Prep Talk

Review blog from Far West Regionals - Class B

Review live blog from Class B sectional final

PrepTalkTV's Plays of the Weekend for Week Five

Here are the Plays of the Weekend for Week Five of high school football.

Watch video highlights below and vote in the poll:

1. Patterson Off To The Races: Alden's Justin Patterson left defenders in his path as he ran 76 yards on this touchdown run in Alden's 14-13 win over Depew in a battle of unbeatens.

2. Kelly Krunch: It isn't very often Chad Kelly gets sacked, but St. Francis' Joseph Smith delivered the quarterback quite the blow on this play. St. Joe's defeated St. Francis 27-20.

3. Akeel Airborn: St. Francis' Akeel Lynch usually uses his feet to get the ball to the end zone. This time he sent some airmail 35 yards to Jarrett Dolegala for The Red Raiders' first score of the game.

4. Lake Shore Sack Attack: Lake Shore's defense delivered back-to-back- sack's to South Park's quarterback Maurice Howie in the first quarter. Final score: Lake Shore 29, South Park 6.

5. Zach Zips On By: St. Francis' Zachary Wells wiggled through defenders to return this kickoff 78 yards and into the end zone.

poll by twiigs.com

More great plays: Here are the Plays of the Weekend for Week One, Week Two, Week Three, and Week Four.

PrepTalkTV will be on the sidelines again this weekend to catch more exciting plays during Week Five action.

--Lauren Mariacher

 

Prep Talk Live's B regional replay: Alden vs. V-Hornell

Go to the Prep Talk Live page for blogging, video and photos from all of this weekend's Far West Regionals from All High Stadium.

Let us know what you thought of the game in the comments section.

---Keith McShea

buffalonews.com/high-schools     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Prep Talk Live's Class B replay: Alden vs. Lackawanna

Go to the Prep Talk Live page for blogging, video and photos from all of the Section VI championships at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Let us know what you thought of the game in the comments section.

---Keith McShea

buffalonews.com/high-schools     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Friday Night Live with PrepTalkTV: Alden routs Burgard, 42-6; Clarence, OP, Will South, Lackawanna, Fredonia, Southwestern, Randolph, Silver Creek win

Greetings on what will be an eventful night of high school football. By the end of the night, we'll know who will be headed to The Ralph for the Section VI championships.

6:59 p.m. Just arrived at Alden -- my first visit to the school -- and there's a great environment here with a super-packed bleacher and hundreds of fans standing along the fence around the field under the Friday Night Lights.

7:07 p.m. We've started. Burgard kicked off and Alden started at its 35; it just called a timeout facing second-and-10 at the Burgard 34 with 10:41 left in the first quarter. Alden has first downs via a big run by Dakota Peel and a pass interference penalty.

7:12 p.m. Alden has completed an impressive first drive with a score. Senior quarterback Tyler Stoldt took a quarterback draw and did an excellent job to speed his way to the left, dodge a few tacklers and then scoot untouched past the left pylon for a 23-yard TOUCHDOWN. Senior Ray Richards adds the extra point kick and Alden leads Burgard, 7-0, with 9:29 left in the first quarter.

7:21 p.m. Alden is off to a tremendous start. Burgard's first drive went three-and-out -- it appears that senior quarterback Darren Sanders is not playing.

Alden took just four plays to score again as Stoldt put up a very pretty pass to the back left corner to senior Nate Bailey for a 26-yard TOUCHDOWN. Another Richards kick puts Alden up, 14-0, with 5:19 left in the first quarter.

UPDATE from correspondent Nate Beutel at All High: Fredonia takes a 7-0 lead on Grover a 2-yard run by Shane Smith midway through the first quarter.  

UPDATE from video reporter Joe Popiolkowski and blogger TML1000: Host Clarence leads Kenmore West, 7-0, after an 11-yard pass from Zach Lauricella to Dominic Principale.

Here's Principale's touchdown, thanks to Popiolokowski:

7:30 p.m. Alden calls a timeout with 18.7 seconds left with a first down at the Burgard 27.

7:32 p.m. At the END OF THE FIRST QUARTER, Alden leads Burgard, 14-0.

UPDATE from video reporter Lauren Mariacher: Orchard Park and Jamestown are scoreless after one quarter.

Here are Mariacher's highlights from that first quarter at OP, including a goal-line stand by the Quakers:

7:34 p.m. UPDATE: Fredonia up, 13-0, entering the second quarter after a 51-yard fumble return for a score.

UPDATE from Scott Kindberg of the Jamestown Post-Journal: Southwestern leads Salamanca, 7-0, with 6:14 left in the first quarter after a 3-yard run by John Mistretta.

7:42 p.m. Alden has scored on all three of its possessions, adding another TOUCHDOWN after another impressive drive. It ended with another pretty pass from Stoldt, a 5-yard score in which he lofted the ball up to the left side where Bailey reeled it in. Richards added another extra point and Alden's lead is 21-0 with 7:47 left in the second quarter.

UPDATE from TML: Clarence's lead is now 21-0. Wittig scored the second touchdown on a run that followed a failed fake field goal by Kenmore West.

