Clarence Red Devils (5-4)
Coach: Mark Layer, third season
Home field: No name
Program founded: circa 1919
Outlook: RB Emaure Williams broke the school record last year for points in a season with 140 while amassing 1,947 yards. LB Joe Wesolowski returns as last year’s leading tackler. QB Lex Oakes got plenty of snaps after taking over for the injured Mark Armstrong last year in Week Three. OG Bill Lorenz and OT Britton Mann are two juniors who earned a call-up last year. “We had the lead in some games, and then in the second half wasn’t able to hang on,” Layer said. “I attribute one reason, one of many, is we had a lot of kids playing on both sides of the ball. This year there’s more of a philosophy of getting more one-way players.”
Schedule
Sept. 6 at Frontier, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 St. Joe’s, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Orchard Park, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 Kenmore West 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 Lockport, 2 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Jamestown, 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
Frontier Falcons (6-3)
Coach: Tim Myslinski, fourth season
Home field: Joe Dietz Field
Program founded: 1954
Outlook: The Falcons are happy to have WR/FS Ricky Fitzgerald, last year’s leader in receiving yards and receptions. It was thought Fitzgerald and his family were moving to Florida. “We thought we lost him and he was going to play his senior year down there,” Myslinski said. “We got lucky. This is a big boost to our team.” Fitz has 4.6 speed and good hands. LB AJ Licata was last year’s team MVP of the defense. Myslinski said he’s smart and is a solid tackler and a good blocking tight end. RB/CB Cameron Coon returns to the backfield. Junior Paul Brinkel, who played mostly defense last year, will join Coon in the backfield as well as return to FS.
Schedule
Sept. 6 Clarence, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 Niagara Falls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Lockport, 2 p.m.
Sept. 27 W.Seneca West, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Kenmore West, 2 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 Hamburg, 7 p.m.
Jamestown Red Raiders (8-1)
Coach: Tom Langworthy, sixth season
Home field: Strider Field
Program founded: 1893
Outlook: Last year’s Class AA finalists return QB Jake Sisson, who threw for 1,500-plus yards. He’s a good runner, an accurate thrower and tough, according to Langworthy. RB Da’Quon Hollingsworth compiled 1,300-plus yards in what was an all-star campaign. WR/DB Zach Panebianco is a three-year starter and had 566 yards receiving last year. WR/DB Stephen Carlson had 25 catches last season and made great strides this offseason. OL/DL Joe Mistretta is a standout drive blocker and NT. OL/DL Jacis Blake added strength in the offseason. The receiving corps is Zack Panebianco, Ben Larson, Stephen Carlson and Joshua Colwell. “We have a great core group coming back, the big thing now is coming together as a team, and finding that chemistry and that rhythm that we had last year, so we can have that same success, plus some,” said Langworthy.
Schedule
Sept. 6 Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Kenmore West, 2 p.m.
Sept. 20 vs. South Park at All High 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 Lancaster, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 at W.S. West, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 Clarence, 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Orchard Park, 7 p.m.
Kenmore west Blue Devils (3-6)
Coach: Rich Harris, 13th season
Home field: Crosby Field
Program started: 1924
Outlook: Adam Fron returns for his senior year at QB. He’ll have plenty of targets led by senior Nick Wojnar. Terell Ford is another solid wideout and he’s just a sophomore. Junior Trent White is out on the other split. Jason Taylor started on both sides of the ball last year as a ninth-grader. “We’ve got an all-senior offensive line and we’ve got a lot of speed,” said Harris, “and we got a good quarterback that we think can get the guys the football.” Alex Price ran for more than 1,000 yards last year in just six games before injuring his neck.
Schedule
Sept. 7 Lancaster, 2 p.m.
Sept. 14 Jamestown, 2 p.m.
Sept. 20 at W.S. West, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Clarence, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 Frontier, 2 p.m.
Oct. 12 at Lockport, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 Kenmore East, 2 p.m.
