Jerry Sullivan

Last March, Ty Harper held his first meeting with the team as the new head football coach of the Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton Eagles. They had barely started when Walter Lukasiak, a junior two-way lineman, said, “What are you going to do to get us over the hump?” Harper laughed at the memory. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard it. He’d heard the whispers around a small town. He knew the expectations would be sky high for a man with three state championships on his resume. “I heard some...

BUFFALO — They’re back! After losing in the sectional semifinals a year ago, Bennett High is returning to the New York State football semifinals for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Senior Jimmy Valentine rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns as Bennett, playing on its home field at All-High Stadium, knocked off Penfield in the Class AA regionals, 26-14. The Tigers, now 10-1, will face Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse next in the state semifinals at Cicero-North Cicero....

BUFFALO — Lackawanna silenced a lot of doubters this season. The Steelers were expected to take a step back after graduating a slew of seniors. But they played up to their own expectations and won a Section VI championship. But there was no doubting who was the better team in Saturday’s Far West Class B regional at All-High Stadium. Monroe came in as the unbeaten No. 1 team in the state and a heavy favorite. Lackawanna gave the Red Jackets a scare, but talent prevailed as an immensely...