Upstate Football Weekly Is Published Week

SECTION 6 No Upstate Average Joe’s Dennis Gilbert is FootballFootball named the 2010 W E E K L Y Coach of the Year November 18, 2010 Issue No. 48 45 Pages INSIDE: Four Section 6 teams lose in NYS Regionals

Fredonia Wins, Moves on to NYS Semifinals

Eric Jantzi Year Resigns as Of The NT Coach PLUS: State Records College Report NYS Rankings QBQB Schedules ALSO: Joe Licata and Chad Kelly led an incredible Sideline Chatter Extra Point season for WNY quarterbacks Section 6 Standings This Week’s Lineup: Contents NOVEMBER 18, 2010 Jantzi Leaves NT 4 ... Sideline Chatter 5 5 ... Players of the Week Eric Jantzi, who has coached at North 7 ... League Look-Ins Tonawanda for 16 seasons, announced 13 ... 2010 Notebook that he was resigning as the Lumberjacks leader in a stunning announcement. 16 ... Team Reports Rumors swirled that Clarence coach Tom 40 ... Standings Goddard would retire. 41 ... Leader Board 42 ... Around The State 44 ... Campus News Fredonia Moves On 12 47 ... Extra Point

Fredonia was the only Section 6 team to Upstate win in the Far West Regionals last weekend. The Hillbillies will now play Football general Brown in the New York State W E E K L Y Publisher semifinals. Adair Publishing

Editor-In-Chief Mark E. Adair

Business Manager Catherine M. Rutkowski 13 Catholic Titles Statistician Paul Hutzler

St. Joe’s and Cardinal O’Hara won the Photography Msgr. Martin Association champi- Jerome Davis, Tim Frank

onships in Ralph Wilson Stadium last The Upstate Football Weekly is published week. every Thursday throughout the high school football season (August-November) by Adair Publishing. Contents copyright ©2010 by Adair Publishing. All rights reserved. This volume may not be repro- duced in whole or in part in any form with- out the prior written consent of the publisher. Address editorial and advertising corre- spondence to: Upstate Football Weekly, [email protected] 14 No Average Joe’s To advertise in the Upstate Football Weekly or for information regarding ad rates and sizes call (716) 433-8393. Dennis Gilbert led St. Joe’s to its first Msgr. Martin Association championship since 2006. For engineering his team’s Football Weekly 86 Park Lane Circle turnaround he was named the Football Lockport, N.Y. 14094 Weekly’s Coach of the Year. (716) 433-8393 [email protected] Buffalo Bills Coach of the Week Sciandra Honored for Title Win Cardinal OʼHara coach Angelo powerhouse Steubenville. Degrees at UB. Sciandra has been named Buffalo Bills “We had a tough stretch where we After graduating from UB, Sciandra Coach of the Week after the Hawks lost three in a row,” Sciandra said. “We landed his first coaching job at beat St. Maryʼs 25-7 ton win the Msgr. lost to St. Joeʼs, St. Francis and Cheektowaga High School. Martin Association Steubenville but the kids rebounded.” “Tom Goddard hired me in 1979 at League A champi- OʼHara has played at Steubenville Cheektowaga,” Sciandra said. “He onship in Ralph for three straight seasons. made me the head JV coach right out Wilson Stadium. “I think itʼs a great experience for the of college.” It was the 6th kids,” he said. “Itʼs a different game in Sciandra took over the varsity head straight Msgr. Martin Ohio. Itʼs a great atmosphere and they coaching job at St. Marys in 1986 and title for OʼHara. get to spend a couple of nights in a stayed there until 1999. “It never gets bor- hotel as a team.” “I was there for 16 years,” Sciandra ing,” Sciandra said. Sciandra felt confident during the said, “and we beat some pretty good “Itʼs exciting for the Angelo Sciandra week leading up to the title game Turner-Carroll teams.” kids and itʼs exciting against St. Maryʼs. St. Maryʼs won Msgr. Martin titles in for me and the coaches.” “These kids had one of the best 1993 and 1995 under Sciandra. Sciandra says he was unsure of his weekʼs of practices I have ever seen,” Sciandra now has a career won-lost team when the season started. Sciandra said. “I have never had a record of 70-31 and has had several “I wasnʼt sure how we would do,” he team so ready to play a game. A lot of top players. said. “We were a very young team this our kids played their best game of the Kevin Burns (St. Maryʼs) and Reggie year. But the offensive line began to year, which was good to see.” Garner (OʼHara) were finalists for the play better and we went on a 5-game Sciandra just finished his tenth sea- Connolly Cup. Burns played college winning streak.” son as the coach at Cardinal OʼHara. football at the Penn. Garner is currently OʼHara finished 7-4 this season He played defensive back for playing at Walsh University, an NAIA despite playing one of the toughest Kenmore West and graduated in 1973. school in Ohio. schedules in Western New York. The He attended the University at Also, Ron Keels (OʼHara) played at Hawks played large-school St. Francis, Buffalo but did not play football. He Gannon University and later for the St. Joeʼs and Canisius as well as Ohio earned his undergraduate and Masterʼs Ottawa Roughriders in the CFL.

