“To us that means we’re not turning the ball over, we’re not giving up explosive plays and we’re not making penalties,” the 18th-year head coach said earlier this week. “We’re making the other team play really well to beat us, (because) we’re not going to beat ourselves.”

Standing in the path of the Red & Green (7-3) is top-seeded Bennett (8-1). Kickoff for the final high school game ever at Highmark Stadium is 8 p.m.

“I’m really thrilled to be in the sectional final,” Langworthy said. “We’ve earned it.”

Winners of five straight — Jamestown’s last loss came at the hands of the Tigers, 14-7, on Oct. 3 at Strider Field — the third-seeded Red & Green have been playing their best at just the right time, culminated by last week’s 18-13 semifinal win at No. 2 Orchard Park.

In this Oct. 18, 2025 file photo, Jamestown head coach Tom Langworthy talks to his team after a Class AA victory at Niagara Falls. At right is player mentor Tom Franco. P-J file photo by Scott Kindberg

“Our players are confident,” Langworthy said. “We know Bennett is a fantastic team and we have a big challenge ahead of us, but we feel like we’re right where we need to be.

“(Class) AA is about matchups and I think we’re the team that matches up the best with Bennett,” Langworthy continued. “They’re physical, but we play a physical style. That’s not new to us. They have a good mixture of run and pass, but we prepare well for those things. We play a style on offense where we’re running downhill and we’re trying to do work between the tackles. We don’t want to turn it into a track meet with Bennett. That ball-control, physical style plays into our hands.”

Statistically, the teams are very similar.

Jamestown is led by a stout offensive line, composed of Asziah Watson, Joey Perry, Gavin Ford, Eligh DeLeon and Andre Graham. Together they have been successful opening holes for senior Chase Bonta and freshman Alaric Richards.

Bonta, a 5-foot-9, 195-pounder, has rushed for 1,534 yards on 238 carries and scored a Section VI-best 26 touchdowns, while Richards, a 5-10, 160-pounder, has accumulated 489 yards on 94 carries and four TDs. Sophomore quarterback Jackson Grey hasn’t needed to throw a ton, but he has completed 45 of 101 passes for 680 yards and five scores, three of them to senior Jada Foreman.

Bennett, meanwhile, is led offensively by senior running back Jimmy Valentine (156 carries, 1,383 yards, 19 TDs). Junior Dontre Hampton (66-744-8) has also been a threat on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Jacob Dowell has completed 59 of 109 passes for 763 yards and four TDs, three of which have gone to senior Jack Eskridge IV (30 receptions, 488 yards).

Leading the defense for the Red & Green are senior Luis Diaz (93 total tackles, including 10 for loss) and Bonta (92 total tackles, including eight for loss). Richards and senior Jericho Thagard have been ballhawks as they both have picked off five passes. Four of Richards’ interceptions have come in the last two games.

“What I shared with our players was we won a five-point game (against Orchard Park), we created three turnovers and we didn’t turn the ball over at all,” Langworthy said. “And, two of our (forced) turnovers created touchdowns on a short field. Those are difference-making plays.”

The Tigers’ defense is spearheaded by Hampton (91 tackles), senior Nyree Reaser (68 tackles, including 15 for loss) and sophomore Jason Hargrove (68, including 11 for loss).

A year ago, Jamestown lost to Lancaster 28-21 in the championship game, but Langworthy, who is seeking his fifth sectional crown, believes the experience of playing at the home of the Buffalo Bills will pay dividends.

“Twenty-two seniors have already been there,” he said. “… I think that helps us go back and not make the situation bigger than it is. It’s just a football game. It’s blocking, tackling and the fundamentals.

“We’ve got to play our game, have to play our style and there’s a certain way we want the game to go. In the seven games we’ve won, for the most part, we’ve been able to dictate that style.”

NOTES: Besides the loss to Bennett in Week 5, Jamestown’s other setbacks were to St. Joe’s 28-6 in Week 2 and Orchard Park 30-19 in Week 4. … The Tigers’ lone loss was to Washington Massillon 35-0 in Week 2.

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