Local Sports

Alone at the top

Herd win makes Fischer winningest coach in Section VI history

FALCONER -- As members of the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove football team finished their initial celebration after a 43-6 victory over Southwestern/Frewsburg at Bill Race Field on Friday night, they were called together by Drew Wilcox, Falconer's athletic director.

In his hand was a game ball.

There was 100% agreement on who should receive it.

Wilcox handed the ball to the Herd's head coach, Curt Fischer, and another celebration broke out.

This win was special.

The victory made Fischer the winningest head coach in Section VI football history, passing Gene Masters with his 249th career victory.

"Just to have my name mentioned in the same sentence with Coach (Gene) Masters is an honor in itself," Fischer said of the longtime Grand Island and Brocton coach whose record he surpassed. "I was fortunate enough early in my career to watch him and meet him in the stadium games we went to. I have a lot of praise for him and his family."

Fischer's coaching career began at Maple Grove, where he won state titles in 1998 and 2008, before a stint as the coach for a merged Chautauqua Lake/Maple Grove team. He became head coach at Falconer -- his alma mater -- in 2022.

"Coach (Dan) Greco was huge. There are so many people and I don't want to leave a bunch of people out," Fischer said. "All of those players who played for me, I love them all. It was all them. They just worked hard and I was lucky enough to be the head coach."

As the team gathered for a photo, players and other coaches invited Fischer's wife, Lori, and children, Megan and Zach, into the photo.

"They've sacrificed for all of this. My family has sacrificed so much, my wife and kids. They are huge," Curt Fischer said. "They've put up with a lot. I love them all. I can't thank them enough."

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley also clinched the Class C South regular-season title -- Falconer's first since 2007 -- and the division's top seed for the upcoming postseason.

"This team has persevered all year long. They have played so many close games. They've been behind in the third quarter, they've been behind in the fourth quarter, but they've always found a way to win," Fischer said. "Tonight was big for them to get a good, solid win. ... I'm really proud of this team. Right now they are clicking. They are just a bunch of guys with a bunch of heart. They never quit."

Things couldn't have started better for the Herd on Friday as Patrick Braley forced a fumble on the opening kickoff and Brody Hawkins recovered the ball at the Trojans' 26-yard line. Two players later, Dylan Newman scored on a 1-yard run and added his own 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead just 51 seconds into the game.

Southwestern/Frewsburg answered with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Drake Beckstrom to Joey Sirianni on fourth-and-12, but that was the final highlight of the night for the Trojans.

Hawkins added a 5-yard touchdown run before the first quarter was over to make it 16-6 after Ethan Conti's 2-point run.

In the second quarter, Newman capped a seven-play, 66-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run with every play of the drive going to the senior running back.

"It was just basic football. We stressed making sure we were getting our assignment done," Fischer said. "We went over things over and over and over, just to put it back in their heads."

Hawkins later added a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:07 remaining in the first half to make it 28-6.

After halftime, Newman added his fourth touchdown on a 1-yard run; Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove was awarded a safety when a Southwestern/Frewsburg snap went over its punter's head and eventually out of the back of the end zone; and Jaxon Kraft had a 6-yard scoring run. While the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove merger has existed for several years, it was only fitting that Kraft, a Maple Grove student, scored in the game.

"It made me feel great when I knew Maple Grove was coming down here because that's where it all happened. I loved having Kathy Burnett here," Fischer said of Maple Grove's athletic director joining the team on the field. "I have to thank Dave Nelson (former Falconer AD) for giving me a chance to come down here a few years back. ... I went to school here so that was a total honor."

The win gives Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove a home playoff game against Class C North's No. 4 seed next weekend. The Herd's opponent will be either JFK or Cleveland Hill.

"Now it's playoff time," Fischer said. "It's not going to be just one play."

NOTES: Newman led Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove with 21 carries for 141 yards. Patrick Braley was in on eight tackles, including two for a loss; Hawkins was in on seven tackles; Noah Brandt was in on seven tackles; and Tyler Anderson had a sack. ... Beckstrom went 7 of 10 for 65 yards through the air for Southwestern/Frewsburg. Miles Torres had 13 carries for 97 yards. Carter Casselman was in on 11 tackles, including two for a loss; Connor Campion was in on nine tackles; and Torres had an interception.

Southwestern/Frewsburg 6 0 0 0 -- 6

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove 16 12 9 6 -- 43

F/CV/MG--Newman 1 run (Newman run)

S/F--Sirianni 39 pass from Beckstrom (run failed)

F/CV/MG--Hawkins 5 run (Conti run)

F/CV/MG--Newman 7 run (run failed)

F/CV/MG--Hawkins 2 run (pass failed)

F/CV/MG--Newman 1 run (Carlson kick)

F/CV/MG--Safety (snap out of end zone)

F/CV/MG--Kraft 6 run (run failed)