Cleve-Hill continues to run through whoever steps in their way. It was no different Friday night at Clarence High School during their Far West Regional (FWR) match-up against Section V’s Letchworth-Warsaw football team. The Golden Eagles won 54-6 and are now headed to the semi-finals next weekend at Union-Endicott.
Head coach Glen Graham, now in his fifteenth season, improved his school’s record to 3-4 at the FWR’s. His teams are well known for their strong running attack and that formula for success has landed them in the state semi-finals for the second straight year.
It was the Indians first appearance at the FWR as a merged team. Warsaw had never made it this far as an individual program. First-year head coach Justin Mann knew that in order to have a chance to win, his team would have to find a way to stop senior running back Aaron Wahler.
Last weekend the Golden Eagles top rusher ran for 330 yards and three scores. Friday, on a frosty field, Wahler proved once again why he is one of the hardest running backs to bring down in the state.
Wahler picked up right where he left off scoring the first touchdown of the game, a 45-yard run to give the Golden Eagles the lead at 5:59 of the first quarter.
Letchworth-Warsaw (LetSaw) responded four minutes later when senior Tom Standera scored on a quarterback keeper to pull the Indians within two. They had a great drive start from the Cleve-Hill 20. That’s as close as they would come to toppling WNY’s Class C North division winner. In fact, the Indians would only cross the 50-yard line one more time in the game.
The Golden Eagles added another touchdown in the 2nd quarter when Javon Thomas ran in from four yards out extending Cleve-Hill’s lead 16-6.
The Indians received the second half kick, looking to cut the deficit. The Golden Eagles defense however had other plans. Cleve-Hill forced LetSaw to punt deep in their own end and saw it partially blocked. The Golden Eagles took over at the Indians 39. On the next play, Wahler took the ball to the house for his second TD of the day. He would finish with three scores and 177 rushing yards before leaving the game at the five minute mark of the 4th quarter. He was a little banged up but could have returned under different circumstances.
Thomas has been a great compliment all season and turned in a great performance of his own. The senior also scored three touchdowns on runs of 4, 2 and 39 respectively. Thomas finished with 128 yards rushing.
Junior Caron Marshall scored from 54 yards out to close out the scoring.
The Golden Eagles outrushed the Indians 467-40.
The Indians went 0-10 on third down.
Cleve-Hill will now face the winner of the Holland Patent (Sec III) vs Susquehanna Valley (Sec IV) winner Saturday Nov. 17th at 11 a.m. down at Union-Endicott.