Lancaster Redskins (1-7)
Coach: Chris Dickson, second season
Home field: Foyle/Kling Field
Program founded: 1919
Outlook: The Redskins are coming off one of their toughest seasons in decades. They look to utilize talented three-year starter Matt Szymanski at RB/WR/LB. Senior QB Kevin Colafranceschi has gotten stronger, added size and looks more comfortable in the pocket. He’ll have a variety of targets to light up the new scoreboard including Dan Corbi, Corey Helenbrook, Kyle Nunn and Alex Juhasz. Senior RB Mitch Fuller looks to move the chains. The O-line returns two starters: James Empfield and Tyler Winkowski. The Sept. 13 Alumni Night will recognize the teams from 50, 25 and 10 years ago.
Schedule
Sept. 7 at Kenmore West, 2 p.m.
Sept. 13 W. Seneca West, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Niagara Falls, 2 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Jamestown 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 Orchard Park, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 Frontier, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Depew, 7:30 p.m.
Lockport Lions (6-3)
Coach: Greg Bronson, seventh season
Home field: Max D. Lederer Field
Program founded: circa 1920s
Outlook: Last year’s Class AA North champions have four seniors who are three-year players. QB Dan Bronson, LB Moziah Townsend, DT Marcelus Hinton and DE Marshall Taylor. Bronson threw for 1,200 yards and had 12 TDs. Taylor was co-defensive Player of the Year last year in Class AA North. Townsend led the Lions in tackles. “With those four guys we have a lot of leadership and guys who have been through some pretty contentious battles,” Greg Bronson said. “We feel like the kids have a good set of leaders.”
Schedule
Sept. 7 vs. Starpoint, 2 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Orchard Park, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Frontier, 2 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Niagara Falls, noon
Oct. 5 at Clarence, 2 p.m.
Oct. 12 Kenmore West, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 West Seneca West, 2 p.m.
Niagara Falls Wolverines (4-5)
Coach: Don Bass, seventh season
Home field: Sal Maglie Stadium
Program founded: 2000
Outlook: Senior FB/DB Jaylin Smith and WR/CB Amir Myles are coming off all-star seasons. Senior center James Goldston checks in at 6-0, 330. He returns to the line along with Erik Kirkland. The Wolverines entered camp looking for a QB. The Wolverines will be young at LB, but do return senior Maleik Agee. Junior speedster Shaolin McCray earned a midseason call-up last year and never left the backfield. The Falls is on the road the first two weeks.
Schedule
Sept. 6 at Jamestown, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Frontier, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 Lancaster, 2 p.m.
Sept. 28 Lockport, noon
Oct. 4 at McKinley, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 Orchard Park, 2 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Clarence, 7 p.m.
Orchard Park Quakers (11-2)
Coach: Gene Tundo, 20th season
Home field: Quaker Field
Program founded: circa 1947
Outlook: An experienced line returns for the defending Class AA champions including Adam Belica, Kyle Brewer, Jake Cullen, Dawson Hillis and Ed Losardo. Tundo said he’s got three good candidates for the QB position and the competition between them to start is too close to call. Ryan Falsone returns to his WR/CB positions. Jake Dogal is back at safety after starting last year as a sophomore. Defense will be led by returning LB Jason Dolce. Talent from an 8-1 JV is ready to go. OP is excited about 5-10, 210 RB DeSean Walker, a transfer student from Michigan who Tundo said is one of the stronger kids on the team. “The kids want to work hard every day. We’ve had a great camp, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Tundo.
Schedule
Sept. 6 at West Seneca West 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 Lockport, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 Clarence, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 Wmsv. South 1 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 at Niagara Falls, 2 p.m.
Oct. 18 Jamestown, 7 p.m.
West seneca west Indians (4-5)
Coach: Joe Cantafio, ninth season
Home field: W.S. West Field
Program founded: 1969
Outlook: RB/CB Peter Walsh gained 900 yards last season. RB/CB Chris Walker was averaging 6 yards per carry before getting hurt in last year’s third game. He returned, but played mostly in the secondary. “If Pete goes, and Chris goes – we go,” Cantafio said. “The two of them are small, but Pete Walsh pound-for-pound is one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached.” Senior OT/LB Devan Leo, a three-year player, led the Indians in tackles last year. Chris Lucas returns at QB/LB.
Schedule
Sept. 6 Orchard Park. 7 p.m.
Sept. 13, at Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 Kenmore West, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Frontier, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 Jamestown, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 West Seneca East, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Lockport, 2 p.m.
