the upcoming season are there Purple Eagle veterans. In front are Logan Kast, Devante Jones and Luke Bell. In back are Jackson Snook, Noah Harrison, Peyton Robinson, Kyle Radder and Seth Krenning.
Looking to rebound from last fall’s 2-6 record, Albion is prepping for the September 6 season opening B3 Division game at Olean.
Junior Nate Gibson and freshman Jonah Elsenheimer are vying for the starting quarterback position with the loss to graduation of last year’s starter Blake Preston.
The Purple Eagles other graduation losses included running back Auston Johnson, wide receiver Rashard Johnson and linemen Mason Lynch, Johnathan Eible, Jett Conn, Colin Webb and Xavier Byrd.
Leading Albion’s veteran contingent is the senior group of running back Cencere Lowe, tight end Seth Krenning, wide receivers Kyle Radder, Peyton Robinson and TJ Laplant and lineman Luke Bell.
The Purple Eagles veterans also include junior wide receiver Kaiden Froman along with the sophomore group of linemen Logan Kast and Jackson Snook, wide receivers Noah Harrison and Devonte Jones and running back Jackson Lynch.
“We’ve got some good skill players back and our offensive line gained a lot of experience last year,” said Coach David Skrip. “They’ve been working hard and we’re hoping that the experience they gained last year will really pay off for us this season.”
Albion’s home opener will be against Depew on September 13.
Albion will dedicate Richard C. Diminuco Athletic Complex on Sept. 13
Press Release, Albion Central School
Provided photo: Richard Diminuco is a Hall of Fame football coach at Albion. He led the team Section VI championships in 1979, 1981,1983 and 1987. He was inducted in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
ALBION – The Albion Central School District invites you to join them in celebrating the opening of the Richard C. Diminuco Athletic Complex before the Purple Eagles’ home opener on Friday, Sept. 13.
“This celebration underscores our commitment to celebrating the success of both our students and our broader Albion community,” said Mickey Edwards, district superintendent and a former player for Diminuco. “We look forward to sharing the official opening of the Richard C. Diminuco Athletic Complex with the Albion Community this fall. Once a Purple Eagle. Always a Purple Eagle.”
Named for the record-setting former Albion Athletic Director and football head coach Richard Diminuco, fondly called “Coach D” by his players, the athletic complex will encompass all of the newly turfed fields including Spierdowis Field, the multipurpose fields, soccer fields, softball fields, concession stand and Stackwick Field House.
The ceremony will take place before the game at 6:45 p.m. at Spierdowis Field located behind District Office at 324 East Ave. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and kickoff is at 7 p.m. Parking will be available next to District Office.
During his 34-year coaching tenure, Diminuco was named Coach of the Decade for the 1980s, recorded 204 wins and was selected as New York State Coach of the Year in both 1983 and 1984. In 2004, Diminuco was inducted into the Ottawa University Braves Athletic Hall of Fame and has also been inducted into the Section V and Section VI Halls of Fame. This October marks 10 years since Coach D was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
Diminuco has lived in Albion for nearly 50 years, and started his teaching and coaching career as a Purple Eagle. In 1979, he became the Purple Eagles’ Athletic Director, leading the Varsity Football Team to New York State Section VI Champions in 1979, 1981,1983 and 1987.
Veteran skill position players lead Hawks
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Senior members of the Holley/Lyndonville varsity team include, in front, Preston McMillian, Kaiden Feis and Mason Moyer. In back are John Kuhls, Vinny Golisano, Hunter Jewell-Smith and Destin Kuyal. Missing is Jacob Pitcher.
A veteran group of skill position players anchor the lineup for Holley/Lyndonville as the Hawks prep for their seventh season of 8 man football competition.
Led by senior quarterback Destin Kuyal, who is a five year starter, that veteran skill group also includes senior running back Hunter Jewell-Smith along with the senior wide receiver trio of Mason Moyer, Vinny Golisano and Jacob Pitcher.
Kuyal earned first team Section V 8 Man Division All-Star honors last year while Smith and Pitcher were both second team honorees. Kuyal rushed for 637 yards and 10 touchdowns and passed for 546 yards and 3 TDs.
Up front the Hawks are led by seniors Kaiden Feis, John Kuhls and Preston McMillian.
“We’ve got a real solid group of players at the skill positions,” said Coach Wil Prince. “The line will be the key for us. How well they step in and come together will be big.”
Looking to rebound from last year’s 1-6 record, the Hawks will open the season at Bolivar-Richburg on September 6 and then host Newfield from Section IV in non league game on September 14.
H.S. rivals are teammates at SUNY Brockport
Contributed Photos – Mia Herman, left, and Sophia Jones
Two former Niagara-Orleans League players, who were rivals during their scholastic days, are now teammates on the SUNY Brockport field hockey team.
Barker graduate Mia Herman and Akron grad Sophia Jones are now sophomore midfielders on the Golden Eagles squad.
Herman and Jones both scored 3 goals last season as Brockport compiled a 3-3 league and 11-7 overall record.
Both players earned first team N-O All-League honors their senior year.
Brockport will open the season with games against Juniata College on August 31 and Allegheny College on September 1 both at Allegheny.
