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Purple Eagles romp past Wildcats
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Brilliance Johnson looks to find a hole through a bevy of Depew defenders during the Purple Eagles Homecoming victory this evening.
A big three touchdown second quarter scoring burst keyed Albion to a 35-0 B2 Division Homecoming victory over Depew this evening.
The victory keeps Albion undefeated at 3-0 in the division and 4-0 overall and combined with Olean’s 14-13 overtime win over Medina/Lyndonville/Barker gives the Purple Eagles sole possession of the division lead.
A 6 yard touchdown run by Deyonci Farley just 53 seconds into the second quarter, which capped a 14 play, 78 yard drive, ignited that decisive uprising. A 17 yard run by quarterback Bryce Pritchard highlighted that marathon drive as Alex Rustay tacked on the first of his five extra point kicks.
The Purple Eagles made it 14-0 on a 6 yard touchdown run by Brilliance Johnson with 2:50 remaining in the quarter, a tally set up by Donamic Farley’s interception and return to the Depew 10 yard line.
The advantage jumped to 21-0 on a 40 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Thomas Furmanski to Nate Moore with just 30 seconds remaining in the half.
Moore also had a big 39 yard pass reception to the Depew 29 earlier in the quarter but a Wildcat interception at the goal line wiped out that opportunity. However, the Purple Eagles got the ball right back two plays later on Donamic Farley’s interception which set up the TD that broke the contest wide open.
Pritchard and Johnson both had 1 yard touchdown runs in the second half to round out the Purple Eagles scoring.
The loss drops Depew to 0-4.
Albion’s Deyonci Farley finds a big hole to pick up good yardage.
Albion’s Donamic Farley registers a sack of Depew quarterback Joe Pagano.
Huskies nip Mustangs in overtime thriller
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Zach Johnson hauls in a pass completion for the Mustangs as Huskies defender Icar Simon holds on. The action took place during the Mustangs overtime loss to the Huskies this evening at Vets Park.
Olean stayed alive in the B2 Division title race by edging past Medina/Lyndonville/Barker 14-13 in overtime this evening at Vets Park spoiling the Mustangs Homecoming celebration.
The Mustangs did take a 13-7 lead at the outset of the overtime period as quarterback Isaiah Rhim, with several Huskies tacklers grabbing on to him, connected with Rickie Pitts for a 16 yard touchdown pass. However, the attempt for the all important extra point kick was blocked.
Olean answered right back with a 1 yard touchdown run by Icar Simon to tie the game. The Huskies then claimed the victory as Max Linderman kicked the deciding extra point.
The victory boosts Olean’s B2 record to 3-1 while Medina/Lyndonville/Barker slips to 2-1.
The contest went into overtime when Olean missed a 30 yard field goal attempt on the final play of the fourth quarter.
The Mustangs defensive unit came up big three times in the second half stopping Huskies drives at the Mustangs 9, 5 and 13 yard lines. Justice Hughes had a big fourth down sack to stop the middle threat while the final one ended with the missed field goal.
The Huskies jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead on a 9 yard touchdown run by Alex Weakfall and an extra point kick by Linderman.
The Mustangs pulled even in the second quarter on a 6 yard touchdown pass from Rhim to Brian Fry and an extra point kick by Matt Hess.
An interception by Pitts at the Olean 22 set up that opportunity and Rhim hooked up with Zach Johnson for a 16 yard pass completion on the first snap setting the stage for the short TD pass play.
The Mustangs again drove deep into Huskies territory late in the second quarter as Rhim hooked up with Tyler Chinn for a 17 yard pickup and with Pitts for a 9 yard again.
However, a penalty wiped out a touchdown on the final play of the half.
The Mustangs were unable to mount a good offensive threat in the second half but the three big stops by the defense kept the Huskies off the scoreboard and set the stage for the decisive overtime period.
Mustangs running back William Braswell over over the tackle attempt of Alex Weakfall and Icar Simon.
Mustangs defender Justice Hughes celebrates a fourth quarter fourth down sack of Huskies quarterback Alex Weakfall.
Medina football changes game time
The start time of this evening’s Olean at Medina varsity football game at Vets Park has been pushed back until 8 p.m. because of the threat of bad weather Athletic Director Eric Valley reports.
