Local Sports

Time to defend titles

CL/W/B to face powerful B/R-H rushing attack Friday

AMHERST -- Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton's defense loves a challenge.

Just last week against Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove, the Eagles faced a pair of fourth downs inside their own 10-yard line to preserve their fourth shutout of the season.

Both times, Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton rose to the challenge to force incompletions from the Herd.

The defense will face another challenge Friday afternoon at the University at Buffalo when the Eagles take on Barker/Royalton-Hartland in the Section VI Class C championship game at 2 p.m. inside Broadview Stadium.

"They're going to try and stay on schedule," Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton head coach Ty Harper said Tuesday at Section VI media day. "We have to be disciplined, read our keys and everybody has to do their job."

The Bulls, Class C North's No. 1 team, feature Section VI's leading rusher Carter Dersarkissian, a senior who has carried the ball 200 times for 2,005 yards and 32 touchdowns on the season.

"We've been great at stopping the run all season," Eagles senior linebacker Lance Franklin said. " ... Right up the middle is my specialty, so I’ll be there."

Dersarkissian is not the only threat with the ball in his hands for Barker/Royalton-Hartland, which has outscored opponents 435-259 and hasn't lost since a season-opening 50-26 defeat against Newfane. Bulls senior Aaron Bowerman has 73 carries for 720 yards and five touchdowns while junior Owen Maedel has added 53 rushes for 330 yards and six touchdowns.

"Holding the line is the main thing. We have a lot of pride in everything we do on defense," Franklin said. "We plan on taking every hit to make sure we keep them in the backfield."

Tasked with stifling the powerful Barker/Royalton-Hartland rushing attack will be defensive coordinator Chris Payne's unit led by Franklin, who has been credited with 104 tackles, including 15 for a loss, to go along with two sacks and five interceptions.

Junior Tristen Gibbs is second on the Eagles in tackles with 90, including six for a loss, to go along with two interceptions, while senior Trent Ramm, junior Lane Scarpine and senior Thandon Bensink all have 50-plus tackles.

"Knowing that the defense is pretty stout, sometimes that dictates whether or not you are playing to maybe try and convert on a fourth-and-long or maybe play the field-position game," Harper said. "Historically, I've always tried to be aggressive in my play calling. ... If anything, I feel more confident in my play calling knowing that if we don't convert, the defense is probably going to pick us up. They have been fantastic this year and hopefully we can support them on offense this week."

Barker/Royalton-Hartland junior quarterback Max Townsend has completed 30 of 48 passes for 365 yards and seven touchdowns.

Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton has found its footing in recent weeks after a stretch of losing two out of three Class C South games in the middle of the season. Following a 14-8 loss to Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove on Oct. 9, the Eagles have rattled off four straight victories, including three shutouts. After beating Fredonia and Gowanda/Pine Valley by identical 21-0 scores to end the regular season, Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton has beaten Springville 40-6 and Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove 14-0 in the postseason.

"Hopefully we can put it all together," Harper said. "In the Springville game, we scored 40. We really put together some good drives against Gowanda/Pine Valley. We're in a better place now than we were a month ago."

Gibbs leads the Eagles in rushing with 153 carries for 783 yards and 10 touchdowns while Bensink has 88 carries for 380 yards and five touchdowns.

"Our offensive line is coming along. We replaced four starters from last year's team. I think maybe people don't fully recognize how important the offensive line is in a team's success," Harper said. "I think these guys are working hard and have gotten better."

Sophomore quarterback Josh Swan, who took over the job in Week 2, has completed 63 of 121 passes for 820 yards and 13 touchdowns with 12 interceptions while also rushing 70 times for 216 yards and a score.

"I think the quarterback has gotten progressively better and more confident throughout the season," Harper said. "I'm proud of Josh. Coming into the year we maybe didn't foresee him playing such a major role in the offense. He's worked really hard to get better."

Swan's top target this fall has been junior Aiden Woodis, who has 27 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Ian Kindermann leads Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton in receiving yards with 377 on just 16 catches -- eight of those have gone for touchdowns.

"Every team is different from year to year," Harper said. "Some years you are able to generate explosive plays and score in bunches, maybe some other years you are working with some guys who aren't as experienced and you are trying to build their confidence throughout the year."

The winner of Friday's game will advance to next Saturday's noon Far West Regional against Section V's champion at SUNY Brockport's Bob Boozer Field at Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium. Hornell/Arkport-Canaseraga and Caledonia-Mumford/LeRoy will play for the Rochester area's title at noon this Saturday at St. John Fisher University.

"I'm ready for another sectional championship game," said Franklin, whose Eagles will be seeking their fourth title while neither Barker nor Royalton-Hartland has ever won one.