Local area high school football squads hit the gridiron this weekend in league and non-league tilts that could set their paths for the rest of the season.
Tonight, the 2-2 Jamestown Red Raiders high school varsity football team go on the road to try to hand the West Seneca West Indians it’s first loss on the season. West Seneca West is undefeated with a 4-0 record. Throughout their first four games, the Indians have outscored their opponents 166-8. A player the Red Raiders defense need to stalk is West Seneca West’s quarterback Maurice Robertson. Robertson has shown dual-threat abilities as a quarterback amassing 500 yards passing and six touchdown passes as well as 149 rushing yards on only 22 rushing attempts for a 6.8 yards per carry average. For the Red Raiders, one player in their corner is Senior running back Francisco Rodriguez. Rodriguez is averaging a flat five yards per carry with 56 rushes for 280 yards while also leading the team with 81 receiving yards.
In other actions, the 4-0 Southwestern Trojans, who are coached by former Buffalo Bills player Jehuu Caulcrick, look to continue their hot streak as they play at home against the 3-1 Olean Huskies. The Huskies, who are mainly a running team, have a talented athlete the Trojans will need to set their sights on tonight. Senior two-way player Alex Weakfall is already having himself a monster season rushing for 555 yards on only 62 rushing attempts while rushing for seven touchdowns, and adding 3 pass completions for 47 yards. Weakfall has even recorded a pair of interceptions playing on the defensive side of the ball.
In Falconer, the merged 2-2 Falconer/Cassadaga Valley football team will play at home Saturday against the 2-2 merged Franklinville/Ellicottville/West Valley Central football team. The main dynamic duo Falconer/Cassadaga Valley has which can assist them in a possible victory is the tandem of Senior quarterback Connor Crabtree, and Senior running back Robbie Penhollow. Crabtree has thrown for 331 yards and two touchdown passes while adding 356 rushing and five rushing touchdowns on 47 carries. Penhollow is also a versatile player, fifth in the state in rushing with 631 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, while hauling in 10 passes for 227 yards and two receiving touchdowns. On the defensive side, Penhollow is also fifth in the state of New York in tackles with 59. With his numbers, Penhollow has been a runaway train.
Another merged football squad, the 4-0 Clymer/Sherman/Panama football team, who is averaging more than 50 points per game, will be going on the road to face off against the 0-4 Depew Wildcats. Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Junior quarterback Gerritt Hinsdale has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes, going 33-47 for 542 yards and eight touchdown passes versus only a single interception. Senior running back Michael Beatman is averaging more than 11 yards per carry, rushing 31 times for 348 yards and six rushing touchdowns. Junior two-way player Cameron Barmore is doing well on both sides of the ball. On only 11 receptions, Barmore has 282 yards receiving and three touchdown receptions, while adding a dozen tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
