Wednesday’s Kensington Lions All-Star game at Orchard Park High won’t just be the final high school contest for Corey Barczykowski, it will be the last for this first family of Alden football.
The youngest of three all-star football brothers, Barczykowski looks to go out with a win, something they are very familiar with in Alden.
Barczykowski’s older brother, Christian, played in the game in 2010 as an All-Western New York player and his stepbrother, Nate Bailey, played in the 2011 game. All had a hand in leading the Bulldogs to the last three Section VI Class B titles.
“It will definitely be emotional for me and my family,” said Barczykowski, who comes into the game as the Connolly Cup winner. “It will be the last time they’ll all be able to come and watch. It’s the last chance to show everyone what I’ve got and to represent my school, my teammates and my family.”
The South team, coached by Tim Delaney of South Park, has 30 players from 15 teams. Delaney has the unique perspective of also having played in this game in 1998 following his senior year with the Sparks. He scored the South’s only TD in a 14-7 loss.
Look for Barczykowski, a 2,000-yard rusher last fall, in the backfield, along with Tyler Miller of Iroquois. Barczykowski will play for Dennis Greene at Erie Community College in the fall.
Barczykowski has enjoyed getting to know players from other teams during the two weeks of practice leading up to the game, even players from Class B nemesis Depew.
The Wildcats’ Jason Rybak is one of the South captains while corners Robert Buono and Nathaniel Hyman also earned roster spots. “We never really got along with them, but they’re really good kids, hard workers and good football players,” said Barczykowski.
South quarterback Andy Smigiera of West Seneca East will take the snaps, getting a final chance to work with his Trojan teammate Scott Ackerman at wide receiver. Shaquille Brooks of Lackawanna and Stephon Johnson of McKinley will catch the ball out of the spread.
Jason Bunk of Alden looks to anchor both lines. “In my opinion he’s going to be the best big man in the game,” Delaney said of the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Bunk. “He’s special. He’s got a non-stop motor and he’s a good character kid.”
Bunk hopes to play at UB in the fall as a walk-on.
The North team won last year’s game at Depew’s Constantino Complex, 48-6, breaking records for the most points scored in a game and the largest margin of victory. The South leads the series, 21-16.
North head coach Kraig Kurzanski of Williamsville South has a 35-man roster of players from 25 schools.
North quarterbacks Trent Ferguson of Williamsville South and Mike Torrillo of Sweet Home will alternate every series. Look for James Chambers of Lockport, Justin Slango of Wilson and Sean Marshall of Burgard to get most of the carries. WRs Lonnie Taylor of Medina, Chaq Nettles of Williamsville South and Denzel Benton of Canisius will line up on the outside.
Although Orchard Park is the game site, there are no players from the Class AA champions on the roster. The South has eight All-WNYers: Bazczykowski, Smigiera, Bunk, Tyler Studd of Springville, Ryan Johnson of West Seneca East and three players from Timon-St. Jude — Jackson Brown, Tom Gioia and Sean Murphy. North’s first teamers are Nettles, Marshall, Torrillo, Chambers, Alec Dietsch of Clarence and Austin Mietz of Akron.
email: mmonnin@buffnews.com
The youngest of three all-star football brothers, Barczykowski looks to go out with a win, something they are very familiar with in Alden.
Barczykowski’s older brother, Christian, played in the game in 2010 as an All-Western New York player and his stepbrother, Nate Bailey, played in the 2011 game. All had a hand in leading the Bulldogs to the last three Section VI Class B titles.
“It will definitely be emotional for me and my family,” said Barczykowski, who comes into the game as the Connolly Cup winner. “It will be the last time they’ll all be able to come and watch. It’s the last chance to show everyone what I’ve got and to represent my school, my teammates and my family.”
The South team, coached by Tim Delaney of South Park, has 30 players from 15 teams. Delaney has the unique perspective of also having played in this game in 1998 following his senior year with the Sparks. He scored the South’s only TD in a 14-7 loss.
Look for Barczykowski, a 2,000-yard rusher last fall, in the backfield, along with Tyler Miller of Iroquois. Barczykowski will play for Dennis Greene at Erie Community College in the fall.
Barczykowski has enjoyed getting to know players from other teams during the two weeks of practice leading up to the game, even players from Class B nemesis Depew.
The Wildcats’ Jason Rybak is one of the South captains while corners Robert Buono and Nathaniel Hyman also earned roster spots. “We never really got along with them, but they’re really good kids, hard workers and good football players,” said Barczykowski.
South quarterback Andy Smigiera of West Seneca East will take the snaps, getting a final chance to work with his Trojan teammate Scott Ackerman at wide receiver. Shaquille Brooks of Lackawanna and Stephon Johnson of McKinley will catch the ball out of the spread.
Jason Bunk of Alden looks to anchor both lines. “In my opinion he’s going to be the best big man in the game,” Delaney said of the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Bunk. “He’s special. He’s got a non-stop motor and he’s a good character kid.”
Bunk hopes to play at UB in the fall as a walk-on.
The North team won last year’s game at Depew’s Constantino Complex, 48-6, breaking records for the most points scored in a game and the largest margin of victory. The South leads the series, 21-16.
North head coach Kraig Kurzanski of Williamsville South has a 35-man roster of players from 25 schools.
North quarterbacks Trent Ferguson of Williamsville South and Mike Torrillo of Sweet Home will alternate every series. Look for James Chambers of Lockport, Justin Slango of Wilson and Sean Marshall of Burgard to get most of the carries. WRs Lonnie Taylor of Medina, Chaq Nettles of Williamsville South and Denzel Benton of Canisius will line up on the outside.
Although Orchard Park is the game site, there are no players from the Class AA champions on the roster. The South has eight All-WNYers: Bazczykowski, Smigiera, Bunk, Tyler Studd of Springville, Ryan Johnson of West Seneca East and three players from Timon-St. Jude — Jackson Brown, Tom Gioia and Sean Murphy. North’s first teamers are Nettles, Marshall, Torrillo, Chambers, Alec Dietsch of Clarence and Austin Mietz of Akron.
email: mmonnin@buffnews.com