One team is looking for its second regional win in four years. The other looking for back-to-back state quarterfinal victories. The No. 1 seed from Section V Class C ER/Gananda and No. 2 seed from Section VI Salamanca meet in the Far West Regional, Saturday at Pittsford Sutherland High School. Here’s what you need to know:
SALAMANCA WARRIORS (11-0, 8-0 in league play/ No. 1 NYSSWA)
vs.
EAST ROCHESTER/GANANDA BOMBERS (9-1,8-0 class play/ No. 5 NYSSWA)
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.
How they arrived here: ER/Gananda snagged the No. 1 seed in the Class C playoffs and earned a bye in the five-team playoff. The Bombers took on No. 5 seed Hornell/Arkport-Canaseraga in the semi-finals and won 45-30 and then defeated Le Roy/Cal-Mum 26-13. Salamanca opened the postseason with a 49-12 win over Cleveland Hill. The Warriors then defeated Medina, 50-7 and Portville, 40-14.
Players to watch for ER/Gananda: Ben Newman Sr. QB (2,364 passing yards, 66.67 completion percentage, 31 passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns); Cadearrell Sneed Jr. Sr. RB/S (1,164 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 342 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns); Noah Mather Sr. WR/DB (46 receptions, 939 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns); Justice Allen Jr. WR/DB (33 receptions, 573 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns); Bryce Panzarella Jr. FB/S (76 tackles, 14 TFLs, two sacks, one forced fumble, one intercept, one pass break up); Ray Allen Jr. WR/DB (74 tackles, 16 TFLs, four sacks, two fumble recoveries).
Players to watch for Salamanca: Maddox Issac Sr. QB (59-for-90 passing, 1291 yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, 58 carries, 942 yards, 16.2 yards per carry, 15 rushing touchdowns, 2,233 total yards); Xavier Peters Sr. RB/DE (82 carries, 1160 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, five receptions, 189 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, 55 total tackles, nine sacks, seven tackles for loss); Cory Holleran Sr. WR/DB (22 receptions, 611 receiving yards, seven touchdowns, 105 total tackles, seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown); Zachary Trietley Sr. LB (135 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, four sacks, one fumble recovery); Warrick Kyler Sr. DL (66 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, one sack); Connor Seeley So. RB (46 carries, 259 yards, two touchdowns)
Coaches: Tim Rose (ER/Gananda), Chad Bartoszek (Salamanca)
History 101: ER/Gananda is making its third appearance in the regional game, entering with a split record. The Bombers most recent matchup being in 2021 (beat Medina, 26-24). The Bombers also appeared in 2012 in the Class B (lost to Alden, 35-7).
Salamanca is making its seventh appearance in a quarterfinal matchup, coming in with a 3-3 record. The Warriors have won their last three regional matchups, all coming against Le Roy (2023, 21-13) (2001, 28-23) (1999, 22-13). The Warriors last loss in the quarterfinals came in 1998 (Le Roy, 28-16).
Section V is 3-7 in the past 10 Class C regional games. Along with ER/Gananda’s win in 2021, Haverling beat Maple Grove/Chautauqua Lake in 2015 (16-8) and Bishop Kearney took a 40-38 decision over Cleveland Hill in 2016.
What’s next: The winner of Saturday’s game will face either Section IV’s Chenango Forks or Section III’s General Brown in the state semifinals
A 3 p.m. kickoff is scheduled Saturday at Pittsford Sutherland High School.
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