Donning wristbands emblazoned with “222” and “Papa,” Cole Snyder would’ve made his grandfather proud Friday night.

Despite falling behind 12-0 early and throwing a pair of interceptions, the Trojans quarterback went 13 of 21 for 251 yards and four touchdowns on Senior Night as Southwestern beat Chautauqua Lake/Westfield, 42-18, in Class C South action.

“It all happens for a reason, you just have to believe that,” Snyder said of Hedman, who drove the No. 222 car for years at Stateline Speedway and other area racetracks. “It was a tough week.”

The Trojans (6-0, 5-0) wrapped up at least a share of the league title with the win. A matchup with crosstown rival Cassadaga Valley/Falconer next Friday night at Bill Race Field stands between them and a perfect regular season.

Card and teammate Zishan Munir celebrate a touchdown.

Facing the No. 3 Class C team in the state according to the New York State Sportswriters Association, the Thunderbirds came out looking for the upset, and after less than 10 minutes, the improbable seemed possible.

On fourth-and-4 from the Chautauqua Lake/Westfield 29-yard line, Snyder threw an interception to Zach Fischer, and on the next Trojans’ possession, the Thunderbirds’ Trey Sauerland intercepted a tipped Snyder pass and ran it back 78 yards for a score to give his team a 6-0 lead.

“He had a very tough week with the passing of his grandfather. He came to fight for these guys and these guys rallied around him,” Southwestern coach Jehuu Caulcrick said of Snyder. ” … I knew he was going to bounce back. We just had to get him settled in to play football like he knows how.”

Three plays after a Southwestern punt, Chautauqua Lake/Westfield’s Ryan Jafarjian took a third-and-4 sweep 76 yards around the right side of the Thunderbirds’ line for another touchdown to make it 12-0 with 2:18 remaining in the first quarter.

“He played a whale of a game for sure,” Chautauqua Lake/Westfield coach Curt Fischer said of Jafarjian, who finished with 165 yards on the night. “That’s what we’ve been waiting for all year.”

Southwestern’s Alex Card (2) tries to get around Chautauqua Lake/Westfield’s Zach Fischer during Friday’s Class C South game at Charles A. Lawson Field.

The Trojans made sure the lead didn’t last long.

Snyder hit fellow senior Alex Card on a 42-yard touchdown pass to cap a six-play, 67-yard drive that spanned the first and second quarters to make it 12-7, and on Southwestern’s ensuing drive, Zishan Munir capped a seven-play, 53-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to make it 14-12 after Card’s second extra-point.

“I went to coach and told him ‘Hey, I’m good coach,'” Snyder said. “He put the ball in my hands … the offensive line and receivers let me make plays.”

The Trojans made it 21-12 on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Snyder to Mayson Mathews with 2:06 left in the second quarter, but Chautauqua Lake/Westfield did not quit. A 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty on third-and-7 from their own 28-yard line kept a Thunderbirds drive alive before Jafarjian rambled 27 yards to move the ball into Southwestern territory.

“We came out hard, they are just so good,” Fischer said. “They are a great football team. I was really proud of the way we played.”

A 10-yard run from Jafarjian and a 13-yard connection between Kyler Majka and Jafarjian set up Chautauqua Lake/Westfield inside the 5-yard line, but on third-and-goal with four seconds left, Zach Fischer couldn’t find an open receiver on a halfback pass and Zishan Munir made a tackle in the backfield to close out the half.

“When they’re down there and our defense steps up like that, it’s absolutely huge for us,” Caulcrick said. “It’s a great momentum killer for the offense and a great team builder all around when you are on defense.”

Card made history on the Trojans’ third drive of the second half when he caught a 5-yard pass to become Southwestern’s all-time leader in receiving yards, passing Niko Pannes.

“All my hard work is just paying off,” Card said. “It’s an awesome feeling.”

“Him being one of the top receivers in Western New York — if not the top — he just comes out here and balls every week,” Snyder added. ” … It’s cool to see him develop. He’s gotten a lot better over the years.”

The senior wideout capped his six-catch, 136-yard night with the Trojans’ final touchdown, a 32-yard strike from Snyder that made it 42-12.

“We stayed the course and stayed with the game plan,” Card said. “It all worked out in the end.”

NOTES: Gavin Dewey scored on a 5-yard run and Zishan Munir caught a 35-yard touchdown pass for Southwestern’s other scores. … Luke Ormsby scored on a 2-yard run to cap the scoring for the Thunderbirds. … Seth Bennett had 12 tackles, Cooper Pannes had 10 and Faizan Munir had nine for the Trojans while Trey Sauerland led Chautauqua Lake/Westfield with six tackles, Kyler Majka had five and Jafarjian had five. … Chautauqua Lake/Westfield’s Blane Thomas and Southwestern’s Chris Quinn were named the Intense Milk/Cross Training Athletics Character Athletes of the Game.

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE/WESTFIELD 12 0 0 6 — 18

SOUTHWESTERN 0 21 14 7 — 42

CL/W–Sauerland 78 interception return (kick failed)

CL/W–Jafarjian 76 run (kick failed)

Sou–ACard 42 pass from Snyder (ACard kick)

Sou–ZMunir 1 run (ACard kick)

Sou–Mathews 36 pass from Snyder (ACard kick)

Sou–Dewey 5 run (ACard kick)

Sou–ZMunir 35 pass from Snyder (NCard kick)

Sou–ACard 32 pass from Snyder (ACard kick)

CL/W–Ormsby 2 run (pass failed)