In a rematch of last year’s Section VI Class B title game the Cheektowaga Warriors bullied their way to a 14-7 win at Pioneer Friday. Sophomore Jacorey Haynes caught 6 passes for 124 yards, the game winning touchdown and a 2-point conversion leading Cheektowaga (3-1) to the victory.
Pioneer (3-1) turned the ball over four times and were unable to take advantage of a handful of penalties committed by the Warriors.
“I felt we were in control for most of the game,” Cheektowaga Head Coach Mike Fatta said. “Our biggest problem continues to be penalties and you saw the big drives they had were the result of us hurting ourselves.”
The Panthers also had trouble sustaining drives throughout the game. Until Friday night’s divisional game against Cheektowaga their running game was the talk of the town. But the Warriors were ready for the Panthers and kept their two-man running back system of Tra’e Hill and Tyler Ely under 100 yards combined. Before Friday’s game the duo had rushed for over 800 yards and 10 TD’s combined.
Dante Burnett Jr. had a team high 11 tackles and recovered a fumble for the Warriors.
“This was a total team effort,” Burnett Jr. said. “Our defense stepped up and made the plays we had to make to get the win.”
The Warriors defense came to play, limiting the Pioneer offense to 170 total yards with just 63 on the ground.
Quantrail Moss opened up the scoring with a 4-yard reception in the first quarter. The PAT attempt was blocked and Cheektowaga clung to a 6-0 lead into the third quarter.
Ely evened the score late in the third with a 1-yard run and kicker Karson Hurlburt’s boot gave the Panthers a 7-6 lead.
Cheektowaga responded in the 4th ; Aaron Smith connected with Haynes for a 25-yard TD and again on the 2-point conversion to put the Warriors out front for good.
“Fatta drew up that play and we executed,” Haynes said after the game. “It wasn’t a pretty game but we got the win and that’s all that matters.”
I asked Haynes about all the penalties the team took and he admitted that the Warriors know they need to work on that if they are to make another run towards a State title.
Another player that stood out for Cheektowaga was running back Camren Warburton. Just a Freshman, Warburton finished with 140 yards on the ground and probably could have had 200 if not for the holding calls.
“We have work to do,” Pioneer Head Coach Jim Duprey said after the game. “I’m very proud of my team. They played hard all game and never quit but we will learn from this and get better.”
The Panthers will travel to Lake Shore (2-2) next Friday in what could be a must win game for Pioneer. Meanwhile Cheektowaga, now 3-0 in the division are in sole possession of first place with one more divisional game to be played against Lake Shore on October 11th. They’ll host Class A Grand Island (2-2) next week in a non-league game.
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