OC Rivals, Bulls prep for sectional finals by attending Media Day at U.B. Stadium

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – OC Rivals players at today’s Media Day at the University at Buffalo Stadium. In front are Matthew Jacobs and Jackson Snook. In back are Elijah Doxey, Preston Woodworth and Noah Harrison.

Checking out the new venue, players from the 10 competing teams took part in Media Day at the University at Buffalo Stadium this afternoon in preparation for the Section VI football championship games on Thursday and Friday.

It marks the first time since the sectionals began in 1979 that the playoffs were not held at Highmark Stadium (formerly Rich Stadium and then Ralph Wilson Stadium).

The OC Rivals will play in the Class B championship game at 5 p.m. Friday against West Seneca East. The Barker/Roy-Hart Bulls will compete in the Class C title contest at 2 p.m. Friday against Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton.

The Rivals were represented by seniors Preston Woodworth, Jackson Snook, Elijah Doxey, Noah Harrison and Matthew Jacobs.

The Barker/Roy-Hart players included Carter DerSarkissian, RJ. Townsend, Ashton Ark, Jakob West and Logan Flint.

“It means everything” said Woodworth of the chance to play for a sectional title. “We want it really bad. Especially for some of the Albion guys who haven’t been too successful the last couple of year it means a lot to them. And also for us Medina kids not having experienced what the sectional championship is like. It’s definitely a cool experience. We’re ready.”

“We’ve meshed,” said Snook of the very successful and impressive way the fledgling merged Albion/Medina team has come together to earn a share of the B1 Division title and advance to the sectional finals. “We’ve all become very trustworthy of the guys on the team.”

“It means a lot,” said Snook who along with many of his Rivals teammates struggled through a couple of long seasons the past two years at Albion. “We went 0-8 my sophomore year and 1-7 my junior year so going 9-1 this season that’s a crazy turn around. Now to win a sectional title my senior year that would be pretty good.”

The contest will be a rematch of the regular season game which saw West Seneca East nip a penalty plagued OC Rivals team by one point 35-34.

“We had like 150 yards in penalties that game and I think that was one of the biggest reasons we lost the game,” said Snook of the Rivals lone loss.

“We’re playing as a family,” said DerSarkissian. “This means everything to be at this stadium, to experience it is awesome. We just have to play with emotion and not be emotional. It is our get back game,” he added noting that the Bulls lost to Chautauqua Lake in last year’s sectional semifinal.

The Niagara-Orleans League will also be represented on Thursday as Newfane will play for the Class D title at 5 p.m. against Randolph.

The Barker/Roy-Hart players include, from left, Ashton Ark, Carter DerSarkissian, RJ Townsend, Jakob West and Logan Flint.