Jamestown’s Sincere Green celebrates after returning an interception 20 yards for a touchdown during the Red Raiders’ Section VI Class A semifinal win against Williamsville South on Friday at Strider Field. P-J photo by Tim Frank

When Jamestown junior Jaylen Butera was told the numbers he put up in the first half of Friday night’s Section VI Class A semifinal football game at Strider Field, it didn’t immediately register with him.

“Wait, can you say that again?” he asked. “That’s crazy.”

When the stats were repeated, an ear-to-ear grin creased his face.

And rightfully so.

Butera rushed for 262 yards on 13 carries and scored five touchdowns — all in the first two quarters — to highlight the Red Raiders’ 57-14 victory over Williamsville South. The win sets up next Friday’s sectional title game, back at Strider Field, against South Park, a 20-19 winner over Grand Island in the other semifinal.

Jamestown’s Jaylen Butera runs away from a pair of Williamsville South players during the Red Raiders’ Section VI Class A semifinal win Friday at Strider Field. P-J photo by Tim Frank

It’s clear the Sparks (5-0) will have to find a way to contain Butera.

That’s easier said than done.

The 6-foot-2, 192-pounder showed why he is on the short list of Western New York’s best players as he scored on TD bursts of 3, 6, 69 (off a fake punt), 69 and 44 yards; added a pair of 2-point conversions; and registered six solo tackles and two assists.

“He’s different from everything I’ve seen,” Jamestown coach Tom Langworthy said. “I think he’s the best back in Western New York. … He’s just so special at catching, running and defensively. He’s just so valuable, and there’s really no comparison I can make. He’s such a great person. That’s the part that makes it special.”

The play that will be remembered the most on an unseasonably cool night was his highlight-reel 69-yard run to paydirt at the end of the first quarter. With teammate Elijah Rojas in punt formation, the ball was snapped instead to Butera, the upback, who weaved, bobbed and powered his way to the end zone to put the Red Raiders (6-0) in front, 22-7.

“We went over it a lot in practice and coach called it and I was like, ‘Well, here we go. I’ve got to make a play.’ So I got to the outside and my guys did a wonderful job blocking. I got down the field a little bit and saw a (Williamsville South player) turned around so … I blew past him and then I saw another guy coming and I was like, ‘I’ve come too far to get tackled,’ so I had to score. Once I got to the 2-yard line I got wrapped up and I had to reach the ball out. … I didn’t want to go all that way and not score.”

By halftime, courtesy of two more Butera TD runs; a 39-yard strike from quarterback Trey Drake to Rojas; and a 20-yard interception return for a score by defensive back Sincere Green, Jamestown led 51-7.

The only question after the break was whether Butera would get a crack at breaking the school single-game rushing record of 351 yards set by Brett Shaw during the 2003 season. But Langworthy kept his star player on the bench for the entirety of the second half.

“We could have done it, but (Butera) was pretty winded and, frankly, we’ve got to have him ready for next week. It would have been cool, because he would have got it, but we preach team all the time.”

Fittingly, Butera credited his offensive line for his performance.

“Caleb Bane, Joey Delgado, Julian McGaughy, Nick Miraglia and Kam Melendez, I just love them all,” he said. “They make my job easier, and Coach Langworthy does a good job helping them during the week.”

Now, Jamestown has one more game in its season and a chance to claim a Section VI title. Only South Park stands in the way.

“I’m not really worried so much about them. I’m just worried about what we can do,” Butera said. “If we can play the best that we can play — like we’ve shown all year — it will be a pretty good game.”

Hearing that diplomatic answer, Langworthy couldn’t resist.

“He should be a politician,” the head coach said.

After Butera’s performance against Williamsville South, he’d likely garner a lot of votes.

NOTES: Jamestown’s lone touchdown in the second half was a 3-yard pass from Drake to Rojas in the fourth quarter. The tandem now has connected for 11 TDs in six games. … Williamsville South’s touchdowns came on a pair of Jonathon Clifford runs, a 5-yarder in the first quarter and a 1-yarder in the final period. … Ella Propheter booted three successful point-after kicks and Markell Carter added a two-point converson run. … TaKye Branch led the Red Raiders with 10 tackles, including two for loss; Ben Anderson and Carter Eganski both had nine; and Jadiel Johnson and Butera each had eight. Eganski and Johnson recorded two tackles for loss.

WILLIAMSVILLE SOUTH 7 0 0 7 — 14

JAMESTOWN 22 29 0 6 — 57

JHS — Butera 3 run (Propheter kick)

JHS — Butera 6 run (Propheter kick)

WS — Clifford 5 run (Voyer kick)

JHS — Butera 69 run (Butera kick)

JHS — Rojas 39 pass from Drake (Butera run)

JHS — Butera 44 run (Propheter kick)

JHS — Green 30 interception return (kick failed)

JHS — Rojas 3 pass from Drake (kick failed)

WS — Clifford 1 run (Voyer kick)