The win advances the Red & Green (7-3) into the sectional championship game at Highmark Stadium for the second consecutive year against No. 1 Bennett, which cruised to 52-13 victory over No. 4 Lancaster in the other semifinal last night.

For the record, the Tigers (8-1) defeated Jamestown 14-7 In Week 5, but the Red & Green — winners of five straight — are playing their best football at just the right time.

“They beat us close, but that was weeks ago,” Jamestown head coach Tom Langworthy said. ” … It will be a great challenge, but it’s something we’re looking forward to.”

Having Bonta taking handoffs certainly heightens the anticipation.

Jamestown’s Alaric Richards looks for room to run after one of his two interceptions against Orchard Park in Friday’s Section VI Class AA semifinal. Photo courtesy of Jeremy McKoy | F.A.M. Photography

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound running back scored touchdowns from 6, 10 and 2 yards, the last one coming with 4:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, to go along with a team-leading 11 tackles from his linebacker position. In combination with Richards, they were the headliners in the Red & Green’s biggest game of the year to date.

“I thought our players played with mental toughness,” Langworthy said. “Jamestown kids are the toughest … and it has transcended generations. It’s in our DNA.”

The Quakers (6-4) did respond, however, on their ensuing possession with a 75-yard drive, capped by a 17-yard TD strike from junior quarterback Jayden Hassett to Zack Danna — their second of the night — with 2:18 left. A successful point-after kick by Landon Kirk trimmed Jamestown’s lead to 18-13, but, fittingly, Bonta recovered the ensuing onsides kick and the Red & Green ran out the clock.

Overall, Jamestown’s defense was stout from start to finish, although the Quakers opened the scoring in the first quarter. Senior Patrick Budney’s 71-yard burst set them up with a first down inside the Jamestown 20 and, three plays later, Hassett found Danna for the touchdown. The PAT failed.

The Red & Green took the lead in the second period, thanks to the first of Richards’ two interceptions that set them up at the Orchard Park 17. Four plays later, Bonta bulled in from the 6 for the TD. The point-after try was no good, however, and the game remained tied.

For the remainder of the first half, Jamestown was able to run the ball and control the clock, but it turned the ball over on downs at the Quakers’ 16, 24, 9 and 24, keeping the score 6-6 at the break.

Orchard Park, which was playing without star running back Jherek Breske due to injury, put together an impressive drive to open the third quarter, but on second down from the Red & Green 13-yard line, Richards picked off his second pass to thwart the host’s golden scoring opportunity.

“He belongs,” Langworthy said of his talented ninth-grader, “but no one saw this (kind of season). It’s above and beyond.”

Jamestown was unable to turn the turnover into points, but Richards’ defensive heroics continued on Orchard Park’s next possession as he stripped the ball from a Quaker ball carrier and senior Asziah Watson recovered. With the ball at OP’s 18-yard line, the Red & Green needed three Bonta carries, the last a 10-yard touchdown run, to take the lead for the first time 12-6 with 11:54 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Jamestown’s final touchdown drive totaled 62 yards on nine plays, with Bonta carrying eight times for 58 yards, including a 2-yard plunge for the touchdown with 4:28 remaining.

Orchard Park did make things mildly interesting when it marched 75 yards for Hassett’s second TD connection to Danna to make it a one-score game, but Bonta’s recovery of the onsides kick and his ability to gain tough yards behind a determined offensive line of Watson, Joey Perry, Gavin Ford, Eligh DeLeon and Andre Graham was enough to secure Jamestown’s date with Bennett at 8 p.m. next Friday at Highmark Stadium.

“That will be the last (high school) game ever at Highmark,” Langworthy said, “and at least for the 2026 season there are going to be no games at the new (stadium across the street). We’ve punched our ticket. By Sunday morning you start being greedy about more wins, but for now we’re going to be super thankful.”

NOTES: Bonta’s 43 carries tied the school record, first set by Joey Campion in 2013. … Unofficially, Bonta has rushed for 1,529 yards this season on 238 carries and scored 26 touchdowns. … Defensively, Bonta led the way with his 11 tackles, followed by Watson with 10, including four for loss and a sack; DeLeon with nine; Luis Diaz with eight; and Richards with five. … For the Quakers, Budney rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries in place of Breske, who rushed for 180 yards in the first game against Jamestown. … Hassett completed 11 of 24 passes for 125 yards and the two touchdowns to Danna, but the quarterback was picked off twice by Richards. … In last season’s Class AA title game, the Red & Green lost to Lancaster 28-21 at Highmark Stadium.

Jamestown 0 6 6 6 — 18

Orchard Park 6 0 0 7 — 13

OP–Danna 18 pass from Hassett (kick fail)

Jam–Bonta 6 run (kick fail)

Jam–Bonta 10 run (kick fail)

Jam–Bonta 2 run (run fail)

OP–Danna 17 pass from Hassett (Kirk kick)