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Mustangs romp to repeat as C North champs
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Jarin Rhim heads for the endzone to complete quarterback Xander Payne’s school record 19th TD aerial of the season as Alex Wix tries for the tackle. The action took place during the Mustangs C North title clinching win over the Tigers this evening at Vets Park.
Roaring out to a commanding 30-0 first quarter lead, Medina went on to defeat Akron 54-0 at Vets Park this evening to capture a second straight C North Division championship with a 5-0 record.
Two interceptions and a pair of recoveries of botched Akron kickoff return attempts set up the Mustangs four opening quarter touchdowns.
A pass interception by Greg Thompson on Akron’s first play from scrimmage set up an 8 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Xander Payne to Jarin Rhim and the Mustangs were off and rolling.
Payne also had a 17 yard pass completion to Rhim and an 11 yard run on the drive which also included a 14 yard run by Iverson Poole.
Medina got the ball right back when Thompson recovered Akron’s botched kickoff return attempt at the Tigers 34 yard line.
The Mustangs offense capitalized on a 5 yard touchdown run by Payne who also added the two-point conversion carry for a 14-0 lead.
Medina’s Cayden Lilleby recovers a botched Akron kickoff return attempt during the Mustangs explosive 30 point first quarter.
A 19 yard run by Poole and a 15 yard pass completion from Payne to Hayden Woodroe highlighted the drive.
Again Medina got the ball right back as Cayden Lilleby recovered the ball when Akron again botched the kickoff return attempt.
Two plays later Poole broke loose for a 28 yard touchdown run and Robert Arnold tacked on the two-point conversion to make it 22-0.
The Mustangs defense came up big again just three plays after the ensuing kickoff as Poole intercepted the ball at the Akron 33.
This time it took just three plays for the Mustangs offensive unit to capitalize as Payne hooked up with Rhim for a 10 yard touchdown pass. The TD aerial was Payne’s school record 19th of the season breaking the old mark of 18 set by Levi Pace during the 2008 season.
Arnold again tacked on the two-point conversion upping the lead to 30-0.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern.
First a blocked punt by Noah Skinner at the Akron 8 set up an 8 yard touchdown run by Skinner and a two-point conversion carry by Arnold for a 38-0 lead just 10 seconds into the quarter.
Then a pass interception by Rhim near midfield set the stage for a 10 yard touchdown run by Skinner and a two-point conversion by Arnold upping the the lead to 46-0 at the half.
Payne had a 16 yard pass completion to Poole and Lilleby a 12 yard run to highlight the drive.
The Mustangs final score came on a 34 yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion carry by Arnold three minutes into the third quarter for a 54-0 lead.
The entire second half was played with a running clock.
In addition to registering their third shutout in five division games, the Medina defensive unit did not allow a first down.
Now at 7-0 overall, Medina will close out the regular season by hosting rival Albion in an interdivisional contest at 7 p.m. Friday.
Runner-up Akron, which is now 3-1 in division play, will close out its C North schedule at home on Friday against Cleveland Hill.
Medina’s Iverson Poole breaks loose up the middle for a good gain as Chris Bergman pursues for Akron.
Roy-Hart spikers cap 10-0 N-O title season
Roy-Hart scored a straight set 25-23, 25-17, 25-16 victory over Newfane this evening to complete a perfect 10-0 Niagara-Orleans League volleyball championship season.
Alex Stern had 5 kills, 2 blocks and 1 ace; Sam Albright 5 kills and 3 aces and Ava Brigham 7 kills, 4 aces and 2 blocks for Roy-Hart which won all 10 of its N-O matches in three straight sets.
In another N-O match, Akron defeated visiting Medina 25-18, 25-14, 25-15.
Amaya Cleveland and Lorelei Sanders each had 4 kills and Saige Cau 2 kills and 2 aces for Medina.
Medina tips R-H in N-O field hockey finale
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina goalie Arianna Bloom makes a save on a shot by Roy-Hart’s Sydney Rhinehart during the Mustangs win over the host Lady Rams this afternoon.
