Section VI Class C Preview

Last March Ty Harper, fresh off another state championship season as head coach of Clymer/Sherman/Panama decided it was time for a new challenge. Harper agreed to take over the Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton football program, another combined program with championship dreams of their own.

Harper, along with long time assistant Chris Payne went right to work, applying the same rules, lessons and work ethic that resulted in great success with the Wolfpack. The two will walk down the tunnel at Highmark Stadium together Thursday ready to lead the Eagles to their first Sectional title. “I’m proud of how hard the kids have worked since March,” Harper said. “I knew if we kept working everyday we could get here.”

The Eagles had a solid offensive unit returning, not as well oiled as the Wolfpack, but similar pieces and skill sets. They were just missing that deep playoff experience. 

Last season quarterback Brayden Gibbs, now a senior, tossed 28 touchdown passes, 3rd best in Section VI. This season he’s thrown 19, the workload on his shoulders has been minimized to allow for a more balanced offense. Thandon Bensink, a junior running back, saw his workload increase and the results have led to a 9-1 record, back-to-back playoff wins and a chance to win the Class C title.

Brayden Gibbs/CWB

The Eagles will take on the undefeated Southwestern/Frewsburg Trojan Bears (10-0). 

Last year, Frewsburg was a team playing 8-man football. Last spring the two storied programs decided to merge and the results have been well beyond expectations.

Jake Burkhlolder (Southwestern) remained head coach, while Rob Collver (Frewsburg) became an assistant. The two have worked beautifully together and are poised to make a run at a state title.

Trent Lewis, a Frewsburg student, is the quarterback and has been making plays on all sides of the ball this season. Lewis has scored 30 touchdowns, 13 by pass, 16 rushing and another on special teams. Bradyn Fuller, a senior from Southwestern has 17 rushing touchdowns and over 1400 yards rushing. 

This summer, Roger and Zach Markham transferred to Southwestern, and overnight the Trojan/Bears went from being a pretty good team to Sectional favorites. 

Roger, a senior, travelled with SW/F down to SUNY Cortland for the NYSHSFCA's annual 7v7 tournament, featuring the top teams in the State. He made an immediate impact, and the Trojan Bears finished second in their division to Monroe of Section V (a heavy favorite to win Class B).

Roger leads SW/F with 8 receiving touchdowns and is also a top corner on defense. His younger brother Zach, a junior, is one of the most physical linebackers this side of the state.

Earlier this season when these two teams played at Chautauqua Lake, the Trojan Bears scored two quick touchdowns in route to a 45-0 win. Nothing went right for the Eagles, it was the kind of performance that could take the life out of a locker room. However, with Harper and Payne in charge they sucked it up, told their players to forget about the game and move on. 

The following week CWB put up 64 points against Fredonia, and the week after they blanked Falconer 42-0. The Eagles won five straight, including victories over last season's Sec VI Class C champ Salamanca.

Last week they beat a hard hitting, smash mouth football team Barker/RoyHart 30-13, earning them a berth in the Class C finals Thursday.

The Trojan Bears have had little trouble in Class C this year, they’ve only trailed opponents twice all season. 

SW/F will be the favorite heading into Thursday’s final, CWB will have to find a way to contain Lewis if they want to keep their dreams alive.