Prep Talk

By Keith McShea

The Canisius High School football team will have two major additions this fall. 

Tyrone Wheatley Jr., one of the most sought-after football recruits in the country, and his younger brother Terius, will play high school football at Canisius, The Buffalo News has learned.

It is one of the most significant arrivals in Western New York high school football history.

Tyrone Wheatley Jr. is a 6-feet-6, 250-pound defensive end and tight end who will be a junior this fall. He has already received scholarship offers from Alabama, Penn State, North Carolina, Syracuse and dad’s alma mater, Michigan.

Terius, who will be a sophomore, is a 5-11, 165-pound wide receiver and defensive back. 

Local high school fans have been awaiting the destination of the Wheatley brothers since their famous father, University of Michigan great and NFL standout running back Tyrone Wheatley, was hired as the Buffalo Bills running backs coach. Wheatley Sr. joined head coach Doug Marrone with the Bills after he was an assistant under Marrone at Syracuse University -- also as running backs coach. 

Both Wheatley brothers earned high marks at this past weekend's Sound Mind Sound Body Football Academy in Southfield, Mich., this past weekend.

At the camp, a picture was taken of Tyrone Sr. and his two sons. In the picture, published at scout.michigan.com's "Go Blue Wolverine" site (as well as other scout.com sites), Tyrone Jr. is wearing a Canisius T-shirt.  

When Canisius football officials were asked about the picture, they confirmed to The Buffalo News that the Wheatleys had completed their registration paperwork and put down a deposit for the 2013-14 academic year. Canisius coach Rich Robbins was unavailable for comment. 

While living in the Syracuse area, the Wheatley brothers attended Fayetteville-Manlius.

This transfer is at least on the level of that of Chad Kelly, who moved back to Western New York with his family from Pennsylvania during his sophomore year before beginning his St. Joe's quarterbacking career as a junior. While Kelly (nephew of Bills Hall of Famer Jim) would go on to receive many big-time college offers before committing to Clemson, he did not have them prior to his junior season.

The Wheatley brothers might be on the field with Canisius as soon as Saturday, when the Crusaders are schedule to participate at Lancaster's 7-on-7 passing league camp.

The Wheatleys are the second high-profile transfer for Canisius heading into next season. Brad Zaffram, a first-team All-Western New York selection as a sophomore for Sweet Home this past season, announced he would be transferring to Canisius in May.

By Keith McShea

Brad Zaffram, a first-team All-Western New York football player for Sweet Home as a sophomore this past season, will transfer to Canisius next year. 

Zaffram tweeted the news this afternoon and confirmed his transfer to The News via Twitter direct message a few minutes ago. A Canisius football source has confirmed the transfer as well. 

The tweet, from his protected @BradZaffram account, read: "On my way to canisius to finalize it with a signature".

Sweet Home has won six straight Section VI Class A titles and advanced to the state championship game this year. Canisius won the Monsignor Martin Association title during an undefeated season and was the No. 1 large school in The News final poll.  

The 6-foot, 205-pound Zaffram had a tremendous season for the Panthers, especially during the postseason. He delivered hit after hit from his linebacker spot while he was an offensive weapon as well. 

Continue reading "Sweet Home football standout Zaffram transferring to Canisius HS" »

By Keith McShea

For this week's PrepTalkTV Weekly -- which you can see right here tonight at 9 -- we'll welcome a team fresh off one of the biggest wins in school history (and that's any sport). We'll have the Cardinal O'Hara girls team on one night after beating Sacred Heart in a battle of Western New York's No. 1s.

And yes, we said the team. Part of the reason that O'Hara is a great story -- besides its undefeated record -- is that there are just eight players on the team, so they'll all be on hand along with coach Dan McDermott. 

We'll have another loaded show of highlights from boys and girls hoops as well as hockey, wrestling and swimming -- including a couple of "[BN] The Locker Room" videos of coaches' pregame speeches. We'll also have more highlights in PrepTalkTV Rewind as well our weekly look at the boys basketball polls and a look ahead to this weekend and beyond.

