One squad captured its 15th sectional title in program history and first since 2018. The other captured its first sectional title since 2019. Aquinas and Lancaster will do battle on Friday to determine who advances to the NYS Class AA Semifinal. Here’s the breakdown:
LANCASTER LEGENDS (9-2/8-1 in class play / No. 21 NYSSWA)
vs.
AQUINAS LI’L IRISH (9-2 / 8-2 in class play / No. 23 NYSSWA)
How they arrived here: Aquinas defeated Penfield (35-0) and McQuaid (21-6) to advance to the Section V Class AA title game. The Li’l Irish then beat Rush-Henrietta (48-14) to capture the Section V title. Lancaster took down Lockport (40-8), Orchard Park (41-9) and Jamestown (28-21) to capture the Section VI championship.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.
Players to watch for Aquinas: Trent Buttles So. QB (87 completions, 1,486 yards, 16:2 TD/INT ratio, 34 carries, 229 yards, two touchdowns); Derrion Battle Sr. RB/SS (196 carries, 1,322 yards, 12 touchdowns, 13 catches, 311 yards, four touchdowns); Jeff Logan Jr. RB/LB (50 carries, 450 yards, eight touchdowns); Thomas Levins So. WR/DB (22 catches, 296 yards, five touchdowns); Lucas Leone Sr. LB/OL (101 tackles, 10 TFL, two fumble recoveries, All-Time Section V Tackle leader); Noah Collins-Howard So. WR/DB 18 catches, 452 yards, five touchdowns); CJ Flaherty Jr. OL/LB 72 tackles, six TFL, one fumble recovery, one interception) Frank Burgess Jr. DL/OL (66 tackles, seven TFL, one fumble recovery, three sacks); Quante Gillians Sr. DE/TE (40 tackles, 10 TFL, 11 sacks).
Lancaster: Alex Krupa Sr. (160 completions, 2,189 yards, 18:7 TD/INT ratio); Daniel Ahearn Jr. (193 carries, 931 yards, 16 touchdowns, 19 catches, 202 yards, two touchdowns); Michael Falls Sr. (94 tackles, three interceptions, one defensive touchdown); John Gang Sr. (22 carries, 112 yards, six touchdowns, 64 catches, 827 yards, nine touchdowns); Brandon Budelewski Sr. (86 tackles, one interception, one defensive touchdown); Nathan Myers Sr. (69 tackles, eight TFL, six sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one defensive touchdown); Justin Hartwig (34 catches, 563 yards, four touchdowns); Blake Minsterman Sr. (31 catches, 479 yards, three touchdowns, 66 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble); Andrij Petryshyn Sr. (62 tackles, seven TFL, three sacks).
Coaches: Moe Jackson (Aquinas Institute), Eric Rupp (Lancaster)
History 101: Aquinas is making its 15th regional appearance with six of those trips coming in Class AA (nine appearances in Class A). The Li’l Irish are 10-4 all-time in regional games with their most recent win coming in 2018 against Lancaster (39-7). This will be the third time Aquinas and Lancaster have met in regionals with the teams splitting the previous two matchups. Lancaster won 9-0 in 2017. Lancaster is 1-4 in regional appearances in program history.
Section V and Section VI have split the last 10 state quarterfinal games played at AA with Section V wins coming in 2013 (Aquinas over Jamestown, 48-35), 2015 (Aquinas over Orchard Park, 42-7), 2016 (Victor over Lancaster, 33-27), 2018 (Aquinas over Lancaster, 39-7) and 2019 (McQuaid over Lancaster, 32-28). Section VI has won the last three matchups at the regional level.
What’s next: A spot in the NYS Class AA Semifinal against the winner of Elmira/Southside (IV) and Christan Brothers Academy (III).
A 7:30 p.m. kickoff is slated for Friday at SUNY Brockport.
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