The Cheektowaga Warriors used a combination of a punishing ground game and ruthless pass rush en route to defeating Alden, 27-13 in the Section VI Class B final at Ralph Wilson Stadium today. It was Cheektowaga’s (10-0) first ever sectional championship.
The victory was made possible on the strength of the ground game. Cheektowaga ran the ball 37 times and pounded out 287 yards, with all four of their touchdowns coming via the running game.
Their pass rush was equally effective, harassing Alden quarterback Tyler Schodt into eight sacks. Junior linebacker Kevin Brooks led the way with four of them, while Donte Perry contributed two.
On the Warriors’ opening drive, Senior Nick McLean took a handoff left, broke a few tackles and eventually scampered 61 yards for a touchdown. The next time they got the ball, Senior fullback Julius Davis took a handoff, broke free in the middle and sprinted for a 46-yard score.
Not even the refs could contain Cheektowaga’s ground and pound attack in the first half. Warriors’ quarterback Jacob Petroski faked an option left and sprinted in for what appeared to be a 34-yard touchdown. But an official inexplicably thought the ball was down at the 12 and nullified the score. It proved irrelevant three plays later as Turner took it in from the six yard line.
All three Cheektowaga running backs finished with at least 85 yards rushing. McLean gained 85 on just five carries, while Turner ran for 90 on 13 carries and Davis led the way with 97 on 13 touches.
Alden attempted to get back in the game in the final minute of the first half. After a blocked punt by Robbie Helms, the Bulldogs took over at the Cheektowaga 22 with 35 seconds left before halftime. But consecutive sacks by Brooks set them back, and a desperation heave to the end zone was ruled trapped after Dakota Peel tried to pick the ball off the ground.
By the end of the first half, Cheektowaga had already amassed 196 yards on the ground, compared to just 8 for Alden. It was 19–0 and the rout was on
Or so it seemed.
Alden made a game of it in the second half, beginning their long climb back on their first drive of the second half. The Bulldogs drove 68 yards, culminated by a Stoldt 17-yard quarterback sneak down the left sideline for a touchdown.
The pesky Warriors got the ball and scored again. A 63-yard run by Peel got the ball down to the Cheektowaga 22 and eventually Stoldt found Dane Wetzler in the end zone for a score. Peel finished with a game-high 117 rushing yards.
By the time the third quarter ended, the 19 point deficit was cut to just six. Alden was in position to tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter after driving into Warriors’ territory, but on a third down Stoldt was sacked by Brooks and Lerome Thompson, forcing a punt.
Cheektowaga finally iced the game in the final minutes when Turner scooted right six yards for his second score of the game. The two-point conversion pass to Angelo Rhodes made the final margin 27-13.
Still undefeated, Cheektowaga now moves on to Rochester next Saturday to face the Class B Section V winner, Hornell with a trip to the state semi-finals on the line the following week. The Warriors are currently ranked second in New York State among Class B teams.
Alden finishes their season at 7-3