Upstate Football Weekly 3 SidelineChatter Section 6 Playoffs CLASS AA Clarence 35, Lockport 0 Kenmore West 22, Frontier 15 Orchard Park 51, Wmsville North 7 Jamestown 7, Riverside 6 CLASS AA Semifinals Clarence 41, Kenmore West 13 Orchard Park 26, Jamestown 0 CLASS AA Championship Clarence 31, Orchard Park 24 AA Chuck Funke Tournament North Tonawanda 35, West Seneca West 0 Lancaster 29, Niagara Falls 8 AA Chuck Funke Finals North Tonawanda 28, Lancaster 14 CLASS A Sweet Home 36, Lafayette 12 McKinley 28, Amherst 14 Williamsville East 28, Iroquois 27 Williamsville South 43, Grand Island 14 CLASS A Semifinals Sweet Home 31, McKinley 6 Wmsville South 42, Wmsville East 20 CLASS A Championship Sweet Home 48, Wmsville South 15 A Chuck Funke Tournament Starpoint 28, West Seneca East 14 Lake Shore 36, Kenmore East 34 A Chuck Funke Finals Starpoint 45, Lake Shore 0 CLASS B Alden 42, Lew-Port 10 Burgard 26, Eden 0 Pioneer 24, Medina 16 Lackawanna 12, Depew 6 CLASS B Semifinals Alden 42, Burgard 6 Lackawanna 34, Pioneer 8 CLASS B Championship Alden 14, Lackawanna 12 B Chuck Funke Tournament Cheektowaga 21, JFK 7 Photo by Mark Adair Dunkirk 20, Albion 19 B Chuck Funke Finals Hawks Fly High Dunkirk at Cheektowaga, TBA Cardinal OʼHara players celebrate their 25-7 win over St. CLASS C Maryʼs in the Msgr. Martin A League championship game Grover Cleveland 40, Alley-Lime 14 Fredonia 56, Cleveland Hill 14 in Ralph Wilson Stadium last weekend. It was OʼHaraʼs Salamanca 22, Wilson 0 6th straight championship. Southwestern 42, Gowanda 0 CLASS C Semifinals Fredonia 45, Grover Cleveland 20 Msgr. Martin Playoffs Southwestern 37, Salamanca 0 CLASS C Championship CLASS AA Fredonia 12, Southwestern 10 St. Francis 35, Bishop Timon 15 C Chuck Funke Tournament St. Joeʼs 35, Canisius 19 Olean 39, Cassadaga Valley 22 CLASS AA Championship Roy-Hart 14, Falconer 8 St. Joeʼs 49, St. Francis 20 C Chuck Funke Finals CLASS A Cassadaga Valley 14, Roy-Hart 0 Cardinal OʼHara 44, Niagara Catholic 6 CLASS D St. Maryʼs 48, Nichos 8 Randolph 48, Westfield 0 CLASS A Championship Maple Grove 29, Frewsburg 0 Cardinal OʼHara 25, St. Maryʼs 7 Chaut. Lake 27, Portville 15 Silver Creek 48, Pine Valley 0 Far West Regionals CLASS D Semifinals Randolph 23, Maple Grove 8 CLASS AA Silver Creek 27, Chautauqua Lake 0 Rush-Henrietta 34, Clarence 28 CLASS D Championship CLASS A Silver Creek 21, Randolph 14 Aquinas 36, Sweet Home 6 D Chuck Funke Tournament CLASS B Catt-LV 32, Clymer 21 Hornell 21, Alden 14 Sherman 34, Ellicottville 0 CLASS C D Chuck Funke Finals Fredonia 18, Letchworth 13 Sherman 12, Catt-LV 7 CLASS D Caedonia-Mumford 20, Silver Creek 13

4 Upstate Football Weekly Congratulations! To All

Western New York Players and Coaches

on a GREAT 2010 Season!

See you in 2011!

Photo by Tim Frank Fredonia Wins Tyler Buckey caught this pass and took it to the end zone for a TD in Fredoniaʼs 18-13 win over Letchworth in the Far West Regionals last weekend.

Listen to Inside High School Sports NYStateRecords Saturday at 10:00 AM on WGR 550! Most TD Passes thrown in One Season TDs Player, School Year 45...... Greg Paulus, Syracuse CBA...... 2002 43...... Greg Paulus, Syracuse CBA...... 2004 35...... Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo St. Joe’s...... 2005 33...... Randall Secky, Maple Grove...... 1998 33...... Mike Prahalis, Commack...... 2000 33...... Greg Paulus, Syracuse CBA...... 2003 31...... Matt Bezio, Peru...... 2001 31...... Greg Paulus, Syracuse CBA...... 2001 31...... Shawn Mizro, Newark...... 2002 30...... Kurt Abrams, Dover...... 1997 14 Michael Road • West Seneca, NY 14224 30...... Rob Kramer, Oneida...... 2002 30...... Randy Mills, Freeport...... 2003 (716) 677-4393 30...... Terrance Schmand, Buffalo St. Joe’s...... 2006 29...... Matt Bezio, Peru...... 2002 www.myplayerssports.com

Upstate Football Weekly 5 All-Football Weekly Team OFFENSE Pos. Player Ht WT Team QB Tyler Stoldt 6-2 179 Alden RB Nick Hall 5-8 180 St. Joeʼs RB Robert Davis 6-0 184 Cardinal OʼHara RB Mercer Timmis 6-2 200 Canisius WR Theo Russell 5-11 185 Canisius WR Phil Stasiak 6-3 195 Williamsville Tyler Stoldt OL Joe Smith 6-1 200 St. Francis Mike Kasprzak Quarterback OL Tom Nemoyer 6-1 255 Canisius Offensive Line Alden Depew OL Mike Kasprzak 6-4 255 Depew OL Ben Fluent 6-2 235 Randolph OL Pat Langworthy 5-9 220 Southwestern TE Eric Tyra 5-11 190 Jamestown K Kyle Few 5-6 185 Lockport SP Chris Holland 6-1 200 Grover Cleveland