One goal proved to be just enough to earn Medina a 1-0 victory over host Roy-Hart this afternoon in the Niagara-Orleans League field hockey season finale.
Iyla Lilleby scored the Mustangs lone goal, her 20th of the season, late in the second quarter.
Arianna Bloom made seven saves to earn the shutout in goal for the Mustangs.
Medina, which finishes the N-O season at 8-4, is 11-4 overall heading into Wednesday’s non league regular season finale against Sacred Heart.
Roy-Hart finishes the N-O season at 6-6.
Barker 6, Newfane 0
Alexis Weeks scored two goals and Mia Herman, Miya Goodale, Rachel Sutter and Alexa Zglinicki each netted one to lead Barker to a 6-0 win over Newfane capping off a 9-3 N-O season for the Lady Raiders.
Akron 16, Wilson 0
Nine different players scored goals as Akron (11-0) defeated Wilson (0-11) 16-0.
Roy-Hart’s Cheyenne Stilwell drives the ball up field between Medina defenders Emma Wagner and Adeline Castricone.
Vets Park to host soccer doubleheader Tues.
Medina’s Vets Park will host an opening round sectional soccer doubleheader on Tuesday.
At 3:30 p.m. No. 7 seed Medina/Lyndonville will host No. 10 Tapestry in a Section VI Class B1 boys playoff game.
Then at 6 p.m. No. 8 Lyndonville/Medina will entertain No. 9 Greece Odyssey in a Section V Class B1 girls playoff contest.
In other schedule changes for Tuesday, No. 3 Roy-Hart will now host No. 14 Salamanca in a Section VI Class B2 boys playoff game at 4 p.m. and No. 9 Kendall will face No. 8 Bolivar-Richburg at 5 p.m. at Attica in a Section V Class C2 girls contest.
Bills honor Geno Allport as Fan of the Year
Contributed Photo – Geno Allport is congratulated by his son Tre and Albion youth football players after receiving word that he has been honored as the Buffalo Bills Fan of the Year.
Western New York to be sure has a legion of ardent Buffalo Bills fans and there is probably none more so than Albion’s Geno Allport.
He’s a fan that the Bills look at as very special as the team has selected Geno as the Buffalo Bills Fan of the Year.
“It definitely caught caught me off guard. It’s very humbling,” said Geno whose family has had Bills season tickets for nearly 50 years.
“My son Tre apparently sent in a nomination for the Buffalo Bills NFL Fan of the Year. And I was surprised by the Buffalo Bills, family and friends on Thursday night with this news,” he added.
“This to me is a Family of the Year award. Our parents got their season tickets back in 1974 (which is why 74 is on the jersey). This is about all of us,” said Geno who for many years has very active as a coach and commissioner of the Albion youth football program, a member of the Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) Executive Board and the NFL’s USA Football program for youth..
He notes that with this honor he was asked by the Bills what he was doing in February? “I said hopefully watching my team. And they told me, I was receiving 2 tickets to the Super Bowl. So, my son Tre and I will be heading out to Los Angeles in February. Hopefully our Bills will be playing and more that day!” he said.
“I’ve been very fortunate in life to be a part of great families. My Allport family, my Albion Purple Eagle football family, my Vertus (the High School in Rochester where he teaches) Warriors family and of course, our Bills family,” he added.
Soccer sectionals set to begin Tuesday
Section V and Section VI soccer playoff competition will get underway on Tuesday while the Niagara-Orleans League field hockey and volleyball seasons will both wrap up early this week.
Weekly Schedule
Monday
Football – Akron at Medina, 7 p.m.
Field Hockey – Medina at Roy-Hart, Akron at Wilson, Newfane at Barker, 4:30 p.m.
Volleyball – Medina at Akron, Roy-Hart at Newfane, Albion at Wilson, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Section VI Boys Soccer – Tapestry at Medina/Lyndonville, 3:30 p.m., Albion at Maryvale, 5 p.m.; Salamanca at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; Newfane at Alden, 5 p.m.; Akron at Fredonia, 7:20 p.m.
Section V Girls Soccer – Greece Odyssey at Lyndonville/Medina, 6 p.m. at Vets Park.; Alexander at Holley, 6 p.m.; Kendall vs. Bolivar-Richburg, 5 p.m. at Letchworth.
