Salamanca steamrolls Medina 50-7 in Class C semis
By SPENCER BATES, Sports Editor
Salamanca coach Chad Bartoszek told his players in their post-game huddle that this was the moment they left their mark on the high school football world.
For the second-straight week, Bartoszek’s Warriors squared off against a familiar postseason opponent and just as convincingly dispatched them, defeating No. 3 Medina 50-7 on Friday night.
“This had all the factors to it,” Bartoszek said of his team’s win. “This was an undefeated season (capped by a win) against a really good C North school. Medina has been rolling. Last year was awesome because we made it to ‘The Ralph’ for the first time in a long time, but this one was almost like ‘we’ve got it and we’re going to keep coming for it.’”
Now, after advancing to the Section 6 Class C Final last year (and reaching a ‘D’ title game in 2021), Salamanca has made successive trips.
In the buildup to the Warriors’ playoff rematch against the Mustangs, Bartoszek had his focus on the line of scrimmage, and that is exactly where his team won this game. Coming into Friday night’s contest, Medina’s star running back Christian Moss had 1,825 yards from scrimmage. However, a stout Warriors defensive line slammed the door on just about every gap and made life that much harder for their opposition as they forced them sideways.
“We’ve always been able to hit some stuff off the top and it’s going to help you win any game, but what we did in between the tackle box was just awesome,” Bartoszek said. “(Medina’s) a tough team, they were bringing it.”
“That was our challenge, to stop (their running back), and you got to spill a lot, you got to stiff gaps and you got to play physical and I think our guys did that. You factor in that with some big plays and … it all kind of came together on a great home night at Vets Park.”
The Warriors defense collected 35 tackles altogether with Adrian Taylor, Xavier Peters, Thomas George and Cory Holleran, who also snagged an interception, each accounting for four. Zach Trietly, Avery Brown and Payton Bradley finished with three apiece.
But of course, the majority of damage was done on offense as quarterback Maddox Isaac orchestrated a superb attack in his final home football game at Veterans Memorial Park.
ISAAC finished the night with four touchdown passes as he went 7-for-10 through the air with 241 total yards. He also ran for 44 yards on six attempts, adding a two-yard touchdown score. Holleran roped in three touchdown grabs, the longest of which was a 69-yard strike. Peters, who had two rushing touchdowns against Medina, also reeled in a pass which he took 65 yards to the house.
“He was dialed in,” Bartoszek said of Isaac’s performance on the night. “A couple of those deep balls are huge for us, but there were other first-down getters, and that was his job on the night. Just a big game for a senior. I told the guys, ‘that's a great way to go off.’”
Isaac, who, after the game, described feeling “on top of the world,” attributed the energy he brought onto the field with the sheer amount of heart that he plays with and credited his teammates and the hard work they have put in to represent their school in the best way they can.
“I play with my heart, I really want to strive for greatness, we all do,” Isaac said. “We practice hard and that’s what we want to do, we want to show people what we actually can do and it’s just the best part of it.”
“From the players to the coaches, all the way to the community, we all show each other love and it feels so good to represent Salamanca.”
The speed of Holleran and Peters was huge offensively for the Warriors but the advantage it gave them on the defensive side was just as crucial, according to Bartoszek.
“The speed is such a difference-maker,” Bartoszek said. “It's hard to see during warmups, but we’ve just got guys all over the field that are flying and when you’re able to stuff up front, those guys are going lateral and you can’t outrun them lateral. So I think that’s a huge challenge when you face a team like Medina is making them spill outside.”
The win had Bartoszek “controlling a lot of emotion.” It was exactly the performance he and his coaching staff have been searching for all season long. Luckily enough, it all came together on the biggest night of the campaign thus far.
Now, the attention shifts to next week for the Warriors, who are set to square off against fellow C South powerhouse Portville/Cuba-Rushford, which defeated Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton to book its spot in the Class C Final.
The Warriors and the Panthers, who handed Salamanca its closest result of the season, will now write a new chapter in their storied history next Thursday at Highmark Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.. It was a moment that Bartoszek noted is special for everyone involved, but mainly for the players who will get the experience of a lifetime.
“Getting back to ‘The Ralph’ is for them,” Bartoszek said, gesturing towards his players. “This experience is for them. We all got to coach, play there. This is for them, and that’s what I’m excited for.”
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