As usual after PrepTalkTV Weekly, I'll have a live chat following the show.

Here's a rundown of the show:

0:00 -- Opening, discussion of McShea's Prep Talk column on Depew Boys & Girls Club
3:10 -- Interview with Cardinal O'Hara girls basketball team, including coach Dan McDermott, senior Leah McDonell and junior Keyonte Edwards
13:40 -- Clarence hockey's win over Frontier, featuring [BN] The Locker Room footage of coach Rick Brooks
18:30 -- Canisius boys swimming dominates St. Joe's to start strong weekend
21:45 -- Canisius boys basketball moves to No. 1 in The News poll and the state Class A poll; featuring [BN] The Locker Room with coach Kyle Husband from Friday's win at Timon
25:50 -- Look at this week's boys basketball polls
28:10 -- PrepTalkTV Rewind (St. Francis wrestling, Iroquois girls basketball, a special guest star on the Bucky & Sully show), followed by discussion of concussions in football and a mention of locals on National Signing Day
35:55 -- Discussion of this weekend's big championship wrestling meets
38:05 -- A look ahead to upcoming action from Thursday to Tuesday; closing.

Continue reading "PrepTalkTV Weekly starred Cardinal O'Hara girls hoops; live chat talked seedings we're expecting" »

By Keith McShea

Today is National Signing Day for college football, the first day recruits can officially sign with Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) programs. 

Canisius senior lineman Ryan Hunter, who verbally committed to Bowling Green last summer, signed with the Falcons at a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Delaware Ave. school.

Hunter, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound two-way force for the undefeated Monsignor Martin Association champion Crusaders (who finished ranked first in The News large school poll and shared the spot in the state Class AA poll), was named The News Player of the Year along with his teammate, junior standout running back Qadree Ollison. 

A teammate of Hunter's, senior wide receiver Denzel Benton, was also part of the signing ceremony as he commited to Football Championship Series (formerly Division I-AA) member Rhode Island.

Also committing to an FCS school today was Andy Smigiera of West Seneca East, who signed with Robert Morris.

Orchard Park senior lineman Michael Senn announced last month he would sign with Albany of the FCS.

According to a tweet by James Johnson of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Section V is moving up Aquinas football to AA.

Word-association on my thoughts? Amen. Thank goodness. About time.

Aquinas' football program has walked the walk of a AA football program for the better part of a decade and it's only logical that they play in Class AA. 

This is something I've squawked about for years in our live chats and on this blog. This past fall I wrote a Prep Talk column about it in our paper.

It's a step, perhaps small, but a significant step in making the state playoffs make more sense. There are many nooks and crannies overall that take away from the value of what the state championships should represent.

While Section V is making the world right, how about prohibiting private schools from playing in Class D? :-) 

And while one rivalry will be lost in the elevation of Aquinas -- Sweet Home and the Little Irish have met in the last five Class A Far West Regionals (Aquinas won three) -- football fans are already talking about a possible Orchard Park-Aquinas matchup in that same round. 

There's a lot of football to be played before that happens, though. Like a whole season :-)

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

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

Photographer/videographer Mark Mulville & I headed to Athol Springs this afternoon to talk to St. Francis standout senior running back Akeel Lynch about committing to Penn State:

More to come in Tuesday's paper and we'll certainly discuss Lynch's choice during Wednesday evening's live video chat.

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

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

St. Francis standout running back Akeel Lynch has verbally committed to Penn State. 

He did so via his Twitter page late Sunday night: "Making my dreams become a reality. #weare #pennstate".

Lynch, a 6-foot, 204-pound native of Toronto, originally verbally committed to Boston College last July 15 (our story is here; watch our video interview with him that day about his decision on the blog).

At the time, he said he selected BC over Penn State.

That was long before the news broke -- in November -- of the child sex abuse charges against former Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky. The tumultous months that followed included the school's firing of legendary coach Joe Paterno, the hiring of current New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien earlier this month to replace him, and Paterno's death on Sunday.

