Chautaugua Lake/Westfield/Brocton heading to NYSPHSAA semifinals

BUFFALO — Evidently, Ty Harper didn’t win three state championships by accident.

Harper, who coached CSP to three titles before taking over at Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton this season, is taking another school to the state semifinals after his Eagles rallied to beat Alexander/Pembroke, 11-8, on Saturday in the Class C Far West regionals at All-High Stadium.

Trailing 8-0, midway through the third quarter, Chautauqua Lake found its missing offense and put together two scoring drives before the end of the period to take the lead, then held off the Thunder from there.

Senior Carson Fairbanks, one of the top kickers in the section, booted a 32-yard field goal with 1:14 left in the third quarter for the winning points. Brayden Gibbs had connected with Asher Olson for a 30-yard touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion minutes earlier to tie the game 8-8.

Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton, which had stunned Southwestern in the Section VI final last week, had just 150 yards of total offense. But 85 of it came on those two scoring drives in the third period. Certainly, Harper made some adjustments after a dismal offensive first 24 minutes.

The Thunder led, 2-0, after a ragged and defensive first half. Chautauqua Lake got off to a promising start, driving all the way to the A/P 27-yard line. But the drive stalled and after that the Eagles had virtually zero offense the rest of the opening half, spending the second quarter pinned in their own end.

A/P finally broke through after a Mason ‘Duke’ Snyder punt rolled out of bounds at the Chautauqua Lake 7. Snyder took a high snap and had to sidestep to avoid a block before getting off a good punt. On the first scrimmage play, A/P defensive end Wyatt Summers sacked quarterback Brayden Gibbs in the end zone for a safety and 2-0 Thunder lead.

Ryder Reichert (19 carries, 73 yards) scored on a 16-yard run to give A/P an 8-0 lead on the first possession of the second half. Then Chautauqua Lake went to work. Brayden Gibbs, who threw for 99 yards on the day, made several huge throws in the third, including the TD pass to Olson and a 30-yard heave to Devin Hewes that set up the winning field goal.

The Thunder made it interesting, driving into Eagles territory on a couple of big throws by Brady Heckman (8-16, 110 yards). But Chautauqua Lake got some big defensive plays — a Clayton Smith sack, a Fairbanks pass breakup and, finally, a tipped interception by sophomore Tristen Gibbs on fourth down to seal it.

Chautauqua Lake moves on to the state ‘C’ semifinals next weekend at Cicero North against the winner of General Brown and Chenango Forks.

Gallery by Jeff Pataky/WNYAthletics