Coach: Mark Layer, third season
Home field: No name
Program founded: circa 1919
Outlook: RB Emaure Williams broke the school record last year for points in a season with 140 while amassing 1,947 yards. LB Joe Wesolowski returns as last year’s leading tackler. QB Lex Oakes got plenty of snaps after taking over for the injured Mark Armstrong last year in Week Three. OG Bill Lorenz and OT Britton Mann are two juniors who earned a call-up last year. “We had the lead in some games, and then in the second half wasn’t able to hang on,” Layer said. “I attribute one reason, one of many, is we had a lot of kids playing on both sides of the ball. This year there’s more of a philosophy of getting more one-way players.”
Schedule
Sept. 6 at Frontier, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 St. Joe’s, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Orchard Park, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 Kenmore West 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 Lockport, 2 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Jamestown, 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
Frontier Falcons (6-3)
Coach: Tim Myslinski, fourth season
Home field: Joe Dietz Field
Program founded: 1954
Outlook: The Falcons are happy to have WR/FS Ricky Fitzgerald, last year’s leader in receiving yards and receptions. It was thought Fitzgerald and his family were moving to Florida. “We thought we lost him and he was going to play his senior year down there,” Myslinski said. “We got lucky. This is a big boost to our team.” Fitz has 4.6 speed and good hands. LB AJ Licata was last year’s team MVP of the defense. Myslinski said he’s smart and is a solid tackler and a good blocking tight end. RB/CB Cameron Coon returns to the backfield. Junior Paul Brinkel, who played mostly defense last year, will join Coon in the backfield as well as return to FS.
Schedule
Sept. 6 Clarence, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 Niagara Falls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Lockport, 2 p.m.
Sept. 27 W.Seneca West, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Kenmore West, 2 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 Hamburg, 7 p.m.
Jamestown Red Raiders (8-1)
Coach: Tom Langworthy, sixth season
Home field: Strider Field
Program founded: 1893
Outlook: Last year’s Class AA finalists return QB Jake Sisson, who threw for 1,500-plus yards. He’s a good runner, an accurate thrower and tough, according to Langworthy. RB Da’Quon Hollingsworth compiled 1,300-plus yards in what was an all-star campaign. WR/DB Zach Panebianco is a three-year starter and had 566 yards receiving last year. WR/DB Stephen Carlson had 25 catches last season and made great strides this offseason. OL/DL Joe Mistretta is a standout drive blocker and NT. OL/DL Jacis Blake added strength in the offseason. The receiving corps is Zack Panebianco, Ben Larson, Stephen Carlson and Joshua Colwell. “We have a great core group coming back, the big thing now is coming together as a team, and finding that chemistry and that rhythm that we had last year, so we can have that same success, plus some,” said Langworthy.
Schedule
Sept. 6 Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Kenmore West, 2 p.m.
Sept. 20 vs. South Park at All High 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 Lancaster, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 at W.S. West, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 Clarence, 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Orchard Park, 7 p.m.
Kenmore west Blue Devils (3-6)
Coach: Rich Harris, 13th season
Home field: Crosby Field
Program started: 1924
Outlook: Adam Fron returns for his senior year at QB. He’ll have plenty of targets led by senior Nick Wojnar. Terell Ford is another solid wideout and he’s just a sophomore. Junior Trent White is out on the other split. Jason Taylor started on both sides of the ball last year as a ninth-grader. “We’ve got an all-senior offensive line and we’ve got a lot of speed,” said Harris, “and we got a good quarterback that we think can get the guys the football.” Alex Price ran for more than 1,000 yards last year in just six games before injuring his neck.
Schedule
Sept. 7 Lancaster, 2 p.m.
Sept. 14 Jamestown, 2 p.m.
Sept. 20 at W.S. West, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Clarence, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 Frontier, 2 p.m.
Oct. 12 at Lockport, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 Kenmore East, 2 p.m.