Lynch's committment to Boston College became more and more tenuous as the high school season came and went. Lynch did participate in a recruiting trip to BC on Dec. 3, which caused him to miss the Connolly Cup awards banquet (he was one of 10 finalists).

After his successful senior season -- during which St. Francis won the Monsignor Martin Association championship -- Lynch began to received more recruiting attention.

In early January, he told Boston College that he would be considering other schools. Iowa and Oklahoma had coaches visit Lynch. On Monday, Lynch said Penn State was a finalist along with Iowa, Ole Miss and Oklahoma.

Lynch visited Iowa in early January, had a visit to Oklahoma canceled when a snowstorm canceled his flight, and he visited Penn State this past weekend.

The first day football recruits can sign with schools is Feb. 1. Lynch will make his official announcement then during a ceremony at the Athol Springs school.

Lynch was a first-team All-Western New York running back, the runner-up for The News Player of the Year award (it went to St. Joe's QB and Clemson commit Chad Kelly) and was selected as New York State's Gatorade Player of the Year. Lynch ran for a Monsignor Martin single-season record 2,136 yards in his senior season.

A highlight game in his highlight season was running for five touchdowns and a school-record 376 yards on 31 carries (the totals were updated after the game) in St. Francis' 42-27 win at fellow top 10 large school Bishop Timon-St. Jude on Oct. 7. Check out the PrepTalkTV video from that game: 

Other PrepTalkTV videos featuring Lynch: Week Six wrapup (including his postgame comments on Timon game), Monsignor Martin semifinals and Monsignor Martin championship.  

More to come.

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

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

The unofficial conclusion of the football season was this afternoon at the 25th annual Western New York High School Football banquet at Classics in Niagara Falls. 

As he has done for a quarter century, Dick Gallagher organized the event, which honored more than a hundred of this season's top players. It was a great event, as always.

In addition to the presentation of trophies and plaques to the All-Western New York team, the Buffalo News Player of the Year, the News poll winners, the All-WNY academic football team and multiple league and postseason MVPs, here is a rundown of some of the top honors:

Andrea Marsh -- yes, she's a she -- was honored with the Day-Day Morris Award for courage after a standout season as a starting defensive back for Panama. Marsh is a national finalist for the Rudy Award. 

Joseph Smith of St. Francis won the WNY Football Scholar-Athlete Award. 

Jim Dombrowski Award (offensive linemen): Devon Leach, Orchard Park; Michael Senn, Orchard Park.

Jim Burt Award (defensive lineman): Cortland Haines, Jamestown.

Ron Jaworski Award (quarterback): Chad Kelly, St. Joe's.

Ron Pitts Award (defensive back): Jordan Johnson, Sweet Home.

Shane Conlan Award (linebacker): James Fitzgerald, Orchard Park.

James Lofton Award (wide reciever): Ben Johnson, Orchard Park; Jordan Williams, Bishop Timon-St. Jude.

Jim Kelly Football Camp Underclassmen of the Year: Nigel Davis, St. Joe's (offense); Alec Dietsch, Clarence (defense). 

Joe Foyle Award (large school coaches of the year): John Faller, Sweet Home; Jerry Smith, St. Francis; Gene Tundo, Orchard Park. 

Gene Masters Award (small school coaches of the year): Dick Diminuco, Alden; Curt Fischer, Maple Grove; Jay Sirianni, Southwestern; Dan Greco, Chautauqua Lake.

Frank Constantino Award (JV coach of the year): Mike Morlock, Frontier.

Stan Barron Award (media): Rich Kozak, Intense Milks Game of the Week on WJJL-AM.

Mike Perry Memorial Award (referees): Skip Brechtel, Ken Harris.

Jerry Butler Award: Maurice Howie, South Park; Ryan Radke, Lancaster.

Andy Benson Award: Ben Whitney, Jamestown.

Tim Schwab Memorial Award: Mike Prevorse, Pioneer. 

