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Fredonia beat Iroquois 40-6 in the Section VI Division 2B flag football championship game Saturday at Sweet Home High School. The Hillbillies will take on 2A winner Pioneer in the crossover final tonight at Highmark Stadium.
BUFFALO — No. 1 Fredonia jumped out to a 21-6 halftime lead and beat No. 2 Iroquois 40-6 to claim the Section VI Division 2B flag football title Saturday at Sweet Home High School.
No. 1 Pioneer beat No. 2 Grand Island 26-7 in the Division 2A title game to set up today’s 7:30 p.m. crossover championship between the Panthers and Hillbillies at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
“We’ve come a long way this year. We’re excited to get another opportunity to play them in a big venue,” Fredonia head coach Nick Bertrando said of tonight’s matchup against Pioneer at the home of the Buffalo Bills. “To play at Highmark Stadium for the first time adds to the trailblazing we’ve done at Fredonia for girls sports.”
In their first meeting this season, the Panthers beat Fredonia 26-0.
“That was a really good wakeup call for us and a good measuring stick for us,” Bertrando added. “They do a phenomenal job over there. We learned a lot from that game.”
After a three-and-out defensively to open the game Saturday, the Hillbillies struck first when Ella Koopman connected with Ashlynn Delcamp for a touchdown.
“I really think that helped get us going,” Bertrando said. “From there, the defense played very, very well and limited their options.”
Despite Sam Current’s rushing touchdown later in the first half, the Hillbillies led by 15 entering the break.
“Their lone touchdown came on a great play from their quarterback,” Bertrando said, “who scrambled away from pressure and took it all the way down to the 4-yard line.”
After halftime, the Hillbillies outscored the Chiefs 19-0.
“We talked about having 25 minutes left to really buckle down and clean things up,” Bertrando said. “There were still some opportunities where we could’ve done a little better.”
Koopman led Fredonia with 127 yards and a touchdown through the air to go along with 88 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Natalia DiPalma ran for 55 yards and two touchdowns, while Francesca Pucci added 45 yards on the ground. Delcamp totaled 34 yards and a touchdown through the air, while Keiliany Diaz had 73 receiving yards.
Defensively, Rosaliz Aponte led the way for Fredonia with three passes defended and two flag pulls to go along with an interception. Lily Runkel had a sack, while Paige Elliott chipped in four flag pulls and an interception.
Makayla Tabone, Diaz and Delcamp each caught a conversion pass from Koopman, who also ran one in on her own.
Current had 56 passing yards and 87 rushing yards to go along with Pioneer’s lone touchdown.
The Division 1 title game between No. 3 Jamestown and No. 1 Clarence will kick things off at 5 p.m.