The Depew at Albion game is still scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Purple Eagles prepping for X-C opener
Photo by Mike Wertman – Leading the way for the Albion cross-country teams heading into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League season is this group of runners. In front are Josh DePoty, Reuben Rivers, Rowan Ford and Jayden Allport. In back are Malory Adams, Alanna Holman, Madison Narburgh, Emma Mathes, Alexa Adams and Avery Gaines.
Albion is prepping for this coming week’s Niagara-Orleans League cross-county opener with a veteran girls team and a youthful boys squad.
“We have almost everyone back on the girls team but our boys team is very young,” said Coach Mark Hryvniak
Sophomore Alanna Holman, who earned first team All-League honors last fall with a third place finish at the All-League meet, heads the veteran Albion girls squad which also includes seniors Malory Adams, Alexa Adams, Madison Narburgh and Emma Mathes along with sophomore Avery Gaines. Mathes earned second team All-League honors.
The youthful Purple Eagles boys squad is led by sophomore Josh DePoty and freshmen Reuben Rivers, Rowan Ford and Jayden Allport.
Albion opens the N-O season on Tuesday at Akron.
Hickory Ridge crowns league champs
The Women’s Late League at Hickory Ridge crowned their champions at their banquet this past week. Deb Wood and Jan Palmer led the way with 117 points.
Aleta Martin and Diane Hennekey followed with 110.5 points narrowly beating out Linda Chrzan and Laurie Freeman who had 110 points. Cheryl Ferguson and Vicki Brawn held down fourth with 105.5 points and Dona Hazen and Karen Berlew rounded out the top five with 102.5 points.
The Thursday Men’s Traveling League had a bit of a shake up in the final top five. Dave Fisher and Tom Hennekey ended the season with 286 points. Wes Bedford and Zach Burgess had a big push the last week of the season but came up just short to grab second with 284 points.
Pete Kaiser and Steve Tipton were in third with 280 points. Guy Eaton and Scooter Burgess took fourth with 274 points and Mike Church and Josh Carpenter ended in fifth with a score of 266.
Irish spikers down Lady Tigers
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Carlie Russo spikes a return during the host Lady Tigers 25-10, 25-13, 25-21 Genesee Region League loss to Notre Dame this evening. Also shown for the Lady Tigers are Natalie Ostrowski and Hannah Despard. Russo had 4 kills on the evening, Despard 16 digs and Ostrowski 8 digs and 9 assists. Alecia Hinkson added 6 kills and 9 digs for the Lady Tigers. In another G-R match, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba downed Holley 25-15, 25-21, 25-27, 22-25, 25-20 as Brianna Smith had 12 kills, 6 aces and 2 blocks and Emily Hollabaugh 3 aces and 2 kills. Nicole Mrzywka had 5 kills, 4 aces and 8 blocks for Holley as Jade Hoffarth had 7 aces and 3 kills and AJ Botello 5 aces. Byron-Bergen also bested Kendall 25-17, 25-9, 25-17 as Madison Farnsworth had 10 kills and 7 aces and Hannah VanSkiver 6 kills and 5 aces. Jenna Regan had 7 kills for Kendall.
Roy-Hart booters down Kendall
Roy-Hart bested host Kendall 5-1 in a non league boys soccer game this evening.
Aidan Bligh had the three goal hat-trick to lead the way for Roy-Hart which also got goals from Jacob Higgins and Noah Hardy.
Brian Gonzalez scored the Kendall goal off an assist from Dawson Custer.
In a Genesee Region League game, Byron-Bergen/Elba blanked host Holley 2-0 as Wade Thompson had a goal and an assist.
Barker tops R-H to share field hockey lead
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker goalie Paige Sandolfini comes out to stop Roy-Hart’s Abby Ander and Ashley Hill from getting a shot on goal as as Barker defenders Eri Costello and Lena Fazzolari move in. The action took place during the Lady Raiders key win over the host Lady Rams this afternoon.
Gaining a share of first place, Barker handed Roy-Hart its first loss of the league season by a narrow score of 2-1 in a key Niagara-Orleans field hockey game this afternoon at Middleport.
The victory pulls Barker into a tie with Roy-Hart for first place at 5-1 at the halfway point of the N-O campaign.
Barker got off to a lightning quick start as both the the Lady Raiders goals came in the first seven minutes. Ciara Gregoire scored a goal just 2:17 in and Katrina Clare followed up with a tally just 2:13 later.
