2023 Championship Rematch set for Friday's Semifinals

The Varsity Football team will host the Medina Mustangs in the Class C Semifinal Playoff Game, a rematch of the 2023 Class C Championship.

Date: Friday, November 8, 2024

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Veterans Memorial Park

Olean Times Herald Preview (JP Butler)

Full Preview: Portville/C-R, Salamanca set for tough semifinal tests | Newsletter | oleantimesherald.com

"The second-seeded Warriors, after dispatching Cleveland Hill in the quarterfinals for a third-straight season, could conceivably meet the Panthers, with whom they waged a close regular season battle, in an all-Big 30 sectional final. But first, they’ll have to be the ones to get by Medina (8-1), which ranks No. 11 in the state in Class C and has won their last seven contests by an average of 37 points.

And, in almost echoing Brooks’ sentiment, Salamanca coach Chad Bartoszek acknowledged of the Mustangs: “They’ve got a great staff and a great thing going on up there. So, yeah, there’s some other teams we’d rather see, but we’ve got to take what’s in front of us.”

BRACKET SCRUTINY aside, at this stage — one game shy of a coveted trip to the home of the Buffalo Bills — neither local team would have expected to have it easy. And it almost certainly won’t be: Salamanca will be tasked with containing a Medina group that boasts “arguably the best running attack in the section,” one that features junior running back Christian Moss, who ranks third in Section 6 in rushing yards (1,825; 10.4 yards per carry) and second in touchdowns (26). Portville/C-R, meanwhile, will be asked to beat Chautauqua Lake for the second time in three weeks. This is an Eagles squad that will, of course, be looking to avenge that Week 8 loss and just eclipsed 40 points in a quarterfinal triumph over Alden (41-28).

So what’s each team’s outlook heading into those challenges, both of which will kick off tonight at 7 p.m.(Salamanca’s at Veterans Memorial Park and P/C-R’s a return trip to where it clinched a playoff berth on Oct. 25)?

“We’re expecting a dog fight,” Bartoszek said. “These guys are big up front and they like to bring it. With Moss and that big o-line, (they) power-counter all the time. We’re trying to replicate it in practice and you just can’t. You can’t do it. So everything we’re spending time on right now is positioning, alignment, assignment.”

IN LIEU of replicating “a little bit of that technique,” which Bartoszek said is too difficult to achieve in practice, the Warriors have been focusing on themselves. And that’s an approach that has worked splendidly of late.

Salamanca (9-0) has won 15-straight non-state final four contests dating back to October of 2023 and remains this region of the state’s Class C team to beat. Oh, and the Warriors, too, possess a dynamic run game, with Xavier Peters (964 yards, 12 TDs) and quarterback Maddox Isaac (776 yards, 11 score) ranking 12th and 24th in the section, respectively, in yards.

“Our mental part of it is, we’re going to take care of the physical part,” Bartoszek said. “(Our players) just have to be ready to go. They’ve answered the call each week. … We are just going to have to clog up those holes and make sure that Moss doesn’t have any room, because he’s as good as there is that we’re going to see in terms of finding a hole and a cutback lane.”

Salamanca is aiming for a second-consecutive sectional championship and Portville is looking to secure its first trip to Highmark since Brooks took the program’s reins in 2018 (and its first overall since winning the short-lived Class DD title in 2014).

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Friday’s playoff showdown between the Salamanca Warriors and the Medina Mustangs promises to be a high-energy clash with both teams bringing strong seasons into this matchup. Here's a breakdown of what to expect on both sides:

Salamanca Warriors

The Warriors have had a solid season with a balanced offensive and defensive approach. Key players to watch include their quarterback, Maddox Isaac, who has been efficient in the passing game, and their powerful running back, Xavier Peters, who is more than capable of grinding out tough yards. Peters is averaging 16.9 yards a carry this season.

Salamanca’s defense has also been effective, especially in shutting down big plays and forcing turnovers. They’ll likely focus on stopping Medina’s run game and putting pressure on their sophomore quarterback to disrupt the rhythm.

Medina Mustangs

The Mustangs come in as one of the top-ranked teams in the section, known for their high-octane offense and physicality. They rely heavily on a versatile running attack led by a standout running back, Christian Moss, who has been putting up impressive numbers all season with 1,825 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground.

Their sophomore quarterback, Preston Woodworth, is also a dual threat, capable of making plays with both his arm and legs.

Defensively, Medina is tough and disciplined, with a knack for limiting opponents’ scoring chances and making key stops in the red zone.

Key Matchups

Salamanca's Defense vs. Medina's Run Game: Salamanca will need to stack the box and contain Moss, forcing the Mustangs to be one-dimensional.

Medina's Defense vs. Salamanca's Passing Attack: Medina’s secondary will be tested by Salamanca's air game, so expect a few deep shots from the Warriors to keep Medina’s defense honest.

X-Factor

Special teams and turnovers could play a decisive role in this game. Both teams have playmakers in the return game, and a single turnover could swing momentum given the tight matchup.

It’s set to be a thrilling game, with both teams evenly matched in many areas. The Warriors will need to play with discipline and capitalize on Medina’s mistakes, while Medina will look to control the tempo with their ground game. This playoff clash should make for an exciting evening under the lights!

Section VI is charging admission to the game:

Tickets $7 - Children 5 & under are free
All tickets should be purchased online: https://gofan.co/event/2116420
Download the GoFan App to your smart phone, create an account and purchase tickets.
Tickets at the gate will be $10 per person.