STATE CLASS C CHAMPIONS
TROJANS TAKE TITLE
In its first season in Class C, Southwestern won the school’s first team state title behind cool, composed underclassmen and sturdy seniors
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
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