Field Hockey – Akron at Kenmore, 7 p.m.
Volleyball – Akron at Medina, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Section V Boys Soccer – Perry at Kendall, Holley at East Rochester, 6:30 p.m.
Section VI Girls Soccer – Depew at Albion, 3:30 p.m.; Akron at Alden, 5 p.m.; Newfane at Falconer/Cassadaga Valley, 6 p.m.
Volleyball – Newfane at Akron, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Football – Albion at Medina, Lake Shore at Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville, 7 p.m.
Medina to host Akron on Monday in key showdown for C North Division title
The division title and a high seed for the upcoming sectional playoffs will be on the line as defending champion Medina hosts Akron in a key C North Division contest at 7 p.m. Monday at Vets Park.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina quarterback Xander Payne.
Medina is 4-0 and Akron 3-0 in C North competition. The Tigers also have one more division game to play against Cleveland Hill on Friday while the Mustangs will close out the regular season by hosting rival Albion that same evening.
Akron’s offense is led by quarterback Travis Fry who has passed for 563 yards and 9 touchdowns and rushed for 343 yards and 4 TDs.
Randy Hibbard is the Tigers leading rusher with 578 yards and 9 touchdowns while Chris Bergman is the leading receiver with 18 catches for 348 yards and 6 TDs.
Medina’s offense is likewise led by quarterback Xander Payne who has passed for 946 yards and 17 touchdowns including 5 to Greg Thompson, 4 each to Joe Cecchini and Jarin Rhim, 3 to Iverson Poole and 1 to Cayden Lilleby.
The Medina ground attack has been led by Poole with 357 yards and 4 touchdowns, Noah Skinner with 355 yards and 3 TDs and Robert Arnold with 178 yards and 3 TDs.
The teams have played three common division opponents. Against Newfane Medina won 40-0 and Akron 22-21; against Wilson Medina won 44-13 and Akron 38-20 and against Tonawanda Medina won 62-0 and Akron 20-14.
The Mustangs hold a 40-17-5 lead in the all-time series with the Tigers.
C North Standings: Medina 4-0, 6-0; Akron 3-0, 5-1; Wilson 2-2, 4-3; Cleve Hill 2-2, 3-4; Newfane 1-3, 3-4; Tonawanda 0-5, 0-7
Albion scores two youth football wins
Contributed Photos – The Albion Mini squad quartet of Landyn Galligan, Matthew Schomski, Traper Croft and Heyden Almonte team up to make a tackle during Saturday’s game.
Albion took two out of three games from Newfane in Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) competition on Saturday.
Beginner Division
Newfane 15 Albion 0
Camden Holt had 79 yards rushing, Jayce Torres 12 and Harrison Froman had 9 yards for Albion.
The Albion defense was led by Holt with 11 tackles, Jayden Russo 4, Torres 4 and Liam Saporito 3.
Jonah Elsenheimer picks up yardage for the Albion JV squad.
The Beginner Eagles finish the season at 4-4.
Mini Division
Albion 14 Newfane 0
Another huge defensive game by the Mini Eagles who only allowed 49 points this year. Landyn Galligan had 14 tackles, Anthony O’Neal 10, Michael McElwain 5, Heyden Almonte 5, Traper Croft, Brycen Potter and Gavin O’Bracta 4 each.
Almonte and Galligan both had 60 yards touchdown runs. Giovanni LaMartina caught a PAT from Croft.
The Mini Eagles finish the season at 5-3.
JV Division
Albion 19 Newfane 6
Jonah Elsenheimer had a big day on offense for Albion with 120 yards passing and a touchdown and 81 yards rushing with 2 TD’s. Rocco Sidari also had a 39 yard TD reception, Jack Conn 41 yards receiving and Luke Bedford 33 yards. LJ Simmons had 40 yards rushing, Sidari 17 yards and Boe Preston 14 yards.
Chris Almonte led the defense with 12 tackles and a sack. Sidari 5 tackles, Bedford and Thailer Seibert 3 each. Stryker Sanders had a sack, Seibert a fumble recovery and Edwin Dudley had 2 pass deflections.