Players of the Year: Chad Kelly (6-2, 205), St. Joeʼs Quarterback Mercer Timmis Eric Tyra Running Back Joe Licata (6-3, 210), Williamsville South Quarterback Tight End Canisius Coach of the Year: Dennis Gilbert, St. Joeʼs Jamestown

Nick Hall Phil Stasiak Pat Langworthy Joe Smith Kyle Few Running Back Wide Receiver Offensive Line Offensive Line Kicker St. Joeʼs Williamsville South Southwestern St. Francis Lockport

Robert Davis Theo Russell Tom Nemoyer Ben Fluent Chris Holland Running Back Wide Receiver Offensive Line Offensive Line Specialty Player Cardinal OʼHara Canisius Canisius Randolph Grover Cleveland All-Football Weekly Team DEFENSE Pos. Player Ht WT Team DL Mike Coleman 5-10 245 Sweet Home DL Kyril Threats 6-1 205 Cansius DL Anthony Sanders 6-3 300 McKinley DL Derion Washington 6-2 255 Riverside LB Dominic Bargnesi 5-10 200 St. Joeʼs LB Marquis Artis x-x xxx Amherst Mike Coleman LB Zach Williams 6-1 210 Silver Creek Shane Smith Defensive Line LB Dominic Principale 6-0 210 Clarence Defensive Back Sweet Home Fredonia DB Dale Stewart 6-0 185 Niagara Falls DB Mitch Wagner x-x xxx Wmsv East DB Kyle Luchey 5-11 155 Sweet Home DB Shane Smith 5-10 176 Fredonia P Kyle Zittel 6-0 185 Eden SP Shamari Cheney 5-11 170 Burgard

Kyril Threats Mitch Wagner Defensive Line Defensive Back Canisius Williamsville East

Anthony Sanders Dominic Bargnesi Dominic Principale Dale Stewart Kyle Zittel Defensive Line Linebacker Linebacker Defensive Back Punter McKinley St. Joeʼs Clarence Niagara Falls Eden

Derion Washington Marquis Artis Zach Williams Kyle Luchey Shamari Cheney Defensive Line Linebacker Linebacker Defensive Back Specialty Player Riverside Amherst Silver Creek Sweet Home Burgard The WNY Amateur Football Alliance and the Section VI Football Federation Present the 5th Annual College Football Recruiting Night

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010 • 6:00PM at the at the Buffalo Bills Field House

Meet College Football Coaches from around the Northeast!

An outstanding opportunity for players and parents to discuss a variety of recruiting issues!

Players should bring TRANSCRIPTS and GAME FILMS

For more info please contact: Len Jankiewicz Section VI Class AA Football Co-Chairman Phone: 716-686-3318 Fax: 716-686-3839 Email: [email protected]

The organization for the promotion of amateur football in WNY!

Youth Coaching Academy Junior Combine Scholar-Athlete Awards High School All-Star Game All-Football Weekly 2nd Team OFFENSE Pos. Player Ht WT Team QB Jordan Johnson 5-11 190 Sweet Home RB Okoya Anderson 6-0 200 Orchard Park RB Justin Burke 5-10 175 St. Maryʼs RB Tyler Robinson 5-8 176 Starpoint WR Ben Johnson 6-1 190 Orchard Park WR Kevin OʼConnell 6-4 205 Wmsv South OL John Denecke 5-10 255 St. Francis OL Scott Rogers 6-1 195 Grand Island OL Todd Therrien 6-1 265 Wmsv East OL Mike Schiavi 5-10 260 Lackawanna OL Jesse Skubis 6-2 305 St. Maryʼs TE Victor Peoples 6-1 185 Burgard K Marc Montana 6-0 200 St. Joeʼs SP Sean Seefeldt 6-1 175 Newfane DEFENSE Pos. Player Ht WT Team DL Corey Madlock 6-3 265 Canisius DL Jaden Cotton 6-5 291 Depew DL Cortland Haines 6-2 250 Jamestown DL Jim Cushman 6-2 190 St. Francis LB Josh Wiechelt 6-1 232 Depew LB Travis Charsley 6-1 200 North Tonawanda LB Dan Montesanti 6-1 215 North Tonawanda LB Tony Lock 6-0 205 Pioneer DB Jake Swan 6-3 180 Southwestern DB Austin Zakroczemski 5-9 180 St. Francis DB Paul Leavell 5-10 185 Orchard Park DB Anthony Emmanuele 6-3 200 Depew P Tony LaMancuso 5-9 180 St. Joeʼs SP Alex Ippolito 5-9 185 Fredonia