Unsung players: Justin Davis, Bennett); Ben Holmes, Orchard Park; Jordan Sanders, St. Joe's; Brian Stoldt, Alden; Cody Stumpf, Williamsville South. 

Cross-Training Award: Josh Koester, Hutch-Tech (city); Terrance DeJesus, Jamestown (large school); Brandon Davis, Cleveland Hill (small school); Tom Noonan, Nichols (private); Pat Walch, Wilson (wild card). Cross Training Legacy Builder Award: Tom Calzone.  

* * * 

The event concluded, as it has in recent years, with the passing of the torch (picture above) from some standout seniors -- Kyle Briggs (St. Joe's), Jake Swan (Southwestern), James Fitzgerald (Orchard Park) and Akeel Lynch (St. Francis) to some standout juniors, including Ben Holmes (Orchard Park) and Trent Ferguson (Williamsville South). 

* * * 

As a surprise to Gallagher, he was presented with his own award about halfway through the ceremony. 

MC extraordinaire John Murphy, Denny Lynch of the Buffalo Bills and Dennis Sarow of the Connolly Cup presented Gallagher with a silver football trophy commemorating the 25th year of the event that was started and has continued to be organized by Gallagher. 

I have said/written this before, but it bears repeating: Western New York in general, and particularly the local high school sports community, is a much better place because of Dick Gallagher. Next time you see him -- maybe it'll be next year on the football sidelines -- thank him for what he has done for Western New York high school sports. 

* * * 

Memo to Kiss 98.5: Your involvement with high school football is very appreciated. It is great that you support the sport and this event.

But next year, don't order -- literally -- the highest trophy the trophy store can put together. The awards (well deserved by Chad Kelly for the Monsignor Martin Association and Jordan Johnson for Section VI) were taller than Dick Gallagher. I don't even know how the players got them home. Where are they going to put them? When people are walking away from the event saying how ridiculous and tacky the trophies are (it's inarguable), instead of how great the players who won them are, something is wrong. If you want to dump a lot of money into something special for the winners, there are plenty of trophies with heft, with cool icons on top, that would be impressive, special momentos without being ridiculous.

* * *

Memo to those players who attended the banquet and posted stuff on Twitter about it DURING the banquet: There were some sentiments of gratitude, which were obviously nice to see.

However, many of the tweets were ridiculous, disrespectful and totally out of line. You are a guest at a banquet and, even though Mr. Gallagher asked everyone to put away their phones, you sat there tweeting repeatedly. On top of that, you were being disrespectful to the event and other award winners IN your tweets.

Those that tweeted disrespectful things, and they know who they are, should absolutely be ashamed of themselves.

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

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

Hello from Ilio DiPaolo's in Blasdell for the 40th annual presentation of the Connolly Cup, awarded by the Riverside Athletic Club to the most outstanding high school football player in Western New York.

I'll update the winner here as soon as possible. 

The 10 finalists are: Orchard Park senior Okoya Anderson, Kenmore West senior Martin Bailey, Jamestown senior Spencer DeCinque, Williamsville South junior Trent Ferguson, Bennett senior Javon Fogan, Maple Grove senior Alex Grace, Orchard Park senior Ben Johnson, Sweet Home senior Jordan Johnson, St. Joe's senior Chad Kelly and St. Francis senior Akeel Lynch. 

The winner will be announced shortly. It was scheduled for 2:15 p.m. but it will be a little later (it's now 2:11).

It's a special banquet this year as past winners of the award have been invited for the 40th annual presentation. The DiPaolo's banquet room is much larger than it has had to be this year to account for all the great football players.

It will be quite a scene to see the past winners introduced before this year's award is presented.

2:28 p.m. The presentation has begun. Introductions of the finalists will be made, then the winner will be announced Academy Awards-style. 

2:38 p.m. As a member of the News sports department, I would like to thank the Connolly Cup committee and chairman John Lewis for honoring the late Allen Wilson with a moment of silence. It was just moments ago that we learned that Allen had passed away from leukemia. To say we are heartbroken is an extreme understatement.