Lancaster Redskins (1-7)
Coach: Chris Dickson, second season
Home field: Foyle/Kling Field
Program founded: 1919
Outlook: The Redskins are coming off one of their toughest seasons in decades. They look to utilize talented three-year starter Matt Szymanski at RB/WR/LB. Senior QB Kevin Colafranceschi has gotten stronger, added size and looks more comfortable in the pocket. He’ll have a variety of targets to light up the new scoreboard including Dan Corbi, Corey Helenbrook, Kyle Nunn and Alex Juhasz. Senior RB Mitch Fuller looks to move the chains. The O-line returns two starters: James Empfield and Tyler Winkowski. The Sept. 13 Alumni Night will recognize the teams from 50, 25 and 10 years ago.
Schedule
Sept. 7 at Kenmore West, 2 p.m.
Sept. 13 W. Seneca West, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Niagara Falls, 2 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Jamestown 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 Orchard Park, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 Frontier, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Depew, 7:30 p.m.
Lockport Lions (6-3)
Coach: Greg Bronson, seventh season
Home field: Max D. Lederer Field
Program founded: circa 1920s
Outlook: Last year’s Class AA North champions have four seniors who are three-year players. QB Dan Bronson, LB Moziah Townsend, DT Marcelus Hinton and DE Marshall Taylor. Bronson threw for 1,200 yards and had 12 TDs. Taylor was co-defensive Player of the Year last year in Class AA North. Townsend led the Lions in tackles. “With those four guys we have a lot of leadership and guys who have been through some pretty contentious battles,” Greg Bronson said. “We feel like the kids have a good set of leaders.”
Schedule
Sept. 7 vs. Starpoint, 2 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Orchard Park, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Frontier, 2 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Niagara Falls, noon
Oct. 5 at Clarence, 2 p.m.
Oct. 12 Kenmore West, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 West Seneca West, 2 p.m.
Niagara Falls Wolverines (4-5)
Coach: Don Bass, seventh season
Home field: Sal Maglie Stadium
Program founded: 2000
Outlook: Senior FB/DB Jaylin Smith and WR/CB Amir Myles are coming off all-star seasons. Senior center James Goldston checks in at 6-0, 330. He returns to the line along with Erik Kirkland. The Wolverines entered camp looking for a QB. The Wolverines will be young at LB, but do return senior Maleik Agee. Junior speedster Shaolin McCray earned a midseason call-up last year and never left the backfield. The Falls is on the road the first two weeks.
Schedule
Sept. 6 at Jamestown, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Frontier, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 Lancaster, 2 p.m.
Sept. 28 Lockport, noon
Oct. 4 at McKinley, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 Orchard Park, 2 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Clarence, 7 p.m.
Orchard Park Quakers (11-2)
Coach: Gene Tundo, 20th season
Home field: Quaker Field
Program founded: circa 1947
Outlook: An experienced line returns for the defending Class AA champions including Adam Belica, Kyle Brewer, Jake Cullen, Dawson Hillis and Ed Losardo. Tundo said he’s got three good candidates for the QB position and the competition between them to start is too close to call. Ryan Falsone returns to his WR/CB positions. Jake Dogal is back at safety after starting last year as a sophomore. Defense will be led by returning LB Jason Dolce. Talent from an 8-1 JV is ready to go. OP is excited about 5-10, 210 RB DeSean Walker, a transfer student from Michigan who Tundo said is one of the stronger kids on the team. “The kids want to work hard every day. We’ve had a great camp, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Tundo.
Schedule
Sept. 6 at West Seneca West 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 Lockport, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 Clarence, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 Wmsv. South 1 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 at Niagara Falls, 2 p.m.
Oct. 18 Jamestown, 7 p.m.
West seneca west Indians (4-5)
Coach: Joe Cantafio, ninth season
Home field: W.S. West Field
Program founded: 1969
Outlook: RB/CB Peter Walsh gained 900 yards last season. RB/CB Chris Walker was averaging 6 yards per carry before getting hurt in last year’s third game. He returned, but played mostly in the secondary. “If Pete goes, and Chris goes – we go,” Cantafio said. “The two of them are small, but Pete Walsh pound-for-pound is one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached.” Senior OT/LB Devan Leo, a three-year player, led the Indians in tackles last year. Chris Lucas returns at QB/LB.
Schedule
Sept. 6 Orchard Park. 7 p.m.
Sept. 13, at Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 Kenmore West, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Frontier, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 Jamestown, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 West Seneca East, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Lockport, 2 p.m.