Senior running back Tywon Wright rushed for 346 yards on 22 carries and scored five touchdowns to send Southwestern to a 53-21 victory over Wilson in the Class C title game at New Era Field on Saturday night.

The win vaults the Trojans (10-0) into the Far West Regional at noon next Saturday against Letchworth/Warsaw at SUNY Brockport. Letchworth/Warsaw downed LeRoy, 26-6, in the Section V title game.

The Trojans and Lakemen were tied, 14-all, at the break and 21-21 early in the third quarter, but Southwestern scored 32 unanswered points from there to win going away, ending their three-game playoff losing streak at the home of the Buffalo Bills.

“It was just huge to get the monkey off our back,” said Southwestern interim head coach Jake Burkholder. “To get over the hump is just huge and we’re just on to the next step.”

Southwestern’s Cooper Pannes (59) closes in for the tackle. P-J photoby Tim Frank

Ironically, it wasn’t the kind of start that Burkholder expected. In fact, Southwestern had never been truly tested in the first two quarters at any point all season, and although the Trojans held a slight edge in total yards (175-155) at intermission, they were guilty of six penalties, trailed in time of possession (15:30-8:30), and were guilty of three turnovers.

Thank goodness they had Wright.

Behind a strong effort by the offensive line of Calvin Ricker, Chris Quinn, Dontae Hoose, Drew Wigren and Cooper Pannes, the Southwestern senior scored touchdowns on runs of 20 and 80 yards in the first half. After the break, it was full steam ahead as Wright found paydirt from 64, 50 and 35 yards. Zishaun Munir (23-yard run) and Conrad Thomas (5-yard run and 54-yard pass from Aiden Kennedy) also scored in what turned out to be a runaway.

“Tywon was just runing as hard as he can run,” Burkholder said. “I’ve never seen him run that hard.”

Added Wright: “Every time I got the ball, I just told myself I can’t go down here, I’ve got to keep going, keep pushing, be a motor boat and keep going.”

Southwestern's Zishaun Munir celebrates his third-quarter touchdown run during Saturday’s Section VI Class C championship game at New Era Field. P-J photo by Tim Frank

For two-plus quarters, the Lakemen, who suffered playoff semifinal losses to the Trojans by a point in both 2017 and 2018, were making the waters unsettled for Southwestern. The Trojans’ first-team defense hadn’t allowed a point all season, but Drew Westmorland (95 yards rushing) had a 1-yard TD run; a 5-yard halfback option pass to Jared Jaques for another score; and a 79-yard pitch and catch from quarterback Robert Atlas, which tied the game at 21-all with 7:36 remaining in the third quarter.

Two plays later, Wright went on a 50-yard burst to the end zone, and Southwestern never looked back.

“The kids have worked so hard and they’re ready for anything,” Burkholder said. “That was the worst half of football we’ve played all year, big time. They just kind of pulled it together, didn’t panic and they came out, they were ready to go and they lit it up in the second half.”

Now it’s on to SUNY Brockport and Section V Lethworth/Warsaw.

“We’re not stopping here,” Wright said.

NOTES: The 53 points Southwestern scored was one point away from tying the Section VI Football Federation stadium playoff record. North Tonawanda (2009) and South Park (2015) hold the mark with 54. … Wright’s five touchdowns tie a stadium playoff record that is also held by Keien Williams of Eden who accomplished that feat in 2003. … The stadium playoff record for rushing yards in a game is 383, which was set by Matt Crandall of Cattaraugus-Little Valley in 2006. … The Trojans amassed 478 yards in total offense, including 394 on the ground. … Southwestern was led defensively by Jon Pearson, Garrett Swan, Seth Bennett, Quinn and Pannes with nine total tackles apiece. … Atlas completed 14 of 30 passes for 213 yards. His favorite target was Westmorland, who caught three passes for 135 yards.Westmorland also intercepted a pass.

Wilson 7 7 7 0 — 21

Southwestern 7 7 20 19 — 53

Sou–Wright 20 run (Card kick)

Wil–Westmorland 1 run (Baia kick)

Sou–Wright 80 run (Card kick)

Wil–Jaques 5 pass from Westmoreland (Baia kick)

Sou–Wright 64 run (Card kick)

Wil–Westmorland 74 pass from Atlas (Baia kick)

Sou–Wright 50 run (Card kick)

Sou–Munir 23 run (kick fail)

Sou–Thomas 5 run (Card kick)

Sou–Thomas 54 pass from Kennedy (kick fail)

Sou–Wright 35 run (run fail)