2:41 p.m. The past winners are now being introduced.

Past winners have come into town from as far away as Ohio and Massachusetts.

Here today are: Jim Rath (1976, Frontier; he played at Edinboro and Canisius and lives in Lake View); Frank Rossi Jr. (1977, Baker Victory; who played at Colgate and went from banking to an impressive acting career); Brian Ross (1978, Niagara-Wheatfield; he played at Cornell and lives in Boston, Mass.); Tony Baker (1980, Springville; he played at Cornell and came in from his home in New Hampshire); Trevor Sajdak (1987, Cleveland Hill, who played at Columbia, is a professional body builder and lives in Ohio); Ray Braxton (1986, Lackawanna; he won a national championship at Bakersfield Junior Collegeand still lives in Lackawanna); Randy Smith (1990, Lockport; he played at Youngstown State and in the Canadian Football League and lives in Ohio); Frank Pavicich (1997, Niagara-Wheatfield); Joe West (1999, Lackawanna; he played at American International); Zak Kedron (2004, St. Francis); Capone Smith (2008, Lackawanna; who played for the Cisco Wranglers in Texas and is back in Western New York); Joe Licata (2010, Williamsville South; he plays at the University at Buffalo). 

3:09 p.m. Lengthy introduction of the alumni has concluded -- great names, great stories. 

This year's finalists being introduced now.

Akeel Lynch was not able to attend due to a recruiting trip for Boston College.

3:16 p.m. The winner of this year's Connolly Cup is ... 

Chad Kelly of St. Joe's.

Speech and interviews now. 

* * * 

I'll discuss the Connolly Cup choice and our All-Western New York issue in our weekly live video chat at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

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

Here it is. The 2011 All-Western New York first team for football.

Check out the complete team (including capsules plus the second and third teams and honorable mentions) and read more about how the squad might be unstoppable. Also part of our annual All-WNY issue, published in today's editions, is a story on the final poll winners and the coach of the year and the complete list of league all-stars.

Also be sure to check out an outstanding video by The News' Mark Mulville on the first team and its favorite moments of the season. 

Offense
QB Chad Kelly, St. Joe's, 6-3 215, 12
RB Mercer Timmis, Canisius, 6-1 210, 12
RB Okoya Anderson, Orchard Park, 6-0 200, 12
RB Akeel Lynch, St. Francis, 6-0 200, 12
WR Ben Johnson, Orchard Park, 6-3 200, 12
WR Jordan Williams, Bishop Timon-St. Jude, 6-2 175, 12
OL Brandon Lathrop, Kenmore West, 6-6 260, 12
OL Miles Bartholomew, St. Francis, 6-5 275, 12
OL Devon Leach, Orchard Park, 6-3 290, 12
OL Michael Senn, Orchard Park, 6-3 277, 11
OL T.J. Scamurra, Williamsville South, 6-0 280, 12
U Jordan Johnson, Sweet Home, 6-1 205, 12
K Austin Reese, Orchard Park, 6-0 200 12

Defense
DL Josh Chase, Alden 6-0 250, 12
DL Michael Morganstern, Cheektowaga, 6-2 240, 12
DL Cortland Haines, Jamestown, 6-2 260, 11
LB Marquis Artis, Amherst, 5-9 180, 12
LB Javon Fogan, Bennett, 6-0 205, 12
LB James Fitzgerald, Orchard Park, 6-2 225, 12
LB Joe Smith, St. Francis, 6-0 210, 12
DB Daryl Spencer, Cleveland Hill, 6-2 196, 12
DB Alex Grace, Maple Grove, 5-9 165, 12
DB Stephen Johnson, McKinley, 5-11 175, 11
DB Jake Swan, Southwestern, 5-11 160, 12
P Ryan Sosnowski, Alden, 6-0 210, 12

How do you think we did? Use the comment section to provide feedback here, or email, Tweet or comment via Facebook at the addresses linked below.

I'll discuss our selections, along with the Connolly Cup choice (the award is announced this afternoon) in our weekly live video chat at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

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