Warriors down Mustangs for Class C title

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Noah Cudzilo pushes away Salamanca defender Kyle Lecceardone during the Mustangs Class C title loss to the Warriors at Highmark Stadium this afternoon.

A big second half scoring surge powered Salamanca to a 36-23 victory over Medina in the Section VI Class C championship game this afternoon at Highmark Stadium.

Trailing by two, 16-14, at the half, Salamanca outscored Medina 22-7 in the second half to advance to the state playoffs as two of the Warriors touchdowns during that decisive uprising came after failed Medina fourth down gambles in Mustangs territory.

After a sea-saw first half, Salamanca regained the lead for good at 17-16 on a 25 yard field goal by Arien Newark just 2:17 into the third quarter.

The Warriors then got the ball right back in excellent field position as Cory Holleran intercepted a Mustangs fourth down pass attempt at the Medina 28.

Medina’s Kole Campbell is tackled by Salamanca’s Warrick Kyler (60) and Maddox Isaac (11) after making a first quarter interception.

It took just one play for the Warriors offense to capitalize as Maddox Isaac threw a 28 yard touchdown pass to Lucus Brown to up the Salamanca lead to 23-16 with 7:56 to go in the third period.

The Salamanca lead soared to 30-16 before the quarter ended as Jaxon Ross scored on a 4 yard TD run and Newark tacked on the extra point kick.

Medina though quickly came battling back as quarterback Julian Woodworth hooked up with Kaedon Cleveland for big pass completions of 28 and 31 yards and Christian Moss capped off the drive with a 3 yard TD run with 20 seconds to go in the high scoring quarter. Callard added the extra point kick to cut the deficit to 30-23.

However, the Mustangs could get no closer.

Salamanca put a lock on the victory when Ross hooked up with Brown for a 49 yard touchdown pass play with 8:55 to go in the fourth quarter upping the Warriors lead to 36-23.

The clinching TD pass came on the first snap after Medina had failed on a fourth down gamble at the Mustangs 49 yard line.

“Hats off to Salamanca. They had a heck of a game plan,” said Medina Coach Eric Valley. “They got some big chuck plays on us offensively and wore us down a bit in the second half.”

The sea-saw first half saw four lead changes and finished with Medina holding a slender 16-14 lead on a 26 yard field goal by Callard with just 5 seconds to go. A 21 yard run by Moss and a 14 yard Woodworth to Cleveland pass completion set up that scoring opportunity.

Medina also got on the scoreboard first as Woodworth scored on a 1 yard run with 2:06 remaining in the opening quarter but the extra point attempt failed. Runs of 18 yards by Moss and of 16 and 11 by Noah Cudzilo keyed that drive.

An interception by Kole Campbell at the Medina 31, which stopped Salamanca’s first drive, sparked the Mustangs scoring drive.

The Medina lead though lasted just 18 seconds as on Salamanca’s first snap Isaac connected with Zachary Trietley for a 61 yard TD pass play. Newark added the PAT kick to put the Warriors up 7-6.

It marked the first time all season that the Mustangs had trailed.

Medina regained the lead at 13-7 on a 17 yard Woodworth to Cudzilo TD pass and a Callard PAT kick with 8:47 to go in the second quarter. A 17 yard pass from Woodworth to Brody Fry and a 16 yard run by Moss highlighted the drive.

The sea-saw battle continued as Salamanca regained a 14-13 lead six minutes later on an 11 yard TD run by Isaac and a PAT kick by Newark.

The Mustangs regained the lead for what proved to be the last time at 16-14 just before the half on Callard’s field goal.

However, Medina could not keep the momentum in the second half as Salamanca rallied with a big 22-7 scoring edge to claim a second VI title for the first time since 2001.

The Warriors advance to next weekend’s Far West Regional with a 9-2 record.

Medina, which was making its second Highmark Stadium title game appearance in three years, finishes at 10-1.

Medina’s Christian Moss breaks through the line as Salamanca’s Kyle Lecceardone (13) and Carmine Hoag (4) attempt to make the tackle.