— — The Niagara Falls football team made plenty of costly errors in last week’s 35-0 blowout loss to Clarence. But based on years past, Kenmore West coach Rich Harris knows there will be none of that when the Wolverines visit the Blue Devils on Saturday at 2 p.m at Crosby Field.

“The problem with Niagara Falls, every year they put up a perfect game against Kenmore West,” Harris said. “They show up when they play Kenmore West. We go to watch them and we go, ‘Oh, they made a mistake.’ But they won’t make that mistake against us. It’s unbelievable. It’s such a rivalry.”

The Blue Devils (2-1, 2-0 AA North) are hoping to pull away from a condensed crowd in Class AA North. Marcus Lobdell and Martin Bailey ran away from Riverside (0-3) last week in a 35-6 win, and have contributed to two consecutive weeks with at least 35 points scored.

Niagara Falls (1-2, 1-0 AA North) quarterback Ricky Bailey has certainly impressed Harris this season with his ability to throw on the run.

“This quarterback is pretty good,” he said. “No, he’s not a 4.4 40 (like former QB Dale Stewart), but he’s a 4.7 40. He’s got great instincts and sees the field well.”

While his team is hoping to build some momentum at the mid-point of the season, he expects a very tough Falls team on Saturday. But his Blue Devils aren’t backing down.

“I feel like we’re the team to beat right now,” Harris said. “Niagara Falls, they have to beat us now to get back in it. Lockport is going to have to beat us. We have the big target on our backs right now.”



North Tonawanda (2-1, 2-1 A North) at Kenmore East (0-3, 0-3 A North)

The Lumberjacks have allowed just nine points in the past two weeks (two of which coming on an errand snap into the back of the end zone), and this week could be no different. The Bulldogs are coming off a 41-0 shutout loss to Starpoint in which they managed two first downs and finished with -7 yards of offense.

“I thought defensively the last two weeks we’ve been awesome, and special teams took a step forward,” NT coach Rick Tomm said after a 28-7 win Saturday at Grand Island.

Leading that defensive charge is senior linebacker Jed Jastrzemski, who has 31 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumbled and a fumble recovery through three games this season. Nick Duerr is the closest to him in tackles with 16.

Thought Tomm was impressed with his defensive unit yet again, he said they must do better in all areas of the game. Quarterback Pat Angelhow parlayed a five-touchdown performance against Williamsville North into a fumble-ridden one at Grand Island.

“We have to play better,” Tomm said. “They took it to us in the second half, but we can’t play them like that. We’re really happy we were able to escape with a win. Grand Island didn’t quit, they played much better in the second half, but we have to get better and that’s the mindset all year long.”

Ken East is still looking for a spark from one of its young offensive players. First year player Jordan Wainwright has had to carry the load on the ground. Junior lineman Jared Dolan has been one of the few standouts for the winless Bulldogs this season as well.



Tonawanda (2-1, 1-1 B West) at Cheektowaga (2-1, 2-0 B West)

Clayton Hess garnered Connolly Cup recognition following a thrilling 20-16 comeback win against Burgard last Friday in the Warriors’ home opener. The gun-slinging sophomore and the Warriors hope to carry that momentum into tonight’s big league matchup.

“It definitely helps because Saturdays are a lot easier when there are fewer mistakes to correct on film,” Tonawanda coach Rob Gross said earlier this week. “However, there’s a fine line in riding the momentum and slipping because of success.”

It was a brand new week Monday and the Warriors made it a point of emphasis to not be complacent with their 2-1 record.

Tonawanda lost starting tailback Justin Bacon in the third quarter against Burgard. Gross would not comment on the extent of his injury, but expects a healthy squad by kickoff tonight.

Cheektowaga employs a nice balance of run and pass and have plenty of speed, much like Burgard. Gross added his squad cannot give up any big plays, but has been pleased with his team’s unwavering attitude even after adverse plays.

Tonawanda’s defense has also stepped up to the challenge in the red zone.

“Our defense has played very well,” Gross said. “They have that mentality that just because (opposing teams) are getting close, it doesn’t mean that they’ve scored. Some of our best defensive plays have happened inside our own 20-yard line.”



St. Mary’s (1-2, 0-1 MMAA) at Cardinal O’Hara (1-2, 0-1 MMAA)

This season it made not hold the same value, nor is it likely the two will meet again at Ralph Wilson Stadium, but the rivalry between Monsignor Martin small schools is still alive. The Lancers, who choose independence instead of joining the MMAA large schools, haven’t been on the winning side of the St. Mary’s-O’Hara matchup since 2004.

“To the coaches and the players, I don’t think they feel any different,” Hawks coach Angelo Sciandra said. “For me it does feel a little different not being in the league. I think that’s the biggest change is every time we played them before there was a real good chance that we were going to see them at the end of the year again, and I don’t feel that’s going to happen this year.”

The Hawks are coming off their first win of the year against Grover Cleveland. Kyree Carter carried the ball 15 times for 190 yards and two scores in the win.

“It was good to get the first win,” Sciandra said. “I didn’t think it’d take three weeks, but it was good to get the first win. ... Our backs are starting to get the hang of it. Kyree was running down hill, Mike Gough is starting to get the hang of it and Khari Wright blocked extremely well at fullback.”

Nick Vallone has led the way offensively for the run-first Lancers. Sciandra said his speed and skill, behind a big offensive line, could pose as a problem for the Hawks.

“They’re going to run ISO at us and we need to stop it,” he said. “And I don’t know if we can stop it. We’ve been struggling on the edge and (Vallone) can get to the edge.”



St. Joe’s (2-1, 1-0 MMAA) at Central Mountain (1-2)

It’s always sweet to get a win against your biggest rivals, and Dennis Gilbert won his third straight against Canisius as head coach of the Marauders last week. Chad Kelly had a pair of scores on 91 yards rushing while sophomore Nigel Davis set the tone from the opening kick on an 84-yard return.

“It’s a rivalry game. It’s big,” Gilbert said. “It’s big for our seniors. It’s always for them, ‘what did you do against Canisius.’ And we got that out of the way early this year.”

Coming off a pair of wins after the Week 1 loss to Aquinas, the Marauders are in mid-season form. Kelly has lived up to the hype and others are stepping up formidably on both sides of the ball as well.

The Wildcats of Central Mountain will give St. Joe’s a different look this weekend in the pistol offense.

“That’s something we haven’t seen before and it presents a challenge to us,” Gilbert said. “They have some good athletes, a 6-7 tight end that they love to throw to.”

This will mark the second of three overnight trips for the Marauders this season, the last being a late season visit to Steubenville.

Davis has four touchdowns through the first three games this season, all of which coming in a different category (rushing, receiving, defense and special teams), while Kelly is already off to a better start than last year’s record setting campaign (896 total yards opposed to 778 last season).