OBSERVER File Photo by Ashleigh Brown
Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton will travel to Silver Creek on Friday as a newly named honorable-mention choice in the state Class C rankings.
Salamanca and Clymer/Sherman/Panama, who both reached the New York State Public High School Athletic Association semifinals a season ago, have opened the season as the No. 2 teams in their respective classes according to the New York State Sportswriters Association.
Salamanca is No. 2 in Class C, one spot behind defending state champion Waverly of Section IV. The Warriors opened their season with a 38-14 win over Class C South foe Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton before topping another league opponent, Portville/Cuba-Rushford, 24-19 in Week 2.
Salamanca will travel to No. 17 Southwestern for an early season Class C South showdown Friday night at Charles A. Lawson Field. The Trojans beat nonleague East Aurora/Holland 35-0 in Week 1 before opening divisional play last week with a 48-28 win over Eden/North Collins.
Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove is No. 8 in Class C after also starting its season 2-0. In Week 1, the Herd beat nonleague Randolph 27-17 and last week they opened league play with a 48-0 shutout of Silver Creek/Forestville.
Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton is an honorable-mention choice in Class C after starting its season 1-1. Following their 38-14 loss to Salamanca in Week 1, the Eagles beat Fredonia 37-6 in Week 2.
Newfane is No. 9 and Akron is No. 15, while Portville/Cuba-Rushford, Alden and WNY Maritime/Tapestry are honorable-mention choices in Class C.
In Class D, Clymer/Sherman/Panama is No. 2 after starting its season 1-1. The Wolfpack traveled to Waverly and lost 24-3 in Week 1 before rebounding in Week 2 with a 48-0 shutout of Randolph to open Class D play.
Clymer/Sherman/Panama will travel to Gowanda to take on Class D honorable-mention selection Gowanda/Pine Valley on Friday night. The Panthers opened the season with a 46-20 loss to Portville/Cuba-Rushford, but beat league foe Cattaraugus-Little Valley 46-6 in Week 2.
Franklinville/Ellicottville is No. 12 in Class D after also opening its season 1-1. After beating nonleague Cleveland Hill 35-14 in Week 1, the Titans lost to WNY Maritime/Tapestry 32-28 in Week 2. Franklinville/Ellicottville will open league play Friday night at Wilson, which is an honorable-mention choice in Class D.
Randolph is also an honorable-mention selection in Class D. The Cardinals will host East Aurora/Holland in their first game on a new artificial surface at Raymond Van Wie Stadium on Friday night.
Jamestown is an honorable-mention choice in Class AA after starting its season 1-1. The Red & Green beat league opponent Frontier 40-0 in Week 1 before losing to honorable-mention St. Joe’s in Week 2.
Cardinal Hayes of New York City’s Catholic High School League is No. 1 in Class A. Other Western New York teams in the rankings include: No. 8 Bennett, No. 20 St. Francis, No. 23 Canisius, No. 25 Lancaster, and honorable mentions Niagara Falls and Orchard Park.
In Class A, Garden City of Section VIII and Somers of Section I are tied for No. 1. Western New York schools in the rankings include: No. 15 Clarence, No. 18 Starpoint, No. 25 McKinley, and honorable mentions Hamburg, Kenmore West, Sweet Home, Williamsville East and Williamsville North.
Maine-Endwell of Section IV is No. 1 in Class B. Pioneer is No. 8, Lackawanna is No. 11, South Park is No. 18 and Maryvale is No. 23, while Depew, Grand Island, Health Sciences/Buffalo Academy of Science/Global Concepts, Iroquois, St. Mary’s and Springville are honorable mentions.
Defending champions Waverly and Tioga of Section IV are No. 1 in Class C and D, respectively.