However, Roy-Hart got right back in the game when Miah Glena scored 11 minutes into the second half off an assist from Lexie Lovewell.
The Lady Rams then made a furious attack on the Barker goal in the final two minutes but could not net the equalizer as Lady Raiders goalie Paige Sandolfini and her defensive teammates turned back the challenge.
Roy-Hart’s Miah Glena looks to dodge around Barker’s Lena Fazzolari.
Barker’s Ella Fox works to get the ball out of the Lady Raiders end of the field as Roy-Hart’s Danielle Kozma moves in.
Medina wins 4th straight field hockey game
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Sarah Cochrane advances the ball up field against Wilson defender Kaylie Kress during the Mustangs win at Vets Park this afternoon.
Exploding for two lighting quick goals in the first three and a half minutes, Medina went on to blank visiting Wilson 4-0 this afternoon in a Niagara-Orleans League field hockey game at Vets Park.
Guin Schalck scored just 1:46 into the game and Libby Cook followed up with a tally just two minutes later at 26:29 to put the Mustangs in control.
Mary Flores upped the Medina lead to 3-0 with a goal late in the opening half.
Schalck also netted the Mustangs lone second half goal.
Alissa Blount and Tessa Pecoraro shared in earning the shutout in goal for the Mustangs.
Making it four wins in a row after an 0-2 start, the Mustangs are now 4-2 at the halfway point of the N-O season and just a game out of first place while the Lakewomen slip to 2-4.
Purple Eagles, Mustangs to host B2 Division games for Homecoming
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Isaiah Callicutt, left, and Medina’s Brian Fry, right, and their Purple Eagles and Mustangs teammates will host B2 Division Homecoming games on Friday evening.
It is Homecoming week at both Albion and Medina and on the football field Friday night the Purple Eagles will host Depew (7 p.m.) and the Mustangs will entertain Olean (7:30 p.m.) in B2 Division games.
On Saturday, Roy-Hart will visit Cleve Hill at 2 p.m. in a C North Division game and Holley will travel to CG Finney for an 8 man contest at 4 p.m.
Albion has opened the season with three straight high scoring victories including 37-7 over Olean and 43-8 over Lackawanna in B2 action and 39-12 over Burgard in an interdivisional contest.
Quarterback Bryce Pritchard leads the Albion offense which has gotten rushing touchdowns from seven different players including 4 by Ugene Harrison, 3 by Pritchard and 2 by Brilliance Johnson. Pritchard has also thrown 3 touchdown passes including 2 to Nate Moore and 1 to Kevin Hillman.
Depew brings an 0-3 B2 record into the contest including narrow losses of 14-12 to Medina/Lyndonvile/Barker and 20-19 to Lackawanna as well as a 39-29 setback at the hands of Olean.
The Purple Eagles hold an 11-9 lead in the all-time series against the Wildcats including a 28-7 victory last year which snapped a five game Depew win streak in the series.
Medina/Lyndoville/Barker, which is also off to a 3-0 start, opened the season with a pair of narrow B2 wins, 14-12 over Depew and 28-24 over Springville, before besting Lew-Port 28-13 last week in an interdivisional contest.
Quarterback Isaiah Rhim has accounted for 9 of the Mustangs 10 touchdowns including 5 rushing and 4 passing.
Olean has rebounded from the 37-7 opening week loss to Albion to defeat Depew 39-29 and Springville 42-14.
The return of senior quarterback Alex Weakfall, who did not play against Albion, has been a big part of the Huskies surge. He had rushing touchdowns of 58, 53 and 60 yards and an 80 yard kickoff return for a TD against Springville and three rushing TDs against Depew including a 77 yard carry.
The Huskies hold a 2-1 lead in the short series against the Mustangs including a 17-6 Consolation Bowl win last year.
Roy-Hart will be looking to snap a season opening three game losing streak at Cleve Hill which is 2-0 in the C North Division and 2-1 overall.
Holley is looking to keep the momentum from last weekend’a wild 58-52 8 man football debut victory over Marcus Whitman when the Hawks visit GC Finney which lost to Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 46-30 in the opener.
Jacob Affronti scored 4 touchdowns, Cody Tanis 2 and Jamel Hildreth and Dalton Moyer 1 each for the Hawks in the win over Marcus Whitman.