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Upstate Football Weekly 7 All-Football Weekly 3rd Team OFFENSE Pos. Player Ht WT Team QB Travis Eman 6-2 200 Canisius RB Dakota Peel 5-11 183 Alden RB Vinny Bomasuto 5-11 175 Dunkirk RB Steve Kenny 6-3 230 Chautauqua Lake WR Nick Austin 5-6 145 Southwestern WR Billy Fitzhenry 5-11 170 Clarence OL Josh Koscielniak 6-1 280 Orchard Park OL Tyler Shaw 6-4 240 Eden OL Jordan Hardy 6-3 245 East High OL Joe Adinolfi 6-3 210 St. Joeʼs OL Adam Pasnik 6-2 265 St. Francis TE Clay Barna 6-4 200 Medina K Austin Reese 5-11 235 Orchard Park SP Christian Smith 5-11 165 Lackawanna DEFENSE Pos. Player Ht WT Team DL Zach Nykula 5-10 205 Fredonia DL Sean Wolf 6-0 225 Clarence DL Andrew Burgio 6-1 282 Depew DL Willie Jefferson 6-0 205 Riverside LB Brandon Lyles 5-9 175 Cardinal OʼHara LB Ikeem Lyons 6-0 240 Grover Cleveland LB William Vanoy 6-0 190 Bennett LB Cory Smith 5-11 260 McKinley DB Tyler Buckley 5-8 165 Fredonia DB Shakier Nesbitt 6-0 165 Burgard DB Devonte Whitsett 5-7 150 Grover Cleveland DB Cooper Wittig 5-10 170 Clarence P Jared Benkleman 6-0 190 Pioneer SP KJ Zinermon 6-2 180 Sweet Home Good Luck to all WNY Football Programs!

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8 Upstate Football Weekly All-Football Weekly 4th Team OFFENSE Pos. Player Ht WT Team QB Zach Lauricella 5-10 200 Clarence RB Ralph Neasman 5-9 143 Sweet Home RB Jasen Oden 6-0 190 East High RB Akeel Lynch 6-1 195 St. Francis WR Nate Bailey 5-11 170 Alden WR Nick Kellner 6-1 180 Grand Island OL Nick Foss 5-10 240 Alden OL Connor Davin 5-11 200 St. Joeʼs OL Blade Garlow 6-1 265 Medina OL Dylan Anna 6-1 225 Pioneer OL Alex Walczak 6-2 215 Cheektowaga TE John Carroll 5-11 175 Catt-Little Valley K James Quinn 6-1 175 JFK SP Jordan Saxton 6-0 175 Maple Grove DEFENSE Pos. Player Ht WT Team DL Gino Roberson 6-3 275 Riverside DL John Kling 6-7 285 Depew DL Dalton Maska 6-1 240 Starpoint DL Kyree Carter 5-11 228 Cardinal OʼHara LB Ryan Sosnowski 5-11 196 Alden LB Cam Baker 5-11 185 Chautauqua Lake LB Jerbraile Traylor 5-9 185 Niagara Falls LB Buddy Ammerman 5-9 185 Wmsv South DB Mike Siejak 5-10 175 Iroquois DB Nickolay Mohan 5-10 170 Clarence DB Zach Schenk 6-2 185 Orchard Park DB Andy Speyer 6-0 170 Lancaster P Nick Borgese 5-11 175 St. Francis SP Leighton Caskey 5-10 160 Maple Grove ATHLETIC RECRUITMENT DVDVDS SHHOOWWCCCAASSEE YOUURR SKKIIILLLS PROOMMMOOTTEE YOUURR PLALAY

