The Warriors won their first three games of the year, including a 14-13 league victory over Southwestern in Week 2. Their lone regular-season loss of the season came in Week 5 when league-champion Fredonia won 42-19.

After winning their final four games, including a forfeit over Gowanda/Pine Valley, the Warriors earned a home playoff game at Veterans Park, but lost to Class C Central No. 2 seed Lackawanna 14-0 in the Section VI quarterfinals.

“Last year, the successes we had throughout the regular season were phenomenal. We had a very good senior class in terms of not only their physical ability on the field, but they were also a great leadership group,” Salamanca head coach Chad Bartoszek said. “They had a lot of success throughout their careers in other sports — basketball and lacrosse were sectional champs. That group knew how to win and I think a lot of that had to do with our success.”

KEY LOSSES: Kody Shinners was a Post-Journal/OBSERVER All-Star and Class C South First-Team All-Star. Tre Turner was also a league First-Team All-Star; Harley Hoag and Shawn Pierce were named to the league’s Second Team; and Eion Quigley received Honorable-Mention recognition.

Running backs and quarterbacks, pictured, in front, from left, are: Zaron Tucker, Avery Brown, Quinton Jones and Joshua Aumun. In back are: Jaxson Ross, Jesse Stahlman and Maddox Isaac.

“We were able to hold it together in close games that we may be lost in previous years. We had big, tough, physical, smart football players. We were a tough out,” Bartoszek said.

Senior quarterback Hayden Hoag also graduated.

“He brought a lot of qualities to each program in which he participated,” Bartoszek said of Hayden Hoag. “It just resonated throughout. Every day he was really consistent and very focused.”

KEY RETURNEES: Maddox Isaac, who filled in for an injured Hoag during the Warriors’ playoff game against Lackawanna is returning at quarterback while junior Jaxson Ross, who played on the JV team as a freshman but didn’t play last season, is also back.

“Maddox has a little bit of experience as a sophomore,” Bartoszek said.

Salamanca tight ends and wide receivers, pictured, in front, from left, are: Kruz Coustensis, Kash Ball, Arlen Newark, Takota Armstrong and Cory Holleran. In back are: Tayoni Galante, Jason McGraw, Carmine Pierce, Archer Newark and John Brandon.

Jesse Stahlman, a Post-Journal/OBSERVER All-Star as well as Class C South First-Team selection, will carry a lion’s share of the load in the backfield.

“He’s going to be our leader. That’s what we’re asking, for him to take over that leadership role,” Bartoszek said. “Skill-wise he’s going to be as good as there is.”

With Turner and Shinners gone on the line, Salamanca will look toward Jaxon Tarr, a returning Second-Team all-league selection to anchor the line. Offensive line coach Paul Furlong is also a plus for the Warriors’ younger players.

“Any time you are running a system, you are going to need protection or some holes opened up,” Bartoszek said. “We can’t expect (Stahlman) to do it all on his own. We have a pretty sound group coming up. There is only one senior returning as a starter on the line, but they’ve been in the program. We’ve had the same o-line coach for three or four years now.”

Zaron Tucker was also a Class C South Honorable-Mention pick last fall.

Salamanca linemen, pictured, in front, from left, are: Seth Stahlman, Dekkyn Krantz, Cameron McGraw, Jaxon Tarr and Camden Farmer. In back are: Thunder Isaac, Gabe White, Keegan Hardy, Junie Buffalo and Carson Mohr.

OUTLOOK FOR CLASS C SOUTH: In the six-team league, each school plays five divisional games and three nonleague games. Salamanca will play its league schedule over five of the final six weeks.

“Fredonia and Southwestern every year are tough. Southwestern has been a power going back to since I was playing. It’s been a couple of decades of them being toward the top,” Bartoszek said. “Fredonia, last year, was so explosive. (Quarterback Nick) Whitfield had one of the best games at quarterback against us that I’ve seen in a while.”

Bartoszek was quick to mention that Allegany-Limestone, which returns a large group of seniors, should not be overlooked.

“They gave us some fits up front and we had to beat them in the passing game,” Bartoszek said of the Gators. “That’s a team that’s going to be tough up front to deal with.

“I think we’re going to have to figure out ways to win. Our defense at times has always held us in these games,” Bartoszek added. “Our defense is going to have to be sound.”

KEY GAME: Salamanca opens with a pair of nonleague games. After hosting Randolph on Saturday, Sept. 3 at Veterans Park, the Warriors will travel to Cleveland Hill on Saturday, Sept. 10.

“We are opening with Randolph, who is arguably the best team in Class D throughout the state,” Bartoszek said. “Playing Randolph is always going to be a tough fight. I do remember years ago when they just kept reloading, you wanted to get them early, but this year they are all coming back.

“It’ll be a fun night,” he added. “(Randolph head coach) Brent (Brown’s) going to bring down a great team. It’ll be great energy down here on a Saturday night.”

SENIORS: Takota Armstrong, Kash Ball, John Brandon, Junie Buffalo, Thunder Isaac, Quinton Jones, Jason McGraw, Carson Mohr, Jesse Stahlman, Zaron Tucker, Jaxon Tarr, Gabe White

JUNIORS: Joshua Aumun, Camden Farmer, Tayoni Galante, Keegan Hardy, Dekkyn Krantz, Cameron McGraw, Archer Newark, Arlen Newark, Carmine Pierce, Jaxson Ross, Seth Stahlman

SOPHOMORES: Avery Brown, Kruz Coustensis, Cory Holleran, Maddox Isaac