BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ten high school football teams will step into the spotlight this week as they compete for a Section VI title.
Clymer-Sherman-Panama or CSP and Franklinville/Ellicottville will kick off the action Thursday at 3 p.m. at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, followed by Salamanca vs. Portville/Cuba-Rushford at 6 p.m. and McKinley vs. Sweet Home at 9 p.m.
On Friday, Health Sciences will face off against South Park at 5 p.m. and Lancaster vs. Jamestown will close things out at 8 p.m.
2 On Your Side spoke with Section VI football Chairman Jay Sirianni Wednesday to get a preview of the games and talk about what a unique opportunity it is for Western New York student-athletes to play on an NFL field every year.
With the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs set to face off in Orchard Park on Sunday, the timing of this year's championships has only added to the excitement.
"I said to the athletes that were there yesterday, you know, we're looking out over the field, and I said, 'Just imagine what's taking place on this field on Sunday.' I mean, this is the biggest NFL game of the year ... and you get to play on this field before they do. We're the warm-up games, we're the opening band. I mean, this is unbelievable," Sirianni said.
He added that while a few of this year's championship matchups are repeats from during the region season, he expects those rivalries to make for good competition.
"So CSP and Franklinville/Ellicottville are in the same league, and that was a close game, I think, in Week 5. Salamanca-Portville, they've played tight games for the last couple of years ... and you know, then the Jamestown-Lancaster, they play every year, and that's always a battle," Sirianni said.
Regardless of the matchup, tickets to each game are $10 a piece and can be purchased when you enter the stadium. There is no need to purchase them ahead of time.
The future location of Section VI Championships is a little uncertain with the construction of the Buffalo Bills' new stadium. According to Section VI, discussions with the team have not started, however.
The new stadium and its grass field may be less forgiving to having five high school football games played on it compared to turf.
In a statement to 2 On Your Side a Bills' spokesperson provided some hope for high school athletes: “We have not started discussions but, if possible, we’d very much like to continue the tradition.”