OBSERVER Photo by Jason Bower
Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s Mason Maring strip sacks Alden’s Nick Wypij during Friday’s Section VI Class C quarterfinal in Mayville.
MAYVILLE — Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton faced a 14-0 deficit early and trailed 21-19 at halftime of Friday’s Section VI Class C quarterfinal against Alden.
It didn’t matter.
Brayden Gibbs and Devin Hewes brought the Eagles back.
The junior connection hooked up for a pair of second-half touchdowns and sophomore Thandon Bensink added the dagger at the end of an eight-minute drive late as Class C South’s No. 2 seed beat Class C North’s No. 3 seed 41-28.
“The challenge this week, we had to answer the call on offense. All year we’ve been able to put up points. We knew we were going to have to score,” Eagles head coach Ryan Gibbs said. “They were going to make some plays. Down 14 points, the kids didn’t panic. We were comfortable with where we were at. Anybody who’s watched us knows we can score at the drop of the dime.”
OBSERVER Photo by Jason Bower
Eagles quarterback Brayden Gibbs throws a pass.
The Bulldogs drove to Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s 11-yard line looking to go ahead by three scores, but Mason Maring came up with a sack and Alden missed a 33-yard field goal attempt on fourth down.
“It was huge. I really think that really cemented the deal, stopping them,” Coach Gibbs said. “It’s Maring. He’s a four-year starter on varsity. Hasn’t played in a Section VI playoff game yet. He made the play when we needed one.”
On the ensuing drive, Bensink ran for a 71-yard touchdown on fourth down to make it 14-7.
But Alden went for 68 yards on a screen play to open its ensuing drive and scored on a first-and-goal from the 7-yard line when Mason Urso found Josh Kruk open in the back of the end zone.
The Eagles then scored twice in the final three minutes of the first half. First, Hewes caught a 29-yard touchdown from Gibbs to make it 21-13 with 46 seconds remaining.
OBSERVER Photo by Jason Bower
Trent Houser celebrates after a sack during Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s Section VI Class C quarterfinal win over Alden on Friday night in Mayville.
Instead of running out the clock, Alden tried to go the length of the field, but on second down, Maring forced a fumble that Yazan Abuhmedian recovered.
On the next play, Gibbs connected with Nick Jacobson in the front corner of the end zone for a jump-ball touchdown to make it 21-19 at halftime.
The Bulldogs made it 28-19 on their first drive of the second half, but would not score again.
With 7:05 remaining in the third quarter, Gibbs and Hewes connected for a 39-yard touchdown that made it 28-27 after Gibbs threw the 2-point conversion to Bensink.
After a Maring sack and a punt, the Eagles needed just three plays to score as Hewes and Gibbs hooked up for a 37-yard touchdown to take the lead.
OBSERVER Photo by Jason Bower
The Eagles’ Thandon Bensink runs for a big gain.
“Devin was huge. I thought he did a nice job winning that one-on-one matchup,” Coach Gibbs said. “They’re probably going to double Nick. We had to make them pay in other areas.”
Clayton Smith stopped the Bulldogs’ next drive with a fourth-down stop at the 2-yard line and Hewes intercepted a pass to end Alden’s next drive.
Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton took over at its own 21-yard line with 9:29 remaining. On the third play of the drive, Gibbs ran for what looked to be a game-clinching 67-yard touchdown, but the play was called back due to a penalty.
“I thought all of the captains, even after that call, calmed everybody down. It was a 67-yard run, the final nail, but we stayed calm,” Coach Gibbs said. “I thought we did a nice job managing the clock. We can get a first down on third down, get to third and manageable, get first downs and keep the clock ticking.”
The Eagles picked up three more first downs on the drive before Bensink ran for a 6-yard touchdown with 1:29 remaining on third-and-goal.
“I thought coming into the game, we knew we were going to have to show them we could run the ball so they couldn’t tee off on the passing game,” Coach Gibbs said. “Thandon was Mr. Consistency. Three or 4 yards a pop and then run for 17. He runs hard. The offensive line answered the call. I felt like last week we lost the line of scrimmage. (Tonight) I felt like we controlled both sides after we settled down.”
Jacobson sealed the game with a first-down interception after the Bulldogs took over possession.
Now the Eagles will have a rematch with Portville/Cuba-Rushford next Friday in Mayville. The Panthers beat Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton 24-7 last week.
“I really believe the conversation with all of us in the coaching room is that I think our division is the toughest division,” Coach Gibbs said. “The toughest football locally is C South; it’s deep from top to bottom.”
Alden 14 7 7 0 — 28
Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton 0 19 16 6 — 41
Ald–Partell 11 run (Lucas kick)
Ald–Wypij 54 run (Lucas kick)
CL/W/B–Bensink 71 run (Fairbank kick)
Ald–Kruk 7 pass from Urso (Lucas kick)
CL/W/B–Hewes 29 pass from Gibbs (kick blocked)
CL/W/B–Jacobson 15 pass from Gibbs (run failed)
Ald–Shaver 46 pass from Wypij (Lucas kick)
CL/W/B–Hewes 39 pass from Gibbs (Bensink pass from Gibbs)
CL/W/B–Hewes 37 pass from Gibbs (Hewes pass from Gibbs)
CL/W/B–Fairbank 6 run (kick failed)