BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sidelines is a weekly feature for WGRZ which includes a mixture of information concerning players, coaches and teams.
Best Chain Gang: Grand Island
Stat Updates
Garrett Stock, Newfane, has rushed for 589 yards and 6 touchdowns while Jayden Heers, Newfane, has rushed for 493 yards and 8 touchdowns. They are known as the “Panthers Dynamic Duo.”
Jack Sharpe, Orchard Park SR QB, has completed 80 of 117 passes for 1012 yard and 16 touchdowns to lead the Quakers to a 4-0 record.
Mykell Hepburn, South Park JR QB, has completed 52 of 74 passes for 1050 yards and 11 touchdowns to lead the Sparks to a 4-0 record.
Marquan Fluitt, South Park DE has recorded 10 sacks in the first 4 games to lead the Sparks defense.
Jake Ritts, St. Francis JR QB, has passed for 1173 yards and 13 touchdowns to lead the Red Raiders to a 3-1 record.
Zac Boyes, Kenmore West SR QB, has passed for 516 yards and 6 touchdowns while rushing for 141 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Jake Skinner, Fredonia SR LB, has recorded 41 tackles in 4 games include 21 TFL.
Marquan Fluitt, South Park SR DE, has recorded 34 tackles and 10 sacks in 4 games.
Cooper Pannes, Southwestern SR lineman, has recorded 27 tackles this season.
Winless Teams: Hutch-Tech, Lockport, Williamsville East, Kenmore East, Springville, Burgard, Roy-Hart, Falconer/CV, Gowanda, Timon/St. Jude, Cardinal O’Hara, St. Mary’s
Suggestion: Mike Masters, long time football coach and founder and president of Cross Training Athletics should be inducted into the 2020 Section VI Hall of Fame. What he has done with Cross Training Football and Cross Training Athletics has had a tremendous and positive experience for players, coaches, students, teachers and parents.
Starpoint had very limited rushing yards against Sweet home. Turnovers hurt both teams in their game.
Congratulations to Casey Kacz, former Sweet Home All-WNY and All-State player who led the Panthers to a state championship for being inducted into the Sweet Home Hall of Fame. John Faller, Sweet Home legend, was also inducted.
The Hind brothers scored 4 touchdowns in the Cardinals win this week.
Most Tackles: Jake Skinner, Jake Dean, Michael Pataky
Unbeaten Teams: Orchard Park, Kenmore West, McKinley, South Park, Albion, Wilson, Southwestern, Franklinville/Ellicottville
The Jim Kelly Underclassmen of the week are Jake Ritts from St. Francis and Tyrell Laws from Sweet Home.
Timon/St. Jude are 0-4 and opponents have outscored the Tigers 158 to 31.
Wilson opened their new turf field with a win over previously unbeaten Akron.
Jake Sisson, former Jamestown All-State player, played professional football in Serbia but returned to Jamestown. He is a mentor and teach for QB Trey Drake.
Logan Klice, Allegany-Limestone RB has the nickname “L-Train.”
St. Joe’s lost 42-0 to LaSalle in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is ranked 67th nationally and 8th state wide. The Marauders in the second half only had possession for 3 minutes and 35 seconds.
Adam Mietz, Akron JR QB, was hurt in the first play of the Tigers game with Wilson.
Top Offenses Through Week 4
South Park – 200 points
Orchard Park – 190 points
Southwestern – 173 points
St. Francis – 158 points
Sweet Home – 138 points
Starpoint – 138 points
Iroquois – 124 points
Kenmore West – 121 points
Albion – 120 points
Canisius – 117 points
Jamestown – 116 points
The Sparks are averaging 50 points a game while Orchard Park is averaging 47 points.
Top Defenses (Points Allowed)
Southwestern 16
McKinley 18
Wilson 18
Akron 26
Kenmore West 28
Franklinville/Ellicottville 32
Top Freshmen: Trey Drake, Jamestown & Camren Warburton, Cheektowaga
Top Sophomores:
Carson Marcus, Starpoint
Isaiah Simmons, West Seneca West
Trey Kleitz, Iroquois
Top Junior: Jake Ritts, St. Francis
Top Seniors:
PJ Burns, Depew
Nick O’Neill, Amherst
Jamel Lucas, Sweet Home
Shutouts: Albion, Canisius, CSP, Dunkirk, East Aurora/Holland, Niagara Falls, Orchard Park, Southwestern
We wish the best for Jehuu Caulcrick, Southwestern head coach, who will be coaching his last game for the Trojans when they face Lackawanna in week 5 before he relocates to Michigan. He has had an outstanding career in high school at Clymer, college at Michigan State, playing for 4 teams in the NFL and coaching the Trojans.
Cardinal O’Hara forfeited their game with Binghamton in week 4. The Hawks are having problems fielding a team this season and the future is very questionable.
Playoff Forecast After Week 4
Class AA: Orchard Park, Jamestown, Lancaster, Clarence and Bennett will vie for the semi-final sectional matchups.
Class A-1: McKinley, West Seneca West, Kenmore West, Williamsville North and Hamburg will vie for the 4 playoff berths.
Class A-2: South Park, Sweet Home, Starpoint should be locks for playoff berths. The final slot will either be West Seneca East, Williamsville South or Grand Island.
Class B-1: Cheektowaga and Pioneer will both make the playoffs.
Class B-2: WNY Maritime and Iroquois will both make the playoffs.
Class B-3: Albion and either Olean or Lackawanna will make the playoffs.
Class B-4: Newfane and Tonawanda will make the playoffs.
Class C North: Wilson, Akron, JFK, Silver Creek or Cleveland Hill will make the playoffs.
Class C South: Southwestern, Portville, Allegany-Limestone, Chautauqua Lake or Fredonia will make the playoffs.
Class D: Franklinville/Ellicottville and Clymer/Sherman/Panama should play in the Class D sectional championship in November at New Era Field.
Dick Gallagher’s Top Games Week 5
Bennett at Lancaster
Starpoint at South Park
Lackawanna at Southwestern
St. Joe’s at St. Francis
Olean at Albion
St. Joe's at St. Francis game on Saturday, October 5th is now at 7pm.
JV Highlights
The JV football Warriors improved their record to 2-1 on the season with a 26-14 win over Pioneer on Saturday. The Warriors played an all around great game limiting Pioneer's offense and dominating on defense. The offensive line of Coby Toy, Markeith Mingo, Jamell Bishop, Jeff Ngyuyen and Jamario Winston led the way as the Warriors rushed for over 300 yards on the day. Jalen Henlon rushed for a total of 293 yards and 3 touchdowns to pace the offense. Jeff Ngyuyen also added an interception for the defense. The team face Grand Island on Thursday night with a 7pm start.
Character Awards
The honorees are selected for setting positive examples in speech, conduct, love, faith and integrity of the game
Tom Callen, Allegany-Limestone
Demonte Minter, Burgard
Jason Young, Cattaraugus/LV
Connor Cooper, CSP
Matt Russo, Depew
Josh Rice, Eden
Aaron Barlow, Gowanda
Patrick Gerbec, Kenmore West
Josh Everett, Newfane
Nick Pantuso, Olean
Zach Scime, Springville
Ethan Dalton, Williamsville