In the first year of the Southwestern/Frewsburg football merger, the program has wasted no time establishing its dominance.
The Trojans are 5-0 with an average margin of victory of 37 points – one win was a 20-0 forfeit against Springville. They’ve looked like a Section VI championship contender after a perfect start forged in the crucible of the C South division.
A benchmark win for the program was beating Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton 45-0 on Friday in what was their most high-profile game of the season.
“Every week in C South, you never know what’s coming your way,” Southwestern coach Jake Burkholder said. “They have one of the best coaching staffs around. Went into that, as many people were, as the biggest game on our schedule, to that point. Our kids came out ready to go.”
Despite the blowout win, Burkholder was very reflective. The team had 110 yards of penalties, and the Trojans know that issue must be fixed so those mistakes don’t cost them as the season progresses. It’s the classic coaching conundrum of celebrating the win while demanding perfection.
“It’s a balancing act from week to week,” he said.
The best part of the merger for Burkholder is the cohesion between the two communities and the reinstatement of a junior varsity program, which had been absent for about five or six years. The varsity team is mostly composed of Southwestern students, while the junior varsity team is split between the schools.
“The coaching staffs have worked well together,” Burkholder said. “It allowed us to add a JV program we haven’t had for five or six years. That’s awesome, from a developmental standpoint. It’s been great combining two communities that have had successful football programs over the years. The kids have merged together flawlessly. I hope this continues to grow … into the future.”
Going forward, the Trojans’ challenges don’t get easier as they face Salamanca on Friday.
“It’s always been a battle with them,” Burkholder said, respectful of a team with a great coaching staff that is “always ready to go.” The message is clear: “They’re going to come to fight and they’re not going to quit.”
Weekend results
In girls soccer, Wilson moved to 11-1 following an 11-1 win over Medina in which Addison Elia had a hat trick. Julianna Roth of Falconer/CV/MG had a hat trick against Jamestown.
In boys soccer, East Aurora captain Owen Mack had three assists in the team’s 5-0 victory over Williamsville South.
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Clevis Murray
Sports Reporter
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