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Local gridiron teams leave it all on the field
"Wild" was the best way to describe last weekend's local sectional title games at Ralph Wilson Stadium, as two of three Cheektowaga-area squads found a way to move on to the Far West Regionals this Saturday at Paetec Field in Rochester.
Cleveland Hill, the No. 1 seed in Class C, awoke from an offensive slumber late Friday to grab the Section VI championship away from gritty Falconer, 16-14 in the evening game at "The Ralph."
In the earlier game of the day, Depew (9-1) held off a late charge from East Aurora, stopping the Blue Devils on a last-play quarterback sneak at the goal line to come out victorious, 21-14.
"This is something you dream about as a kid, to win a sectional title in high school," Depew senior Greg Osika told the Times during a joyous Wildcats celebration.
The Eagles (8-2 overall) had been stymied by second-seeded Falconer for three quarters, and after a Falcons
score with 1:12 remaining, trailed 14-8. However, junior quarterback Rhakeem Wiggins rallied his team down the field in less than a minute, with the big play coming on a 37-yard bomb to Darius Stallworth. The pass sailed through the hands of both a Cleve Hill and Falconer player to settle in the waiting arms of Stallworth.
On the next play, Wiggins pitched on an option to junior running back Peter Westbrooks, who ran into the end zone from eight yards out. The score tied the game, and Wiggins ran in the ensuing two-point conversion to give the Eagles the win.
"This is an amazing feeling," said smiling Cleve Hill senior Joe Sanders, who contributed two intercep- tions and a long catch on offense during the contest. In one of the memorable moments of the weekend, Sanders could not let go of the sectional title plaque, carrying it all the way from midfield to the locker room.
The previous day (Thursday), Cheektowaga Central was not as fortunate, losing to powerhouse Class A North squad Sweet Home, 31-6, in the "A" sectional title game. The loss was the first of the season for the Warriors (9-1), who were making their first-ever appearance at "The Ralph."
Cleve Hill's Section VI championship was its first since 2000. Depew had never won a sectional title prior to Friday. The Eagles will face Section V champion LeRoy (10- 0) at noon Saturday, while Depew will take on Geneva (8-2), also of Section V, at 3 p.m.
Directions to Paetec Park • Merge onto I-90 East toward I- 290 (Distance = 43 miles) • Merge onto I-490 East via Exit 47 toward Rt. 19 (LeReoy/Rochester) {Distance = 22.3 miles) • Take the Brown St. Exit (12) toward Broad St. • Turn right onto Brown St. • Slight right onto Wilder St. • Turn right onto Grape St. • Turn right onto Smith St. • Turn right onto Oak Street. • End at Paetec Park (460 Oak St.) Estimated Time= 1 hour, 7 minutes. Est. Distance= 65 miles.
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