Gowanda Small Town Times

[photo: Gowanda quarterback Carter Capozzi (#2) takes off running with the ball accompanied by Camryn Slade (#33) during a Friday 13th home game against Cattaraugus-Little Valley]

The Gowanda Varsity football team celebrated the 2024 home opener on September 13 with a “Blackout Game” theme night. The Gowanda fans were asked to wear black on that Friday the 13th night. In the end Gowanda came out on top 46-6. Before the game Cattaraugus coach, and Gowanda graduate, Mark Benton was acknowledged and some of his high school achievements were recounted.

The first quarter of the game was indeed a Friday the 13th horror show for Cattaraugus. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. In their first series, the Cattaraugus quarterback was rolling out to his left on a 4th and 3 on their 33 with a pair of Gowanda defenders in hot pursuit. Without being touched, the quarterback dropped the ball, which was recovered by Gowanda on the Cattaraugus 21.

The next Cattaraugus drive ended with a 4th and 19 punt that Gowanda returned for a touchdown. Early in the 2nd quarter, after a Gowanda score that boosted their total to 34-0, a low Gowanda kickoff hit a Cattaraugus lineman directly in the chest sending it straight back at the Gowanda kicker for an easy recovery. The Cattaraugus team had issues all through the 1st half with the Gowanda defense constantly in their backfield. At halftime, Gowanda held a comfortable 34-6 lead with the only Cattaraugus points in the game coming with 26 seconds left in the half.

It was mostly a matter of coasting from there while taking advantage of opportunities that came along. Gowanda’s last drive ended on a 4th and goal play on the Cattaraugus 18. The Gowanda fake field goal/run turned the ball back over to Cattaraugus on the 6. They were only as far as the 9 as time ran out in the game with 46-6 showing on the scoreboard.

Gowanda quarterback, Carter Capozzi (pictured above) completed 11 of 20 passes for 176 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also carried the ball twice, once for 8 yards and a second time for 56 yards.

The rest of the Gowanda rushing stats include:
Camryn Slade - 7 Carries, 52 Yards, Longest 31 yards
Zane Rogers - 7 Carries, 73 Yards, Longest 65 yards
Greg Reid - 6 Carries, 23 Yards, Longest 12 yards
Brayden Smith - 3 Carries, 82 Yards, Longest 36 yards,1 TD
Jayden Fish - 2 Carries, 10 Yards, Longest 12 yards
Damien Cedri - 1 Carries, 8 Yards, Longest 8 yards, 1 TD
Mason Wilson - 1 Carries, 3 Yards, Longest 3 yards, 1 TD
Winter Mentley-Peters - 1 Carries, 15 Yards, Longest 15 yards

Gowanda receiving stats include:
Brayden Smith - 3 Receptions, 35 Yards, Longest 14 yards, 2 TDs
Reginald Irion - 3 Carries, 36 Yards
Winter Rivera - 2 Carries, 17 Yards, Longest 9 yards, 1 TD
Kyan Austin - 2 Carries, 19 Yards, Longest 10 yards
Winter Mentley-Peters - 1 Carry 69 Yards 1 TD

The Gowanda boys and girls Cross Country teams were at Fredonia on Tuesday, September 10. Both groups finished in 1st Place as a team. The boys had a team score of 28 followed by Fredonia (44), Falconer/Cassadaga Valley (68) and Salamanca (90). Individually, five Gowanda boys finished in the Top 10. They were Chase Bolen (1st,17:37), Cashis Montour (3rd), Dustin Mohawk (5th), Joseph Fernandes (7th) and Aiden George (10th).
The Gowanda girls had a team score of 25 followed by Fredonia (44) and Falcomer/Cassadaga Valley (59). Salamanca was incomplete. Individually, Gowanda placed four girls in the Top 10. They were Rhianna Woods (3rd), Gus John (4th), Karice John (5th) and Lilly Pierce (9th).

The Pine Valley/Gowanda Varsity girls soccer team was at Ellicottville on Tuesday, September 10. The team took an 8-0 loss giving up four goals in each half of play. In goal for Pine Valley/Gowanda for 75 of 80 minutes, Destiny Lindquist stopped 26 of the 32 Ellicottville shots on goal. Taylor Yoder was in goal for the remaining five minutes shopping 4 of 6 shots. The Ellicottville goal tender had an easy day facing only two shots all game.

The girls team hosted Franklinville on Thursday, September 12. A 1st half goal by Sarah Kruszka gave Pine Valley/Gowanda a 1-0 early lead. Julianna Yasurek was credited with an assist on the score.
Destiny Lindquist in goal for Pine Valley stopped all 11 shots on goal she faced to secure the shutout win.

The Pine Valley/Gowanda Varsity boys soccer team hosted Ellicottville on Wednesday, September 11. Hayden Chase scored Pine Valley/Gowanda’s only goal with a minute left in the 1st half. Andres Morillas was credited with an assist on the goal. The goal made the score 1-6 at the half. Three additional 2nd half Ellicottville goals took the final score to 1-9.

After a year without Gowanda girls participating in swim competition, Gowanda girls are back swimming with the Eden Varsity swimming team. The following Gowanda girls are reportedly included: Lilaeve Jankowski (Freshman), Danielle Krajewski (Senior) and Kaevil Yasurek (Junior). The Eden swim team hosted Maryvale on Thursday, September 12, coing away with a 86-46 victory.

Individual Eden results
1st Mia Scott - 4 gold (50 Freestyle/27.94, 1M diving/170.80 pts., 200 Medley Relay team and 200 Freestyle Relay team) for 12 pts.
3rd Brynn Mikac - 3 gold (500 Freestyle/7:21.77, 200 Medley Relay team and 200 Freestyle Relay team) and 1 silver(100 Breaststroke/1:33.26) for 10 points
4th Abby Laverdi - 2 gold (200 Freestyle/2:33.58 & 200 Medley Relay team) and 1 silver (50 Freestyle/30.26) for 10 points
6th Kay Lindstrom - 3 gold (100 Freestyle/1:07.61, 200 & 400 Freestyle Relay teams) for 8 points
7th Lilaeve Jankowski - 2 gold (100 Backstroke/1:39.28 & 400 Freestyle relay team) for 8 points; She also was 4th in the100 Freestyle with a time of 1:20.24, just 0:01.26 off the 3rd Place time.
9th Kaevil Yasurek - 1 gold (400 Freestyle relay team) and 2 bronze (200 Freestyle/3:05.02 & 100 Breaststroke/1:43.09) for 6 points
10th Sienna Miller - 2 gold (200 Medley & 200 Freestyle Relay teams) and 1 silver (100 Freestyle/1:10.58) for 4 points
11th Tessa Dzubella - 1 gold (400 Freestyle Relay team) and 1 silver (100 Backstroke/1:49.75) for 4 points