Mustangs look to keep rolling; Purple Eagles look to halt skid

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The offense and defensive units have both come up big to open the season for Medina which next hosts Cleveland Hill on Friday. Quarterback Xander Payne, shown at left passing behind the blocks of Mitchell Silversmith (76) and Zach Oliver (51) has led the offense. At right Chris Johnson (52) and Oliver team up to make a tackle on Akron quarterback Adam Mietz during last week’s game for the defense which has allowed only one score.

Medina will be looking to extend a winning streak and Albion to halt a losing skid as the Mustangs and Purple Eagles both host divisional foes at 7 p.m. Friday.

Medina, which is off to a 2-0 start in its C North Division debut season, will host Cleveland Hill while Albion, which is 0-2 in Class B competition, will entertain Dunkirk.

Normally by the third game of the season teams have a good scouting report on the opposition but that is not the case this weekend for Medina as Cleve Hill will be playing its first game. The Eagles had to sit out the first two weeks of the season on a Covid-19 related pause.

This will be just the second meeting between the teams as the Eagles nipped the Mustangs 8-6 in that earlier encounter in 2016.

Quarterback Xander Payne has led the Mustangs offense in the early going throwing seven touchdown passes including four to Tyler Chinn, two to Brian Fry and one to Joe Cecchini. Fry leads the team in both rushing with 213 yards and receiving with 13 catch s for 179 yards.

The Mustangs defensive unit has been equally productive allowing just one touchdown to date. Noah Skinner has 11 tackles, Fry 10, Cecchini 6 and Robert Arnold 5 to lead that balanced unit.

Albion will be hosting a Dunkirk squad which is likewise off to an 0-2 start as the Marauders have dropped narrow decisions of 20-14 to Maryvale and 14-8 to Olean.

The Marauders hold a 4-0 lead in the all time series with the Purple Eagles. The most recent were a pair of 2017 meetings when Dunkirk won 18-15 during the regular season and 25-7 in the playoffs.

The other C North Division games this week will have Wilson hosting rival Newfane this evening and Akron hosting Tonawanda on Friday. Newfane is also scheduled to makeup its game against Tonawanda next Tuesday.

The other B2 Division games Friday will have Maryvale at Lake Shore and Olean at Depew.

Standings

C North Division: Medina 2-0, 2-0; Tonawanda 1-0, 2-0; Cleve Hill 0-0, 0-0; Akron 0-1, 1-1; Newfane 0-1, 0-1; Wilson 0-1, 0-2.

B2 Division: Depew 2-0, 2-0; Maritime 2-0, 2-0; Olean 1-1, 1-1; Maryvale 1-1, 1-1; Lake Shore 0-1, 1-1; Albion 0-1, 0-2; Dunkirk 0-2, 0-2.