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Upstate Football Weekly 9 Jantzi gone... Goddard next? At the end of every football season, there are coching times. He won two Section 6 titles and has a career changes. record of 115-98. Two changes will drastically alter the While Goddardʼs possible retirement would not be a Last night, in a story first reported in the Tonawanda suprise, the announcement that Jantzi would leave North News, it was learned that North Tonawanda coach Eric Tonawanda was shocking. Jantzi had announced He has been at the his resignation from the front of the North top of the NT program. Tonawanda program Also, rumors contin- for 16 seasons. ued to swirl that Jantzi says that he Clarence coach Tom is resigning because Goddard, who led the his family is moving to Red Devils to the Orchard Park. Section 6 Class AA title “We sold our house this fall, would retire and we are moving from teaching and closer to our family in coaching at the end of Orchard Park,” he said. the school year. “I am here every day, Goddard refused to over the breaks, in the confirm the rumors that summer and itʼs just he would step down as too far to drive. I Clarence coach. wouldnʼt be able to do “Thirty-eight years is it right. I didnʼt want to a long time,” Goddard do something half- said. “I still enjoy work- assed.” ing with young men and Jantzi says that he seeing the results of a agonized over the deci- lot of work. The kids are sion. just great.” “It was a really Clarence finished 10- tough decision,” he 1 this season and beat said. “Iʼve been think- Orchard Park in Ralph ing about it for a while.” Wilson Stadium when Jantzi said that the Stephen Hughes kicked responsibilities of being a 37-yard field goal on Photo by Mark Adair a head coach had the last play of the become too much with game. North Tonawanda coach Eric Jantzi (left) has announced the added travel time. The Devils lost a 42- his resignation from the NT program. It is rumored that “Itʼs not just prac- 34 shootout to Section Clarence coach Tom Goddard will retire soon. tice,” Jantzi said. “Itʼs 5ʼs Rush-Henrietta in making videos. I had to the Far West Regional game. make the game-day programs. Itʼs everything. I came Our kids never quit,” Goddard said. “We were down home the other night and my son wanted to play with me. 21-0 and came back and we were down 35-14 at the half I couldnʼt because I had to make an end-of-the-year video and made it a ball game. These kids just refused to quit.” for the banquet.” Goddard said that this may have been his most enjoy- The distance is just too much for Jantzi to give the able season. same effort as he required of his players. “The way the kids came together as a team from Day “I want them here every day to lift weights,” Jantzi said. 1 was awesome,” he said. “They enjoyed being together “We do the summer passing leagues and the off-season in practice and on the sidelines. It was fun and enjoyable workouts. I canʼt ask them to do that if Iʼm not here for all of us.” myself.” Goddard started coaching in 1972 when he landed an “It was very easy when I could be here in 10 seconds,” assistant varsity job at Pembroke High School. Jantzi said. “Now it will be an extra 90 minutes a day in In 1980 he was hired as the head coach at commuting time.” Cheektowaga Central and stayed there until 1985. Jantzi says that he has no specific plans to coach next In 1986 Goddard was hired as a Phys Ed teacher at season. Clarence, his alma mater. He was an assistant on staff “I would like to keep coaching,” Jantzi said, “but every- until 1993, when he was hired as the head coach. thing is open and up in the air. I might take an assistant He was the head coach at Clarence for the past 18 coach somewhere.” seasons, leading his team to Ralph Wilson Stadium four - Mark Adair Msgr. Martin Association Playoffs St. Joe’s, O’Hara take MMA titles St. Joeʼs quarterback Chad In the eveningʼs first game, Kelly ran eight times for 170 senior Robert Davis rushed for yards and 2 TDs and threw for 152 yards and 2 TDs to lead 191 yards and 4 TDs as St. Cardinal OʼHara to the League Joes beat St. Francis 49-20 A title with a 25-7 win over St. and won the Msgr. Martin Maryʼs. Association title game in It was the Hawkʼs 6th Ralph Wilson Stadium. straight championship-game Senior running back Nick victory at The Ralph. All of the Hall ran 10 times for 103 Hawks wins have come over yards and two second-half St. Maryʼs. touchdowns as St. Joeʼs “It never gets boring,” claimed the schoolʼs first OʼHara coach Angelo Sciandra league title since 2006. said. “Itʼs exciting for the kids Hall finished the season and itʼs exciting for me and the with 1,051 rushing yards and coaches.” 21 touchdowns. He was also Davis finished the season one of WNYʼs top receivers with just under 1,600 yards this season and he finished rushing and was named to the his career with 4,826 all-pur- All-Football Weekly first-team. pose yards and 39 TDs. “I wish I could come back “Chad and Nick are quite a and play with the guys next one-two punch,” St. Joeʼs year,” Davis said after the coach Dennis Gilbert said. game. “Three championships in “Defenses really have a hard three years.” time stopping both of them. Davis gave OʼHara a 7-0 St. Joeʼs opened up a 21-0 lead with a 7-yard run in the Photo by Mark Adair lead and led at the half 28-7. first quarter. He punched in a Kelly ran for TDs of 30, 85 Nick Hall rushed for 103 yards and 2 TDs as 1-yard run for a 13-0 lead with and 5 yards and threw a 15- St. Joe’s beat St. Francis to win the Msgr. 10 minutes left in the first half. Martin Association championship. yard TD pass in the first half. Senior Koran McCoy caught He scrambled out of trouble and broke through the sec- a TD pass to give the Hawks a 19-0 lead. ondary on the 85-yard run. St. Maryʼs QB Chad Griffin connected with senior tossed “That was an unbelievable play,” Gilbert said. “He got a TD pass to Anthony Bargnesi with less than a minute to out of trouble and was gone.” play in the half but the Lancers could get no closer.

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Upstate Football Weekly 11 AroundNewYork 2010 New York State Rankings AA A B Team W-L Team W-L Team W-L 1. Monroe-Woodbury (9) 10-0 1. Sweet Home (6) 10-0 1. Hornell (5) 10-0 2. St. Anthony's (CHSFL) 9-0 2. Aquinas (5) 10-0 2. Alden (6) 10-0 3. Sachem North (11) 9-0 3. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (2) 10-0 3. Croton-Harmon (1) 9-0 4. New Rochelle (1) 9-0 4. Arch. Stepinac (CHSFL) 9-0 4. Cazenovia (3) 10-0 5. Clarence (6) 10-0 5. Carey (8) 9-0 5. Schalmont (2) 10-0 6. Rush-Henretta (5) 10-0 6. Seaford (8) 9-0 6. Roosevelt (8) 8-1 7. Troy (2) 10-0 7. Victor (5) 9-1 7. Ogdensburg (10) 10-0 8. Corning (4) 9-0 8. Garden City (8) 8-1 8. Chenango Valley (4) 9-1 9. Baldwinsville (3) 9-1 9. Wallkill (9) 10-0 9. New Paltz (9) 9-1 10. Fort Hamilton (PSAL) 9-0 10. Whitesboro (3) 9-1 10. Lackawanna (6) 8-2 11. Freeport (8) 8-1 11. Williamsville South (6) 9-1 11. Depew (6) 8-1 12. Syracuse CBA (3) 9-1 12. Harrison (1) 8-1 12. Marlboro (9) 9-1 13. Tottenville (PSAL) 9-0 13. John Glenn (11) 9-0 13. Babylon (11) 7-2 14. Oceanside (8) 8-1 14. Lynbrook (8) 8-1 14. Westlake (1) 6-3 15. Orchard Park (6) 8-2 15. Cornwall (9) 8-2 15. Rye Country Day (AIS) 6-1 16. Abraham Lincoln (PSAL) 9-0 16. Horace Greeley (1) 7-2 16. Midlakes (5) 8-2 17. Iona Prep (CHSFL) 7-2 17. Poly Prep (AIS) 6-1 17. Pelham (1) 7-1 18. Mahopac (1) 8-1 18. John Jay Cross River 7-2 18. Marcellus (3) 7-2 19. Fayetteville-Manlius (3) 8-1 19. Huntington (11) 7-2 19. Fieldston (AIS) 7-0 20. Fordham Prep (CHSFL) 9-0 20. Maine-Endwell (4) 7-3 20. Pioneer (6) 7-2 21. East Islip (11) 8-1 21. Islip- (11) 8-1 22. Yorktown (1) 7-2 22. Potsdam (10) 9-1 23. Pittsford (5) 7-2 23. Somers (1) 6-3 24. Utica Proctor (3) 7-2 24. Lansingburgh (2) 8-2 25. Irondequoit- (5) 9-1 25. Wayne (5) 8-1

