Rowdy rivalry
Fredonia finishes season with win over Dunkirk
OBSERVER Photo by Ashleigh Brown Fredonia's Ayden Wronski looks for running room as Max Cuthbert (54) blocks Dunkirk's Jayden Kenner (32) during nonleague football action at the Orange Bowl in Fredonia on Friday night.
OBSERVER Photo by Ashleigh Brown Dunkirk's Sam Ramos attempts to reel in a pass while being defended by Fredonia's Paul Tabone.
OBSERVER Photo by Ashleigh Brown Fredonia's Logan Dowdy takes down Dunkirk's Jordan Thomas Smith during nonleague football action at the Orange Bowl on Friday night.
OBSERVER Photo by Ashleigh Brown Fredonia's Ayden Wronski looks for running room as Max Cuthbert (54) blocks Dunkirk's Jayden Kenner (32) during nonleague football action at the Orange Bowl in Fredonia on Friday night.
OBSERVER Photo by Ashleigh Brown Dunkirk's Sam Ramos attempts to reel in a pass while being defended by Fredonia's Paul Tabone.
OBSERVER Photo by Ashleigh Brown Fredonia's Logan Dowdy takes down Dunkirk's Jordan Thomas Smith during nonleague football action at the Orange Bowl on Friday night.
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FREDONIA -- The standings would tell you that Friday's game between the Fredonia Hillbillies and the Dunkirk Marauders did not count for much. The two teams entered the game with losing records and playoff hopes already extinguished.
Friday night was not about what happened before it this season. It was about a rivalry that dates back over 100 years, a trophy to highlight community pride, and bragging rights between the two schools.
For those who root for the home team, Friday was the highlight of their season.
Thanks to two touchdowns apiece from Graham Putney and Ayden Wronski, the Fredonia Hillbillies defeated the Dunkirk Marauders 29-7 in a nonleague rivalry game at the Orange Bowl.
Things started very well for Fredonia (4-4), as a third-down conversion followed by a read-option keeper by Noah Palisin put the Hillbillies deep into Dunkirk (2-6) territory. Three plays later, Wronski powered through a Dunkirk tackler into the end zone for the game's first score, just over three minutes into play.
Dunkirk's ensuing drive was mired in penalties, as most of the opening half was. The Marauders possessed the ball for nearly nine full minutes, but turned the ball over on downs at the Fredonia 23-yard line. The drive spanned 8:53 and covered 62 yards, but resulted in no points.
Fredonia's second drive ended with a punt after a penalty wiped out a long gain on third-and-long. Dunkirk punted on its next drive, as well, then Fredonia was faced with a decision on fourth-and-3. Palisin took a sack and turned the ball over on downs, setting Dunkirk up with good field position.
Dunkirk got the spark it was looking for on its next drive, as a deep ball down the Marauders' sideline was caught by Jordan Thomas Smith. The 29-yard completion on third-and-10 set the Marauders up at the 6-yard line. On the next play, Joshua Pacheco ran it right up the middle for the game-tying score. With 3:28 left in the first half, it was all even at 7-7.
The Marauders' quick score appeared to light a fire under the Hillbillies. Markell Davis responded with a huge kick return down the Fredonia sideline. A personal foul at the end of the return set the Hillbillies up at the Dunkirk 23-yard line for its next possession.
The short field immediately paid off, as Palisin found Putney in the back of the end zone. Putney soared for the catch in tight coverage and immediately gave Fredonia the lead again, 14-7, with 1:26 left in the half. The Hillbillies put an end to Dunkirk's next drive with an interception to build upon the momentum heading into halftime.
Putney was far from finished on the evening. Just past the halfway point in the third quarter, Putney reeled in another contested touchdown catch, just inches above the ground, to double the Hillbillies' lead, 21-7. Dunkirk trailed by that same score entering the final frame.
Positive field position benefited Fredonia again in the fourth quarter, as Dunkirk punted from its own end zone and the Hillbillies began in the red zone. Two plays later, Wronski powered through the Dunkirk defense for another Fredonia touchdown. A 2-point conversion after a roughing the kicker penalty increased the Hillbillies' lead to 29-7 with 9:39 left to play. From there, Fredonia put the finishing touches on the victory.
As the winning team, Fredonia received the Central Connection Cup trophy, a tradition that Fredonia Mayor Mike Ferguson and Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz started in 2024. Donations were also given to both teams to benefit each school's football programs. In 2024, Dunkirk won the trophy on Fredonia's home field, and last year, the Hillbillies returned the favor in Dunkirk.