The News is paying tribute to the Section VI's state-record four football champions with color poster pages this week:

How Southwestern got there

1. Section VI championship: The Trojans had the ball for nearly 29 of the game’s 48 minutes as they silenced Class C South rival Silver Creek, 21-0, to win their second sectional title. Levi Bursch, Zack Sopak and John Mistretta all ran for touchdowns in a display of balance that would become familiar in ensuing weeks.

2. Far West Regional: After jumping out to a 21-0 lead and holding a 38-20 lead with six minutes left, Eric Mazgaj’s fumble-forcing sack ended the miracle comeback hopes of Le Roy as Southwestern held on for a 38-35 victory and its first final four appearance. Speaking of four, that’s how many touchdowns Levi Bursch scored.

3. State semifinals: Zack Sopak ran out of the shotgun for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries and the Trojan defense pitched a second-half shutout in a 20-6 win over Elmira Notre Dame. Sopak also threw for 123 yards, which included great grabs by Levi Bursch and Will Sleggs on an important second-half touchdown drive.

4. State final: Southwestern scored three touchdowns in a 1-minute, 10-second span to propel itself to a 35-7 victory over Croton-Harmon and win the first state title in school history. Junior quarterback Zack Sopak earned MVP honors by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another.

Perfection / Game-by-game to 13-0

Regular season Sept. 5 at Springville, W, 28-6 Sept. 12 at SilverCreek, W, 33-13 Sept. 19 Cassadaga Valley, W, 34-7 Sept. 26 Westfield/Ripley, W, 44-2 Oct. 3 at Allegany-Limestone, W, 28-0 Oct. 10 Salamanca, W, 30-14 Oct. 17 at Falconer, W, 42-6

Section VI quarterfinal Oct. 24 vs. JFK, W, 43-8

Section VI semifinal Oct. 31 vs. Allegany-Limestone, W, 28-13

Section VI championship at Ralph Wilson Stadium Nov. 8 vs. Silver Creek, W, 21-0

Far West Regional at UB Stadium Nov. 15 vs. V-Le Roy, W, 38-35

State semifinal at Paetec Park, Rochester Nov. 22 vs. IV-Elmira-Notre Dame, W, 20-6

State championship at Carrier Dome, Syracuse Nov. 29 vs. I-Croton-Harmon, W, 35-7