C D Section Team W-L Team W-L 1. Chenango Forks (4) 10-0 1. Silver Creek (6) 10-0 2. Bronxville (1) 9-0 2. Randolph (6) 9-1 3. Hoosick Falls (2) 10-0 3. Caledonia-Mumford (5) 9-1 4. Letchworth (5) 10-0 4. Tuckahoe (1) 7-1 5. General Brown (3) 10-0 5. Cambridge (2) 9-0 6 6. Fredonia (6) 9-1 6. Moriah (7) 9-1 7. Southwestern (6) 9-1 7. Onondaga (3) 9-1 NY State Football 8. Saranac Lake (7) 9-0 8. Walton (4) 7-3 Section 1: Wʼchester, Rockland 9. Millbrook (9) 10-0 9. Dundee (5) 9-1 Section 2: Capitol District Section 3: Central New York 10. East Rockaway (8) 7-2 10. Chester (9) 8-2 Section 4: Southern Tier 11. Grover Cleveland (6) 8-1 11. Delhi (4) 8-2 Section 5: Genesee Valley 12. Sidney (4) 8-2 12. Maple Grove (6) 7-2 Section 6: Western New York 13. Chatham (2) 9-1 13. Groton (4) 8-1 Section 7: Champlain 14. Holley (5) 8-2 14. Sandy Creek (3) 7-3 Section 8: Nassau 15. Cato-Meridian (3) 9-1 15. Tioga (4) 7-1 Section 9: Orange, Ulster Section 10: St. Lawrence 16. Hastings (1) 6-3 16. Chautauqua Lake (6) 6-3 Section 11: Suffolk 17. Ilion (3) 8-1 17. Candor (4) 7-2 Section 12/PSAL: NY City 18. Watertown IHC (3) 7-2 18. Weedsport (3) 6-3 CHSFL: Catholic Football 19. Canastota (3) 7-2 19. Dolgeville (3) 7-1 Winning Streaks: William Floyd 34; Dobbs Ferry 20. (tie) Fonda-Fultonville (2) 6-3 20. Rensselaer (2) 6-3 19; Lawrence 15, Unatego 13, Waverly 11. 20. (tie) Burke Catholic (9) 7-3 Losing Streaks: None.

