Mustangs to host Steelers in must win contest; It’s Homecoming for Purple Eagles and Hawks

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Nate Moore, left, and Medina/Lyndonville’s Brian Fry and their teammates will have home games on Friday night. The Mustangs will host Lackawanna in a key B-3 Division game while the Purple Eagles will entertain Roy-Hart/Barker in an interdivisional Homecoming contest.

Now facing an up hill battle to stay in the division title race, Medina/Lyndonville hosts unbeaten front-runner Lackawanna in a key B-3 game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Vets Park.

Lackawanna took over sole possession of first place at 2-0 (3-0 overall) by defeating Alden 24-7 last week in a key clash of unbeatens  while Medina/Lyndonville was upended by Newfane 34-6.

That loss dropped Medina/Lyndonville to 1-1 (2-1 overall) and into a log jam of four one loss B-3 teams which includes Alden (2-1, 2-1), Newfane (1-1, 2-1) and Roy-Hart /Barker (1-1, 1-2).

Lackawanna, which had downed Newfane 22-6 in the season opener, was sparked offensively against Alden by Khalil Norton who rushed for two touchdowns and London Smith who returned a punt 70 yards for one TD and caught a pass from quarterback Noble Smith for another score.  The Steelers defense forced three Bulldog turnovers.

Lackawanna holds a 6-3 lead in the series with Medina/Lyndonville. The teams split a pair of meetings last year as the Mustangs won 48-6 during the regular season while the Steelers claimed a 16-8 victory in the sectional quarterfinals.

Undefeated  Albion will host Roy-Hart/Barker in a non league Homecoming game at 7 p.m. Friday.

Albion improved to 3-0 with a 20-12 win over Fredonia/Wetfield/Brocton last Friday while Roy-Hart/Barker snapped a season opening two game losing streak with a 28-20 victory over Tonawanda.

Quarterback Charlie Bruning ran for two touchdowns and passed to Malik Smith for another score to lead Roy-hart/Barker past the Warriors. Smith also had an interception return for a TD.

The Albion offense has been led by quarterback Bryce Pritchard, who has hooked up with Nate Moore for 3 touchdown passes, and Ugene Harrison who has rushed for 6 touchdowns, two in each of the Purple Eagles first three games..

Albion holds a 3-1 lead in the short series against Roy-Hart/Barker including a 30-13 win in the last meeting in 2015.

Holley will host Notre Dame for Homecoming at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in a Livingston County League contest.

Both teams are looking to rebound from lopsided losses last week, Holley 44-6 to Alexander and Notre Dame 48-6 to Pembroke.

The Hawks are 0-3 and the Irish 1-2.

Holley won last year’s meeting 3-0 in overtime to snap a five game losing streak to Notre Dame which holds an 11-3 lead in the series.

B-3 Division Standings: Lackawanna 2-0, 3-0; Alden 2-1, 2-1; Newfane 1-1, 2-1; Medina 1-1, 2-1; Roy-Hart/Barker 1-1, 1-2; Tonawanda 0-3, 0-3.