Mustangs to visit Warriors in C North finale

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Corey Saj and his Mustang teammates willl visit Tonawanda Thursday in the C North Division finale.

Looking to both close out an undefeated C North Division title campaign and lock up a high Section VI  playoff berth Medina will visit Tonawanda at 7 p.m. Thursday in the regular season finale.

Medina brings a 3-0  division and overall record into the finale while Tonawanda is 1-1 in the division and 2-1 overall.

Tonawanda’s three previous outings have all been close, low scoring affairs as the Warriors have defeated Wilson 9-6 and Starpoint 7-0 and lost to Cleveland Hill 12-6.

“They have a very scrappy defense,” said Medina Coach Eric Valley.

The Warriors hold a 9-7 lead in the all-time series with Medina but the Mustangs won the last meeting by a 26-15 margin in 2017.

Medina’s air oriented offense has been led by junior quarterback Xander Payne who has thrown for 12 touchdowns including five to Tyler Chinn, three to Brian Fry, two to Joe Cecchini and one each to Iverson Poole and Corey Saj,

Defensively the Mustangs have given up only seven points in three games.

In the all important statistic which will determine the seeding order for the sectionals, Medina enters the game deadlocked with C South Division co-leader Clymer/Sherman/Panama (CSP) with 60 power points. Southwestern, which is tied with CSP for the South Division lead at 3-0, is close behind at 59 points while C Central leader Eden/North Collins has 55.

Interestingly, Medina and CSP are also tied  for the fewest points allowed (7) which is the first tie breaker in case the two teams finish with the same number of power points.

CSP will close out the season against 3-1 Fredonia on Saturday while Southwestern faces Cassadaga Valley/Falconer (0-3, 1-3) and Eden/North Collins (4-0)  hosts JFK (1-1, 1-2) on Friday.

The remaining C North Division games will have Newfane (0-2) at Cleve Hill (1-1) and Akron (0-1, 3-1) at Wilson (1-1, 2-2) on Saturday.

C North Standings: Medina 3-0, 3-0; Akron 1-1, 3-1; Tonawanda 1-1, 2-1; Wilson 1-1, 2-2; Cleveland Hill 1-1, 1-1; Newfane 0-2, 0-2