12 Upstate Football Weekly Western New York WNY Amateur

2010NOTEBOOK Rochester Takes Four Football Alliance Western New York will not have “We felt we had something special The organization for the the party at the Carrier Dome that the with Shane coming back,” Ball said. Buffalo area had during the last two “We changed from a power offense to promotion of amateur football state championship weekends. the spread because he was coming in WNY! Section 6 won four New York State back. We have 4 to 5 good athletes titles in 2008 and again in 2009. Last and I felt the spread is a perfect for 2010-2011 Activities weekend, Section 5 (Rochester) what we could do.” teams won four of the five far West Fredonia finished the regular sea- Scholar-Athlete Award Dinner Regional games. son 6-1 and then Fredonia, in beat Cleveland Senior College Night the Class C Hill 56-14 in the game, defeated opening round of Letchworth 18-13 the playoffs. and will carry the “We started to Youth Coaching Academy Section 6 flag peak during the into the New York Cleve Hill game,” State semifinals Ball said. “It was Junior Combine this weekend the first time we against General really took it to Brown. our opponent and Quarterback weʼve improved High School All-Star Game Shane Smith every week since completed 13 iof them. Weʼve beat 17 passes for 2 some very good Become A TDs. He also teams.” rushed for 71 The rest of the Member yards and had 9 weekend was a TODAY! tackles and an washout for interception on Section 6 teams. defense. Photo by Mark Adair Rochester Fredonia Fredonia’s Shane Smith. brought teams coach Bob Ball with enormous said that while the community is excit- size advantages to All-High Stadium ed, his team is trying to stay low key. and used it to win the other four con- “The school has been very sup- tests. portive,” Ball said. “The local newspa- Caledonia-Mumford held off Silver pers and the radio station are follow- Creek 20-13 in Class D. ing us. But the kids are keeping In Class B, Hornell defeated Alden everything in check. We know that we 21-14. Hornell is the defending New have unfinished business and we York State champions in Class B. need to take this one week at a time.” Aquinas used a huge size advan- This is Fredoniaʼs first trip to the tage to beat Sweet Home 36-6 in New York State semifinals. The Class A. The loss snapped the Hillbillies will play General Brown Panthers 36-game winning streak. (Section 3) at 12:00 pm Saturday at The last team to beat Sweet Home Rochesterʼs Marina Auto Stadium. was Aquinas in the 2007 New York Ball says that he had high hopes State playoffs. when practice started back in August. In Class AA Clarence fell behind Smith was returning from a major 21-0 in the first quarter and 35-14 at knee injury that kept him from playing the half before losing a shootout to in 2009. Rush-Henrietta 34-28. (716) 646-5145 Upstate Football Weekly 13 CoverStory Year of the QB Joe Licata and Chad Kelly led an incredible season for quarterbacks By Mark Adair There is no doubt that unique ability and I think 2010 will go down as the heʼll be even better with Year of the Quarterback better athletes around in Western New York. him. Thatʼs why Iʼm so Never have so many excited for him.” quarterbacks produced Kurzanski says that so much in the same high school defenses season. Solid seasons were geared totally to were totally overlooked stop his passing game. because of the REALLY “Joe wonʼt see the great years. same coverages at UB Williamsville South that we saw at the high senior Joe Licata passed school level,” Kurzanski for 2,573 yards and 34 said. “Heʼll see a lot TDs in 2010 as he led more one-on-one cover- the Billies to a 9-1 record ages and heʼll be able to and a spot in the Section get the ball wherever he 6 Class A title game. needs to. I think heʼll do In his three seasons very well.” leading the Williamsville St. Joeʼs junior Chad South offense, Licata has Kelly posted an equally simply re-written the amazing season as he WNY record book. He became the first player owns almost every pass- in new York State history ing record and will gradu- to pass for 2,000 yards ate this spring as and rush for 1,000 yards Western New Yorkʼs most in the same season. accomplished QB ever. He finished the 2010 Licata set single- campaign with 1,057 game, season and career yards rushing and 2,159 records for attempts, yards passing in 11 completions, yards and Photo by Tim Frank games. TDs. The only record he Williamsville South QB Joe Licata led the Billies “I knew in the passing does not own is TD pass- leagues last spring that to a 9-1 record and a spot in the Class A title es in a game (the record we had something spe- game this season. is 8, Licataʼs personal cial,” St. Joeʼs coach best is seven.) Dennis Gilbert said. “Chad has incredible skills. I knew Licataʼs career records for TDs (87), completions (408) that if we could catch the ball, he could make all the and yardage (6,671) may stand for a while. throws. And when he got into trouble he could run.” His coach Kraig Kurzanski says that Licata could have Kelly had a huge performance in the Msgr. Martin posted even bigger numbers. Association title game in Ralph Wilson Stadium. He ran “We took Joe out when we were winning big,” eight times for 170 yards and 2 TDs and threw for 191 Kurzanski said. “If Joe would have played four quarters yards and 4 TDs as St. Joes beat St. Francis 49-20 and his numbers would have been off the charts.” won the league title for the first time since 2006. While Kurzanski is sorry to see Licata leave his Because of the performance that the two QBs put up Williamsville South program, he is confidant that Licata all season, the Football Weekly has named them Players will be just as good when he plays for the University at of the Year. Buffalo next season. And, while Licata and Kelly stand out among QBs, “Joeʼs been great,” Kurzanski said. “Heʼs as humble as See “Cover Story” on page 17 he is good. I think heʼll do great things for UB. He has a 16 Upstate Football Weekly CoverStory continued from page 16 there were a LOT of great seasons by Western New York Kelly has another year of high school football left. quarterbacks in 2010. “Heʼll be one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play Aldenʼs Tyler Stoldt threw 22 TD passes and just 2 in Western New York by the time heʼs done,” Gilbert said. INTs as he led Alden to the Class B title. “He loves to compete and he loves to get better. Heʼll be Fredoniaʼs Shane Smith passed for 1,616 yards and even better next season.” 