Albion will be the #3 seed in the playoffs and take on #2 Attica on Saturday.
Playoffs will be in Medina on the 23rd. The semifinal round Schedule will be as follows:
9 a.m Varsity – #2 Medina vs #3 Batavia
11 a.m. Varsity – #1 Newfane vs #4 Holley
1 p.m. Mini – #2 Pembroke vs #3 Attica
3 p.m. Mini – #1 Batavia vs # 4 OAE
5 p.m. JV – #2 Attica vs #3 Albion
7 p.m. JV – #1 Batavia vs #4 Pembroke
Beginner Championship on the 30th
#1 Barker RH vs #2 Medina
Mustangs to open soccer sectionals at home
No. 7 seed Medina/Lyndonville will host No. 10 Tapestry in the opening round of the Section VI Class B1 boys soccer playoffs at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The Mustangs, which defeated Tapestry 4-0 in a non league game during the regular season, bring a 10-5-1 record into the sectionals.
The winner will visit No. 2 Lew-Port in a quarterfinal contest on Thursday.
Also in Class B1, No. 13 Albion will visit No. 4 Maryvale on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
In Section VI Class B2 openers on Tuesday No. 3 Roy-Hart will host No. 14 Salamanca/Cattaraugus Little Valley at 6:30 p.m., No. 11 Newfane will visit No. 6 Alden at 5 p.m. and No. 9 Akron will visit No. 8 Fredonia at 7:30 p.m.
In Class C, No. 4 Wilson will host No. 5 Chautauqua Lake at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Section VI Girls Soccer pairings
In a Section VI Class B1 girls playoff opener, No. 7 Albion will host No. 10 Depew at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The winner will visit No. 2 East Aurora on Friday.
In Class B2 on Wednesday, No. 12 Akron visits No. 5 Alden at 5 p.m. and No. 11 Newfane travels to No. 6 Falconer/Cassadaga Valley at 6 p.m. No. 3 Roy-Hart will host the winner of the Newfane-Falconer game on Friday.
In Class C, No. 4 Wilson will host No. 5 Randolph on Friday.
Section V Boys Soccer Pairings
In a Section V Class C1 opener No. 10 Holley will visit No. 7 East Rochester at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The winner will visit No. 2 Williamson on Saturday.
In Class C2, No. 6 Kendall will host No. 11 Perry at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The winner will visit No. 3 HAC on Saturday.
Section V Girls Soccer Pairings
In a Class C1 opener No. 5 Holley will host Genesee Region League foe No. 12 Alexander at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
In Class C2 No. 9 Kendall will face No. 8 Bolivar-Richburg on Tuesday at a site to be determined. The winner will visit top seeded York on Thursday.
In Class B1, No. 8 Lyndonville/Medina will host No. 9 Greece Odyssey on Tuesday at a time to be determined. The winner will visit top seeded Palmyra-Macedon in the quarterfinals.
Maritime bests Albion to grab B North lead
Scoring in every quarter, Maritime rolled to a 38-8 victory over visiting Albion this morning to take over the B North Division lead.
Maritime is now 5-0 an Albion 4-1 in B North competition.
Maritime jumped out to a 16-0 lead in a penalty filled first half on a 6 yard touchdown run by Damion Littleton and a 31 yard TD pass from quarterback Montrice Webster to Addison Copeland.
The Falcons lead soared to 30-0 on a 10 yard TD pass from Webster to Jameer Thomas in the third quarter and a 5 yard scoring run by Marques Miller in the final period.
Albion’s lone touchdown came on a 48 yard pass from quarterback Amari Jones to Javon Jones with 8:15 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons though answered right back with a short TD run by Nyjuan Littlejohn and a two-point conversion to boost the advantage to 38-8.
The Purple Eagles defense had two turnovers, a pass interception by Javon Jones and a fumble recovery by Ellwood Hafner.
Maritime will close out the regular season with a B North game at Lew-Port and Albion will wind up with an interdivisional game at rival Medina, both Friday evening.
