QUICK HITS (CLASS B FINAL): Moore leads Steelers to Class B Title

Orchard Park, NY - One of the most accomplished programs to ever play at Highmark Stadium returned to football glory Friday night as Lackawanna defeated West Seneca East 44 -22 to win the Section VI Class B Title.   

Senior quarterback Michael Moore Steelers throwing 3 touchdowns and rushing for two others. Moore finished 10-of-15 passing for 196 yards and had 10 rushes for 25 yards to help the Steelers improve to 9-2 on the season. 

Lackawanna trailed 8-0 early in the first quarter. DJ Benker led West Seneca East on a 71-yard opening drive. The senior QB started things off with a nice 61-yard run down to the Steelers 10-yard line, and capped the drive off with a TD run a play later.

Lackawanna responded though. Moore guided the Steelers on a TD drive of their own, calling his own number for the score. The 2-pt try failed however.  

From there on out, Lackawanna’s defense buttoned up considerably. Specifically Kurt Stevens Jr and Reginald Jackson, the two had Benker on the run for much of the game.

The Trojans offense struggled to pick up first downs the rest of the half, while Lackawanna took advantage of good field position and scored two more touchdowns before the half.’

Moore scored his 2nd touchdown midway through the 2nd quarter and then tossed a 36-yard score to Orlando Taylor III on the ensuing drive. The Steelers took a 20-8 lead into the half.

The Trojans recovered an onsides kick to start the third quarter, but cold not take advantage of the great field position and turned the ball over on downs.

D’Andre Gatson stripped Benker of the ball deep in WSE territory near the end of the third quarter and JC Hill-Mcglothin was there to recover inside the Trojans endzone. 

Benker hit Joey Molnar for a 36-yard touchdown play to make it a 36-14 game.

Moore threw his third touchdown pass to Naseam Dahli at the 5:30 mark of the 4th, and Jamere Valentine added a late touchdown for the Trojans to round out the scoring.

Raymare Smith, made a nice tackle late in the 4th quarter to help preserve the win. Malachi Adams had 2 sacks for Lackawanna. 

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Benker led WSE with 132 passing yards and 115 yards rushing. The Trojans finish the season 8-3.

Lackawanna advances to the Far West Regionals next Friday night at All-High Stadium where they will face an opponent from Section V (Rochester).