21 TDs and also led his That may dishearten team in rushing with 801 some of the St. Joeʼs yards. He will lead the opponents. Itʼs hard to Hillbillies into the New see how Kelly could be York State semifinals this much better than he was weekend in Rochester in the MMA title game. against General Brown. “I just felt that the Sweet Homeʼs Jordan night was going to be Johnson was one of the special,” Kelly said. “I most exciting running just had a feeling it was QBs to come along in going to be a great years as he led the night.” Panthers to a fourth And, while Kelly has straight Class A title. one more season to play, Even QBs that wonʼt Licata will take his talent be named to any All- to the college in the WNY teams had out- spring. standing seasons. Grand WNY fans wonʼt have Islandʼs Tom Dzielski to travel as Licata will be passed for 2,067 yards playing at the University and 19 TDs. at Buffalo, less than a Southwesternʼs Jake 10-minute drive from his Rauh passed for 1,210 home in Williamsville. yards and 19 TDs while Licata was initially completing over 70 per- crushed after losing to cent of his passes. Sweet Home in the Wilsonʼs Joe Parrott Class A title game. passed for 1,593 yards. “That night it was a Lackawannaʼs Christian huge disappointment,” Smith tossed 15 TD Licata said. “After a few passed and rushed for days I realized that we 964 yards. played a great team and And the list goes on Photo by Mark Adair Sweet Home did a great and on and on... St. Joe’s QB Chad Kelly led the Marauders to a 6- job. We played our “Thereʼs some great 5 record and the Msgr. Martin League AA champi- hearts out and we have quarterbacks out there onship this season. no regrets.” right now,” Gilbert said. He also says that he “Travis Eman at Canisius was outstanding. Aaron Ertel feels good about where the Williamsville South program from Depew had a great year.” stands as he leaves. Kurzanski says that part of the reason is the prolifera- “Four years ago, Williamsville South was 2-8,” he said. tion of the Spread offense. “To go 9-1 just four years later is amazing. I think it “I think that the Spread offense has finally reached speaks volumes about the coaching staff and how much Western New York,” Kurzanski said. “That offense work the players put in. I think, with the coaches we spreads out the defenders and puts the best athletes in have, Williamsville South will be a good team or many space. Thatʼs part of the reason that you are seeing all years.” these great numbers being put up by the quarterbacks.” Licata is pleased with all the records he now owns... And part of it is simply the fact that the area has some but not because it reflects on his own talent. very solid players all coming through the system right “Itʼs pretty cool to be on top of the leader board,” he now. said. “But whatʼs really nice is to see Williamsville South Kelly was a four-time National Punt, Pass & Kick represented in the record book. Iʼm proud of where I champion. Licata is a star in football and basketball. Most come from and Iʼm proud to be a Billygoat.” of the top QBs in WNY are starts in other sports. Upstate Football Weekly 17 CoverStory No Average Joe’s St. Joe’s coach Dennis Gilbert is Coach of the Year By Mark Adair St. Joeʼs coach too many players were Dennis Gilbert has been trying to do too much. named the Football “Our kids truly got the Weeklyʼs Coach of the team concept of playing Year. football,” Gilbert said. St. Joeʼs beat St. “After Week 4, we got Francis 49-20 in Ralph them to believe in each Wilson Stadium last other. They were trying weekend to win the Msgr. to play outside of them- Martin Association selves. Guys had to League AA title. start doing their own job “We continued to and trust that their team- progress and improve,” mates would theirs.” Gilbert said. “It was a Gilbert said that this great effort in all facets of was one of the closest the game. Offense teams he has coached defense and special in his career. teams were all strong.” “They truly liked each The win also finished other,” Gilbert said. an amazing turn-around “each one of them had a for the Marauders. After ton of respect for his Week 4, St. Joeʼs stood teammates, from the at 1-3 and had been superstar to the 40th kid beaten 49-21 by local on the roster. “ rival St. Francis. Gilbert is in his first “I wasnʼt discouraged,” season as St. Joeʼs Gilbert said. “We knew head coach. He was that we werenʼt that far hired in February to take away. We knew we could over for longtime coach move the ball on anybody. Bob OʼConnor. We just had to take better Gilbert started at QB care of the football.” Photo by Mark Adair for OʼConnor in 1983 Gilbert says that he St. Joe’s coach Dennis Gilbert was named Coach and 1984. needed to point his players “I got a full dose of of the Year after leading the Marauders to the in a positive direction after Bob, first as a coach Msgr. Martin AA League championship. the loss to St. Francis. and then as a player,” “We talked right on the field after the game,” he said. Gilbert said. “I learned a ton from him.” “We said ʻThis is where our season starts.ʼ We stayed When Gilbert was interviewed for the job, the positive, focused on film and the scouting package for the Marauders had lost to Canisius five straight times. St. next game. The kids bought into it.” Joeʼs had not played for a Msgr. Martin title in three years. Seven weeks later, the Marauders had claimed their “I was asked what we needed to do differently,” he first league title since 2006. They won 5 of their final 7 said. “I said that we needed to get our swagger back. We games, losing only to Ohio-based powerhouse teams, are St. Joeʼs. We expect to be the best and nothing else and defeated arch-rival Canisius twice in that stretch. is acceptable. We had lost some of that swagger. We “Thereʼs no doubt that we were a very different team canʼt expect people to roll over for us but the kids had to from Week 1 to Week 10,” Gilbert said. “We were very have a sense of the pride and tradition that comes with inexperienced team at the start of the season and we being a student at St. Joeʼs.” matured. The kids gradually got better day-by-day in Gilbert played four seasons of football at St. Joeʼs. practice.” See “Cover Story” on page 19 Gilbert said that the coaching staff emphasized that 18 Upstate Football Weekly CoverStory continued from page 18 After graduating, he joined OʼConnorʼs coaching staff and eventually took over the JV program. In 18 years with the JV team, Gilbert led the Marauders to more than 100 wins. “We might go out and lose a game,” he said, “but we never got outhit. You have to be physical and you have to be mentally tough. No matter what happens, keep swing- ing. We might get beat but the other team was going to know who they played.” When he was named as the fifth coach in the programʼs history, Gilbert says he was initially overwhelmed. “Tucker Reddington and Bob OʼConnor set the bar pretty high at St. Joeʼs,” Gilbert said. “They built a legacy and, even more, they built expectations. Both of them were TRAINING THE HEART OF A CHAMPION FROM THE INSIDE OUT workaholics who were committed to the program and the kids. They were committed to teaching all the time.” The Heart of a Champion Character Playbook Gilbertʼs full-time job is as a City of Buffalo Police word-of-the-week is Competitor. Officer. He was