Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s Matt Welsh comes down with a catch en route to a touchdown during the Golden Cougars’ win over East Aurora/Holland on Friday at Bill Race Field in Falconer. P-J photo by Jason Bower
FALCONER — The playlist of songs pumping from the loudspeakers during breaks in Friday night’s Class B2 football game at Bill Race Field almost mirrored what was transpiring on the artificial turf.
Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s Brodie Little makes a tackle for a loss during the Golden Cougars’ victory over East Aurora/Holland on Friday at Bill Race Field in Falconer. P-J photo by Jason Bower
It was that kind of evening for Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove.
Matt Welsh ran for two touchdowns and caught a pass from quarterback Lucas Sopak for another score; Dalton Caldwell and Brodie Little each tallied a pair of TDs; backup quarterback Mathis Baehr found paydirt on a keeper; and Brailyn Paladino split the uprights on seven extra-point kicks to send the Golden Cougars to a 55-14 victory over East Aurora/Holland before a large crowd on a beautiful night.
The victory raised Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s record to 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the division, while the Blue Devils fell to 0-2 and 0-2.
“I’m just really proud of the kids,” said Golden Cougars head coach Curt Fischer, who saw his team rush for 293 yards on 40 carries. “Our offensive line has worked so hard in the offseason and this year they’ve put in a lot of time. We put a lot of pressure on them and, right now, they’re playing really well.”
There was little doubt about the outcome in this one.
The Golden Cougars scored three touchdowns in the first quarter — Welsh on a 44-yard run, a Sopak-to-Welsh 75-yard pitch and catch, and a Caldwell 9-yard burst — to build a 21-0 lead that grew to 41-0 by halftime, courtesy of short TD runs by Caldwell, Little and Welsh.
After intermission, Little picked up a live ball after a punt hit an East Aurora/Holland player and he walked in 2 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter; and Baehr reached the end zone on a 5-yard run to complete Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s scoring.
East Aurora/Holland’s two touchdowns came via an 11-yard pass from Connor Schmitt to James Tresmond in the third quarter and a 15-yard run by Brady Wiskup in the game’s final minute. Schmitt connected with Simon Brown for the two-point conversion.
With apologies to the musical group Black Eyed Peas, Friday was a “good, good night” for the Golden Cougars.
“We’re trying build something special here,” Fischer said. “For us to get up top early, I think that gave us a lot of momentum. The kids have to start believing more. You can’t win without believing and that’s what we’re trying to build is belief.”
NOTES: Charlie Reichenbach led Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove with 104 yards on 11 carries; Caldwell added 96 yards on 14 carries; and Sopak completed all three of his pass attempts for 105 yards, 90 of them to Welsh, who finished with two receptions. … Baehr led the Golden Cougars with 5.5 tackles; Little had five tackles and two fumble recoveries; Caldwell intercepted a pass; and Bryant Morrison added a sack and fumble recovery. … Paladino was reliable yet again. The only failed point-after attempt was the result of a poor hold. … Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove returns to action next Friday when it travels to Cheektowaga. The Blue Devils will entertain Dunkirk the same night.
F/CV/MG — Welsh 44 run (Paladino kick)
F/CV/MG — Welsh 75 run (Paladino kick)
F/CV/MG — Caldwell 9 run (Paladino kick)
F/CV/MG — Caldwell 4 run (Paladino kick)
F/CV/MG — Little 2 run (kick fail)
F/CV/MG — Welsh 2 run (Paladino kick)
F/CV/MG — Little 2 run (Paladino kick)
EA/Holland — Tresmond 11 pass from Schmitt (kick fail)
F/CV/MG — Baehr 5 run (Paladino kick)
East Aurora/Holland — Wiskup 15 run (Brown pass from Schmitt)
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