WILSON — The Franklinville/Ellicottville football team insisted that last year’s upset playoff loss to Wilson wasn’t on its mind leading up this year’s regular-season matchup on Sept. 20.
But whether it was or wasn’t, the Titans ensured that last October’s stinging season-ending loss is now firmly behind them.
Isaac Towne, a central figure in that playoff game, had a spectacular outing Friday, completing 13-of-20 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns and running seven times for 31 yards and another score. Behind him, Franklinville/Ellicottville rolled past the Lakemen, 41-13, in a Section 6 Class D matchup.
For F/E, it marked a league-opening win after going 1-1 in a pair of non-league contests to start the year. It was also a nice bounce-back effort after the Titans squandered a 28-6 lead in an eventual 32-28 loss to Tapestry/WNY Maritime Charter a week earlier.
“It was nice to get our first league win of the season,” F/E coach Justin Tatlow said. “I am proud of the response the team had after last week’s loss. We were able to take advantage of some areas that we saw on film and I’m happy with the execution by our guys tonight.”
Bretton Blecha recorded five receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns, including a 90-yarder that gave F/E a 22-0 lead in the second quarter. Matthew Spittler posted four catches for 79 yards and a score and Gannon Callahan had three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Spittler also returned a 36-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, Blecha had an interception and Grady Byroads registered a sack. The Titans took a 28-0 lead into the break and stretched it to 34-0 before Wilson got its first score.
Cattaraugus-Little Valley 50, Cardinal O’Hara 20
TONAWANDA — The Timberwolves of Cattaraugus-Little Valley were victorious for the first time since 2021 on Sept. 21.
CLV ended a 24-game losing streak after big offensive games for quarterback DJ Szata and running back Dylan Swanson.
Szata ran for 130 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries. He also completed 6-of-10 passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns, both to Swanson.
Swanson ran for 129 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts and was CLV’s leading receiver with two catches for 49 yards.
On defense, Swanson made a team-high 11 tackles and Grady Merrill had nine tackles. The T-Wolves produced three turnovers: two fumble recoveries by Nyquon Boswell and an interception for Tucker Barrick.
Randolph 49, East Aurora/Holland 19
RANDOLPH — Connor Braley carried 14 times for 137 yards and four touchdowns to power Randolph to its first win of the year on Sept. 20.
The Cardinals’ were dominant with the run game, piling up 307 rushing yards on 40 carries. In a balanced effort beyond Braley, Kevin McElwain posted 48 yards and a touchdown on four carries and Reagan Smith and Jaxson Morrison added 42 and 40 rushing yards, respectively.
Braley notched two touchdowns in each of the first two quarters as Randolph posted all 49 points in taking a 49-0 halftime lead. Alex Garland collected two interceptions, returning one 17 yards for a touchdown, and Morrison completed his only pass of the night for a 17-yard TD to Baker Huntington.
The Cardinals (1-2) coughed up three fumbles, but offset that by collecting three interceptions and posting a first-half shutout. Connor Schmidt completed 10-of-27 passes for 227 yards and three second-half touchdowns for East Aurora/Holland.