Leading the way was senior quarterback Mac Capen who led all of Section VI with 1,992 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground. He also completed 99 of 162 passes for 1,262 yards with 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Capen’s impressive year earned him Class D Player of the Year honors.

However, Capen was not the only stellar quarterback in the league with Gowanda/Pine Valley senior Carter Capozzi joining him on the First-Team Offense and earning the co-Offensive Player of the Year award.

Capozzi finished his final season with the Panthers completing 134 of 221 passes for 1,739 yards and 19 touchdowns to four interceptions. He also rushed for another five touchdowns and 239 yards on 29 carries.

Gowanda/Pine Valley senior quarterback Carter Capozzi, left, was named the Section VI Class D co-Offensive Player of the Year, while his teammate, running back and linebacker, Winter Mentley-Peters, right, was named the league’s co-Defensive Player of the Year. Photo courtesy of Mike Frame

Wilson senior receiver Ryan Hough shared the award with Capozzi, making 39 catches for 517 yards and 12 touchdowns. Hough was the only receiver named to the First-Team Offense.

Gowanda/Pine Valley senior Winter Mentley-Peters excelled on both sides of the ball, but it was his ability at linebacker recognized by the league at co-Defensive Player of the Year with Wilson’s Brock Lepsch.

Mentley-Peters led the Panthers with total tackles at 102 and 79 solo, he also managed two sacks and an interception. He also led the Panthers out of the backfield, rushing for 1,022 yards on 152 carries with eight touchdowns.

Playing one more game than Mentley-Peters, Lepsch racked up 133 total tackles and 87 solo with two sacks and forced two fumbles at linebacker for the Lakemen.

The pair were joined at linebacker on the First-Team Defense by Silver Creek/Forestville junior Dom Anders who racked up 66 total tackles, an interception and three fumble recoveries. Newfane’ Aiden Cronkhite and Jake Morello took the last two First Team spots.

Cattaraugus-Little Valley senior Dylan Swanson was named to the Section VI Class D First-Team Offense at running back. Photo courtesy of Mike Frame

Randolph senior Hunter Foster earned the co-Defensive Lineman of the Year award after making 40 total tackles with 18 solo. He shares the award with Newfane junior Nasir Spencer who made 73 tackles with four for loss and nine sacks.

Foster and Spencer were the only two defensive lineman named to the First Team.

Silver Creek/Forestville sophomore Vince Prinzbach was named the co-Offensive Lineman of the Year after the Black Knights rushed for 1,430 yards and passed for 995 more.

Despite being regarded as one of the two best offensive linemen in the league, Prinzbach was named to the Second Team Offense.

The award is shared with Franklinville/Ellicottville senior Grady Byroads who helped the Titans rush for 993 yards and pass for 717 more. Byroads was joined at offensive line on the First Team by junior teammate Mason Blecha and Wilson senior Koa Leapai.

The First-Team Offense included four running backs, Wilson senior Michael Ruble, Silver Creek/Forestville senior Gavin Delong, Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale junior Aidan Coulter and Cattaraugus-Little Valley senior Dylan Swanson. Ruble rushed for 726 yards with eight touchdowns on 97 carries, Delong accrued 229 yards on 44 rushes with two touchdowns, Swanson racked up 948 yards with six touchdowns on 164 carries and Coulter picked up 320 yards on 72 carries.

Randolph junior Carter Conley rounded out the First-Team Offense at tight end after catching 21 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns.

The First-Team Defense is finalized with four defensive backs, Randolph senior Jaxon Morrison, Gowanda/Pine Valley junior Kyan Austin and Newfane seniors Camlo Flowers and Isaiah Gerstung.

Morrison made 23 total tackles on the season and Austin four interceptions, a defensive touchdown, two fumble recoveries and 27 total tackles.

The League Sportsmanship award went to Cattaraugus-Little Valley.

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

Mac Capen Senior QB Newfane

Carter Capozzi Senior QB Gowanda/Pine Valley

Ryan Hough Senior WR Wilson

Michael Ruble Senior RB Wilson

Gavin Delong Senior RB Silver Creek/Forestville

Aidan Coulter Junior RB Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale

Dylan Swanson Senior RB Cattaraugus-Little Valley

Carter Conley Junior TE Randolph

Grady Byroads Senior OL Franklinville/Ellicottville

Mason Blecha Junior OL Franklinville/Ellicottville

Koa Leapai Senior OL Wilson

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

Nasir Spencer Junior DL Newfane

Hunter Foster Senior DL Randolph

Dom Anders Junior LB Silver Creek/Forestville

Brock Lepsch Senior LB Wilson

Aiden Cronkhite Senior LB Newfane

Jake Morello Junior LB Newfane

Winter Mentley-Peters Senior LB Gowanda/Pine Valley

Jaxon Morrison Senior DB Randolph

Kyan Austin Junior DB Gowanda/Pine Valley

Camlo Flowers Senior DB Newfane

Isaiah Gerstung Senior DB Newfane

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

Vic Cusatis Senior QB Wilson

Vince Prinzbach Sophomore OL Silver Creek/Forestville

Levi Henning Junior OL Newfane

Landon Mueller Senior OL Wilson

Dalen Stevens Junior OL Gowanda/Pine Valley

Nolan Murphy Senior OL Franklinville/Ellicottville

Devan Otto Senior OL Cattaraugus-Little Valley

Trelin Warrior Senior WR Gowanda/Pine Valley

Syrai Johnson Freshman WR Randolph

Landon Learn Senior WR Franklinville/Ellicottville

Kevin McElwain Senior RB Randolph

Manny Sanchez Junior RB Silver Creek/Forestville

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

Tristian Smith Senior DT Newfane

Colin Doxey Senior DE Newfane

Brady Seeley Senior DE Wilson

Zane Rogers Sophomore DE Gowanda/Pine Valley

Grady Merrill Senior DE Cattaraugus-Little Valley

Camryn Stover Junior LB Newfane

Shamus George Senior LB Wilson

Isaiah Washington Junior LB Gowanda/Pine Valley

Max Tenamore Senior LB Silver Creek/Forestville

Greg Peck Sophomore LB Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale

Ryan Callen Sophomore DB Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale

Alex Garland Junior DB Randolph

Tucker Barrick Junior DB Cattaraugus-Little Valley

HONORABLE MENTION

Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale: Nolan Zink (Jr.), Conner Crowley (Jr.), Isaiah Fisher (Jr.)

Cattaraugus-Little Valley: Ny Boswell (Jr.), Quinn Janora (Sr.), Brice Corbin (Sr.), Bransen Gabel (Sr.)

Franklinville/Ellicottville: Landon Giles (Sr.), Brenden MacWilliams (Jr.), Blake Smith (Jr.)

Gowanda/Pine Valley: Jayden Fish (Jr.), Lukas Barrett (Sr.), Jayden John (Sr.), Noah Lauer (Sr.)

Newfane: Andrew Watts (Sr.), Dom Makuch (Sr.), Josh McCabe (Jr.), Mikey Henning (Jr.)

Randolph: Reagan Smith (Sr.), Gavin Larson (Sr.), Davion Johnson (Jr.)

Silver Creek/Forestville: Will Duliba (Jr.), Lucas Nosbisch (Sr.)

Wilson: Nick Lemke (Jr.), Nathan Hurtgam (Sr.), Wyatt McGinnis (Sr.), Trent Abbott (Sr.)