Warriors close out C South title | News, sports, jobs

Fittingly, Maddox Isaac found himself in the middle of almost all of the Warriors’ offensive fireworks.

The senior quarterback rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns and completed 6 of 7 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown to lead Salamanca to victory. For good measure, senior Xavier Peters added 100 yards on the ground and reached the end zone on runs of 3, 32 and 5 yards; and sophomore Quentin Brown hit a 5-yard shot for another score.

The division-clinching win improved the Warriors, the state’s second-ranked Class C team, to 6-0 overall and 6-0 in the division, and head coach Chad Bartoszek was quite pleased as he answered questions after the game.

“I’m just so proud,” Bartoszek said. “…We want to do things at such a high level and we have the ability to do it.” We strive to be as perfect as possible. These guys have really set the bar high over the last few years.”

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s Taylor Jones tries to get around Salamanca’s Xavier Peters during Friday’s Class C South game at Bill Race Field in Falconer. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

Much of his satisfaction came from the way Maddox has grown behind center.

“We tend not to give him reading material or one thing because it interferes with his natural playing ability,” Bartoszek said. “We give him the freedom to make some decisions and that’s when you really start to see his game expand.”

Maddox was the varsity signal caller for four seasons and managed a 65-yard TD run in the first quarter while running from sideline to sideline. and added a 1-yard run for another score and connected with Zach Trietley on a 13-yard scoring strike in the second period to give Salamanca a 28-7 lead at halftime.

After halftime, Peters scored two rushing touchdowns and Brown added one.

“We had a good shot back there,” Bartoszek said.

For the injury-plagued Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove (4-2, 3-2), senior Charlie Reichenbach had TD runs of 42 and 43 yards in the third quarter. With just under six minutes left in the first quarter, junior Taylor Jones scored the Herd’s first touchdown, set up by a Salamanca fumble.

Despite the loss, Herd head coach Curt Fischer was pleased with his undermanned team’s performance and was quite impressed with the Warriors, whom he first began coaching against as a junior varsity coach at Falconer under then-head coach Bill Race 30 years ago.

“They have so many special players and I really think it’s almost like the George Whitcher (years),” Fischer said. “When Chad came back (as coach), he brought back the Salamanca pride.”

NOTES: Trietley led the Salamanca defense with 16 tackles, Cory Holleran had nine and Avery Brown contributed eight. … Waylon Dowdy intercepted a pass and Evan Spruce Jr. recovered a fumble. … Falconer/Cassadaga Valley rushed for 248 yards, most of them by Reichenbach, although Jones and Noah Brant were also effective when given the opportunity.

Salamanca 6 22 14 6 — 48

Falconer/CV/MG 7 0 14 0 — 21

F/CV/MG–Jones 1 run (Carlson kick)

Sal Isaac 65 run (run failed)

Sal-Isaac 1 run (Holleran Pass from Isaac)

Sal–Peters 3-run (Chudy kick)

Sal–Trietley 13 pass from Isaac (Chudy kick)

F/CV/MG–Reichenbach 42-run (Carlson kick)

Sal–Peters 32 run (Chudy kick)

Sal-Brown 5-Run (Chudy Kick)

F/CV/MG–Reichenbach 43-run (Carlson kick)

Sal–Peters 5-run (kick failed)