Warriors Win Season Opener vs Dunkirk

Cheektowaga Central, fresh off a state semi-final appearance, opened the 2016 season by hosting the Dunkirk Marauders, who lost to Burgard in round one of the postseason last year.

The game started off as a defensive showcase, as both sides went 3 and out back-to-back times. QB Eric Bartnik and HB Seven Turpin couldn’t seem to pick up anything on the Dunkirk D-Line, and the same for Marauders QB Evon Hernandez and his backfield.

The first score of the game came just under 5 minutes into the contest, as Dunkirks Alton Ingram broke loose on a long distance 40-yarder, into the endzone. The extra point was kicked good from Marauder Center and Kicker, Jon Alicea. 7-0 was the Dunkirk lead with just over 8 minutes to go in the first quarter.

The next drive, Bartnik had a huge 45 yard carry which brought the team down to the one yard line, and he punched in the TD with another QB carry. Cheektowaga’s kicker, Kyle Krzanowicz, was still at his varsity soccer game at Depew which went into double overtime, so former JV kicker Bartnik attempted the extra point, but he was hit hard on the play, drawing a flag. Bartnik was feeling just fine as he then ran in the 2-point conversion the next play.

At the end of quarter number one, it was an 8-7 Cheektowaga lead.

Defense was the name of the game for both teams. Dunkirk looked to the ground game while Cheektowaga went through the air with plenty of Bartnik to WR Stephan Parker plays. Neither side, though, could get more than the defense was giving them, which was very little.

Coming into the second quarter, Cheektowaga was driving down the field. Seven Turpin was moving the chains, play after play, and with 10:44 on the clock remaining in the half, Bartnik connects with Stephan Parker again. Parker used his 6’5 frame to grab the ball over the Dunkirk cornerback, adding 6 to the Warriors total. Krzanowicz was back for this kick, but it was no good; 14-7 the Warriors were in front.

A quick 3 and out for Dunkirk gave Cheektowaga possession of the ball again, and Bartnik did his thing, moving the ball with his throws and runs. Solid blocks were provided by Kiar Parker of Central, allowing Bartnik to pick up an extra few on each carry. After a few runs from Bartnik, the Warriors looked to the air with Parker receiving a beautiful throw to bring Cheektowaga to the 30. A few short plays later, Eric Bartnik throws a perfect 35 yard ball to Junior WR Tommy Zolnowski, who makes a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch to bring in his first varsity touchdown.

Down 20-7 at this point, the Marauders couldn’t get much going offensively. The first half would end with Dunkirk at 7 and Cheektowaga with 20.

Dunkirk started with the ball for the second half. The coach told the guys to “have some heart. We needed to come together and stick together and play for each other.” His message spoke to his team for at least the first drive as Dunkirk marched down the field with Juan Damas and Dontrell Clemons up front. A swifty drive leading to a TD from Juan Damas on the ground had Marauder fans hoping for a comeback.

The Warriors went three and out, and then the visitors as well, but on the punt, Warriors D-back Ryan Carpenter blocks it. John Sweat of Cheektowaga recovers the ball on Dunkrik’s 15. This was the start of the John Sweat show at Warrior Field. A 12-yard pass from Bartnik to Parker gave the Warriors a comfortable 27-13 lead as Krzanowicz hits his first ever extra-point kick.

The remainder of the game was dominated by defense and the Warriors’ secondary of Trevor Darlak, John Sweat, and Adam Bellaus. The three backers combined for over 15 tackles, a majority for a loss, and 6 sacks in the third and fourth quarters alone. Sweat says that when you’re up against bigger players, “you have to play with a bigger mindset. You just have to attack them like you would any other player.”

Dunkirk will head to Olean next week Friday, where Coach Michael Sarratori says they will not rebound but rather build off of it. “We played the best team in WNY today and we beat ourselves on a few plays. We can build off of this and move forward.”

Cheektowaga will be on the road next week at Tonawanda in a battle between the Warriors.