One wouldn’t have known it 24 hours later.

Senior quarterback Brayden Gibbs passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to highlight the Eagles’ 42-0 victory over Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove in a Class C South game at Bill Race Field on Friday night.

The win, which improved Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s record to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the division, clinched a playoff berth for Harper’s crew heading into next Friday’s game against Salamanca.

Against the Herd (3-4, 3-3), which was coming off an impressive win last week against Portville, Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton scored touchdowns on three of its five first-half possessions to build a 21-0 lead at the break. The first score was a 2-yard run by Thandon Bensink; the second was an 8-yard pass from Brayden Gibbs to Aiden Woodis; and the third was a 4-yard run by Tristen Gibbs. Carson Fairbank booted all three extra-point tries — he was 6 for 6 on the night — to leave Harper with a good feeling heading into halftime.

Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s Asher Olson gets under a 22-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Gibbs during Class C South action against the Herd at Bill Race Field on Friday.

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s best chance to cut into the lead and maybe seize some of the momentum came on its first possession of the third quarter when Taylor Jones ripped off an apparent 51-yard touchdown run. But the Herd was called for holding and, two plays later, the hosts turned the ball over on downs.

Taking full advantage, Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton needed six plays to find the end zone, the capper coming on Brayden Gibbs’ 22-yard strike to Asher Olson, pushing the Eagles’ lead to 28-0 with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s defense forced another turnover on downs and Brayden Gibbs made the Herd pay, scoring on a 1-yard TD run that was set up by his 33-yard completion to Devin Hewes.

Armed with a 35-0 lead after three quarters, the Eagles tacked on one more TD, this time on Lane Scarpine’s 2-yard plunge with 5:04 remaining in the game.

NOTES: Unofficially, Brayden Gibbs completed 9 of 16 passes for 134 yards and the two touchdowns. He was intercepted once. … Olson had a fumble recovery for the Eagles to spearhead their defense, which limited Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s Taylor Jones to, unofficially, 61 yards on 21 carries. … Jones did pick off a pass in the end zone on Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s first possession of the game. … The Eagles close out the regular season next Friday when they entertain Salamanca, a 44-12 winner over Fredonia on Thursday. The Herd, meanwhile, will take on Southwestern/Frewsburg at Southwestern on Friday. The Trojans defeated Clymer/Sherman/Panama 27-14 last night.

Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton 14 7 14 7 — 42

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove 0 0 0 0 — 0

CL/W/B–Bensink 3 run (Fairbank kick)

CL/W/B–Woodis 8 pass from Brayden Gibbs (Fairbank kick)

CL/W/B–Tristen Gibbs 4 run (Fairbank kick)

CL/W/B–Olson 22 pass from BGibbs (Fairbank kick)

CL/W/B–BGibbs 1 run (Fairbank kick)

CL/W/B–Scarpine 2 run (Fairbank kick)