Underclassmen to play key roles for Mustangs

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 August 2019 at 10:12 am

Photo by Mike Wertman – Anchoring the lineup for the Medina/Lyndonville/Barker football team is this group of veterans. In front are Donovan Alexander, Andrew Saunders, Riley Black, Lincoln Pace and David Wiley. In back are Brian Fry, Emmanuel Taylor, David Class, Bobby Geiger, Cam Babcock, Tyler Chinn and Hunter Calen.

Having graduated no less than seven starters, the Medina/Lyndonville/Barker football team is looking to fill a number of key holes with a large but underclassmen dominated squad.

The returning starting quartet of junior wide receivers Brian Fry and Tyler Chinn along with senior running back Bobby Geiger and senior lineman Lincoln Pace head the Mustangs returning contingent which also includes seniors Donovan Alexander (TE), Riley Black (OL), David Wiley (WR), David Class (OL), Cam Babcock (OL), Hunter Calen (RB, junior Andrew Saunders (OL). and sophomore Emmanuel Taylor (RB).

“We’re still pretty young and we don’t have a lot of seniors with a ton of experience,” said Coach Eric Valley whose squad has good experience at the skill positions but is thin on experience on the line. “We’ve got some athletic kids and we’re looking to play fast. The keys will be we have to jell up front and get some game experience.”

Sophomore Jalin Rhim looks to take over the key quarterback spot from his brother Izaiah who graduated in June after guiding the Mustangs offense for three years.

Senior Chris Goyette, a baseball pitcher who played volleyball the past two years, is also working out at quarterback. Fry also saw some action at quarterback last season.

An interesting addition to the squad is senior Nate Sherman, who is a starter on the Medina/Lyndonville soccer team, but is also trying out as a placekicker under the league’s new dual participation rule.

The Mustangs roster also includes freshman Chris Johnson (OL); sophomore Joe Cecchini (WR); juniors Dante Rhim (WR), Rodney Davis (RB), Robert Morehouse (OL), Connor McNeil (OL), Zach Blount (WR), Tasker Taylor (Kicker), Austin Meacham (WR), Michael Bitsas (OL), Matt Nichols (OL)  and Mitchell Silversmithn (OL) along with seniors  Jon Sims (WR), Nathan Neace (WR), Stephen Tagg (WR), and Caleb Cudzilo (WR) a transfer studemt.

In addition to Izaiah Rhim the Mustangs other graduation losses included Blaire Prest (OL), Tim Roy (OL), William Braswell (RB), Chaise Prest (LB), Rickie Pitts (DB), Matt Hess (K) and Zach Johnson (WR). Rhim, Blaire Prest, Chaise Prest and Hess were all first team division All-Stars.

The Mustangs, which went 2-3 in the division and 4-5 overall last year will open the season with an interdivisional game at Lew-Port on September 6.

This season the Mustangs will be competing in the B2 Division along with Iroquois, Maryvale, Dunkirk and Maritime/Health Sciences.

The Mustangs will tuneup for the season by hosting a seven team scrimmage on Saturday which will include Albion, Roy-Hart, Newfane, Wilson, LeRoy and Batavia.

Schedule
September: 6 – at Lew-Port, 7 p.m.; 13 – Iroquois, 7 p.m.; 20 – at Maryvale, 7 p.m.; 27 – Dunkirk, 7 p.m.
October: Maritime/Health Science, 7:30 p.m.; 11 – at Akron, 7 p.m.; 18 – at Albion, 7 p.m.