Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton's defense celebrates after Tristen Gibbs' game-sealing interception against Alexander/Pembroke last Saturday in Buffalo. Photo courtesy of Cody Jacobson

As can be expected at this point in the year, Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton will likely face its biggest test of the season Saturday.

The Eagles will take on Section IV champion Chenango Forks (11-0) in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C West Semifinal at noon at Cicero-North Syracuse High School’s Michael J. Bragman Athletic Complex.

The Blue Devils have rolled to an undefeated record, scoring at least 30 points in all but one of their games this season.

Their closest game came in Week 1 when they beat Owego Free Academy — a Class B state semifinal representative — 7-6 at home. Since then, Chenango Forks has outscored opponents 415-117.

In the Section IV Class C semifinals, Chenango Forks — which has played for a sectional crown every year since 2012 — beat Susquehanna Valley 37-6. The Blue Devils followed that up with a 42-6 win over Oneonta for their 24th sectional crown. Chenango Forks scored all six of its touchdowns in the first half and rested its starters the final two quarters.

“Their bread and butter this year is a lead where they kick out the defensive end. They have two good backs, one is running the ball and the other is kicking out the defensive end,” Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton head coach Ty Harper said earlier this week. “They have a strong, physical offensive line that reestablishes the line of scrimmage every play. If you can’t stop it, they are going to keep running it and score a lot of points.”

Last week, the Blue Devils topped Section III champion General Brown 47-24 as Brysen Fry and Tate Bender combined for 369 yards and six touchdowns.

“It’s smashmouth football. We’re all familiar with Randolph and the way they ran dive-option and lead for the better part of three decades,” Harper said. “Chenango Forks runs some midline veer. They’re good at that. They wait for the defense to make a mistake and they capitalize on it. They don’t run 100 different plays but they’re good at what they do.”

The Eagles have been dominant throughout a four-game playoff run during which they’ve outscored opponents 132-33, but their offense sputtered last week in an 11-8 victory over Section V champion Alexander/Pembroke in Buffalo.

“Schematically, Alexander/Pembroke did a good job of overloading formations to our tight end. They keyed on Asher (Olson) and Clay (Smith),” Harper said. “We have to do a better job of mixing formations and recognizing where guys are lined up so they can’t key on familiar formations.”

Quarterback Brayden Gibbs has completed 135 of 222 passes for 1,750 yards and 20 touchdowns on the season. Thandon Bensink is Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s leading rusher with 157 carries for 897 yards and 11 touchdowns while Tristen Gibbs (35 carries, 231 yards, 3 TDs) and Smith (28 carries, 135 yards, 6 TDs) have seen their workloads increase as the season has gone on. Devin Hewes is the Eagles’ top receiver with 57 catches for 708 yards and six touchdowns while Olson (39 catches, 642 yards, 9 TDs) and Carson Fairbank (23 catches, 316 yards, 4 TDs) are also big contributors.

“These coaches are good and will have their kids prepared. We’re going to have to protect the quarterback when he drops back to pass,” Harper said. “(Last week) we didn’t do a good job in pass protection. They came in Monday ready to learn and get better. That’s what they’ve done the whole second half of the season.”

The winner of Saturday’s game will advance to the state championship game at noon Saturday, Dec. 6 at the JMA Dome on the campus of Syracuse University.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Harper said, “and we’re going to have to work really hard if we are going to keep it close.”