7:51 p.m. Alden calls a timeout with 4:29 left in the second facing third-and-12 at the Burgard 43.

UPDATE from All High: A Chris Holland TD pass has cut Fredonia's lead to 13-8 with four minutes left in the second.

7:56 p.m. Alden got the first down and now has first-and-goal at the Burgard 8.

7:58 p.m. On second-and-goal at the 5, Peel takes a carry to the right side and through a great hole to pound in for a TOUCHDOWN. Richards adds another extra point and Alden has a 28-0 lead with 1:41 left in the first half.

Obviously a very, very impressive opening half for the Alden Bulldogs against the Burgard Bulldogs.

8:04 p.m. Darren Sanders has made an appearance here late in the half. Burgard had a first down at the Alden 15, but Sanders has been sacked on two straight plays. It is third and 28 at the Alden 33.

8:09 p.m. Some drama here to end the half, but Alden's big lead is intact. Burgard had a 33-yard touchdown from Shamari Cheney to Corvonte Jones waved off on a holding penalty; Cheney scrambled from the right side of the field to the left, got off a pass on the run and after the pass was deflected, Jones caught in on the doorstep of the end zone and trotted in. Burgard ended the half with another incompletion.

At HALFTIME, Alden has a 28-0 lead over Burgard.

8:12 p.m. UPDATES: Fredonia leads Grover Cleveland, 20-8, after a Shane Smith touchdown pass with four seconds left in the first half. ... Bee reporter extraordinare Pat Nagy reports that Will South has a 28-7 lead on Will East at halftime. ... Clarence leads Kenmore West, 27-0, at halftime.

8:22 p.m. UPDATES: Lackawanna has a 12-0 lead at Pioneer at halftime.

8:31 p.m. The second half has started terribly for Burgard and excellently for Alden, as Burgard fumbles a handoff on its first play from scrimmage and Alden takes over at the Burgard 29 just 15 seconds in to the third quarter.

UPDATE: Lackawanna now leads, 20-0, in the third quarter.

8:37 p.m. UPDATES: Clarence leads Kenmore West, 34-0, with 10:05 left in the third quarter; thanks to Prep Talk Nation's Coach K for that. ... Lackawanna's lead now up to 26-0.

8:39 p.m. Alden has finished off the first possession and good field position with a TOUCHDOWN after a 1-yard dive by Peel. Another Richards kick and Alden's lead is 35-0 with 6:43 left in the third quarter.

UPDATE: Fredonia's lead over Grover Cleveland is up to 26-8 in the third quarter.

8:50 p.m. UPDATES: Orchard Park leads, 26-0, in fourth quarter. ... Clarence has a 41-0 lead with 3:30 left in the third after a 10-yard pass from Lauricella to William Fitzhenry. ... Lackawanna's lead is up to 34-0.

9 p.m. At the END OF THE THIRD QUARTER, Alden leads Burgard, 35-0.

UPDATES: Will South leads East, 35-7, after three quarters.

9:11 p.m. Junior Ryan Sosnowski goes in for a 6-yard score and Richards adds another kick as Alden takes a 42-0 lead with 5:29 left in the fourth.

UPDATE: Will South now up, 35-14, in fourth.

9:19 p.m. Burgard scores on a 3-yard TOUCHDOWN on a run by junior Corvonte Jones. The two-point conversion is no good; Alden leads, 42-6, with 1:49 left.

9:26 p.m. We have a FINAL SCORE: Alden 42, Burgard 6.

Here's the video package Joe Popiolkowski put together on the game:

FINAL: Will South wins, 42-20. ... Fredonia up, 38-20, with 3:39 left.

* * * Check out our Friday night football gallery here * * *

Time for interviews and a bunch of stuff. Be back ASAP.

* * * Check out our Friday night football scoreboard here * * *

9:47 p.m. A FINAL from All High: Fredonia 45, Grover Cleveland 20.

Here's Lauren Mariacher's video report on Fredonia's victory:

10:31 p.m. A FINAL from the Southern Tier thanks to standout reporter Matt Wakefield: Randolph 23, Maple Grove 8.

A FINAL thanks to Lackawanna hoop coach Tim Foley: Lackawanna 34, Pioneer 8.

Here's some postgame reaction thanks to photographer John Hickey:

10:40 p.m. The rest of the FINALS: Clarence won, 41-13; OP won, 26-0; Southwestern won, 37-0; Silver Creek won, 27-0.

* * * Check out the updated Section VI championships schedule here * * *

We'll be back tomorrow from Sweet Home to get the final puzzle piece for the Section VI championships, and soon after we'll have another PrepTalkTV preview of those five games at The Ralph.

Finally, I'd like to thank Alden for its hospitality and a great workspace. When I showed up at the gate, I was escorted to the press box by an intern with the athletic department. Whoa. Never had that happen before.

A great touch was the reading of what I believe was referred to as the "Bulldog athletic pledge," a sportsmanship pledge that set a great tone. The pledge was also printed on a sign at the entrance to the field. Very nice job.

* * *

As always, we want to hear from you about any games you saw: Let us know what you thought of the players, teams -- even the concession stand -- in the comments section below.

* * *

Also, if you will be at a game and are interested in supplying updates to the Prep Talk blog, email me with your name and cell number at kmcshea@buffnews.com and I'll get in touch -- or you can just email me updates from one of those fancy phones. We don't need every play or even every possession -- just scoring plays and the score after each quarter and anything else that would cause you to blow up a fellow fan's phone with a text/email. I'll definitely give you a shoutout here, as I have the last few weeks, for helping pass the word along during the Friday Night Live and Saturday Afternoon Live blogs.

---Keith McShea

buffalonews.com/high-schools     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Wrapping up the Section VI wrestling championships

Here are the Division I and Division II stories from the Section VI wrestling championship. And here are plenty of extras from the Division II meet Saturday night at Niagara County Community College. But first, a couple observations.

1. This was the second straight year NCCC served as host for the event, and it's a great venue. There's plenty of parking, and NCCC coach Eric Knuutilla (one of the nicest men you could ever meet) does a great job having the gym ready. The support staff, including announcers and officials, also do a good job of keeping everything moving as close to on time as possible.

2. Another thank you to Ross Conti, an assistant coach at Fredonia and committee member of the Wrestling Review of Western New York, the group that does such a great job seeding and ranking area wrestlers. Conti is a walking encyclopedia of wrestling knowledge.

112-pound champion Tom Page, Eden: Page moved ahead with a takedown in the second period to defeat teammate eighth-grade teammate Alex Smythe. Here's Page's father, also Tom Page, on what it's like for two teammates to wrestle each other: "It's extremely difficult because they're so familiar with each other's style. It's unfair to both, but some coaches say it's a privilege. I'm proud of both of the athletes, because they've done a fantastic job."

The elder Page said he wrestled both at 112 because they were the best at that weight class and deserved a chance to showcase what they could do at the sectional level. Nothing wrong with that logic.

119-pound champion Kevin Strong, Frewsburg: It's the second trip to states for Strong, who improved to 43-2 on the season. Here he is on his game plan from Saturday: "I was working on holding him down and taking it slow. Once I got my points I was very careful." Strong beat Newfane's David Ciaramella, 9-0.

125-pound champion Emory Rowe, Ripley: The smallest wrestling school in Western New York had two finalists, including one champion in Rowe. He scored a late takedown to earn a 5-3 decision over Jake Baer of Olean, a raw talent in just his third year of wrestling. Here's Rowe on the end of the match: "I was just looking for an opening and I saw him loosen up, so I dove for it and got it."

140-pound champion Devin Kramer, Depew: The Most Outstanding Wrestler of the meet scored three late points to break a 2-2 tie with Ben Haas of Salamanca and win his second sectional title (he won at 130 last year). The 130- and 140-pound divisions are packed with talented wrestlers. Kramer, a senior who is a member of the Cobra Wrestling Academy, is 36-4 on the season.

145-pound champion: Dominic Montesanti, Medina: Montesanti put forth a dominant performance despite being hampered by a knee injury. He's wrestling on a torn meniscus in his right knee. Here he is on competing hurt: "It's been a real bother, but it's my senior so I couldn't get surgery. It would put me out for the rest of the year. I have one last chance to be a state champion, so I have to tough it out."

Montesanti took sixth at the state tournament last year after dislocating his elbow and having to injury forfeit two matches at 140.

171-pound champion John Mistretta, Southwestern: Mistretta beat Greg Burroughs of Fredonia for the third time this season, never the easiest thing to do. Mistretta has a unique style that could make him a tough out at the state tournament.

189-pound champion Colin Palmer, East Aurora: Palmer is unbeaten on the season (24-0) after missing time early due to injury.

215-pound champion Pat Langworthy, Southwestern: Langworthy (33-6), a junior, won a wild weight class. Consider: the seventh seed, Panama's Cody DiDomenico, beat No. 2 Bashar Srouji of Lew-Port in the quarterfinals. Langworthy, the third seed, then beat DiDomenico. On the other side of the bracket, top seed Justin Taylor of Portville was upset by fourth seed Jake Eddington of Gowanda in the semifinals.

285-pound champion Theo King, Roy-Hart: King and 96-pounder Zach Bickle won titles for the Rams. Here's King on what he hopes it means for the Niagara-Orleans League school: "I hope it can inspire more people to come out for the team next year and continue to build the tradition of the program."

That's it for now, although we may have some video later of a few matches (if I can figure out the technology).

---Jay Skurski

Vote for the four Section VI wrestling class tournament champions

poll by twiigs.com

Prep Talk Live's Class B replay: Cheektowaga outlasts Alden, 27-13

Check the Prep Talk Live page for outstanding photography from The News' Mark Mulville.

What did you think of the game? Let us know in the comments section below.

---Keith McShea

buffalonews.com/highschool     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Some media day talk from The Ralph

Here's some football talk from Tuesday's media day from Maple Grove's Chris Secky and Alden coach Dick Diminuco.

Sorry about the non-steady cam for the Diminuco interview. The arm and the iPhone get a little wobbly sometimes.

There's more sound bites to come soon from Eden, which I'm writing about as part of our Football Friday.

---Keith McShea

buffalonews.com/highschool     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk