Canisteo-Greenwood (2-4) at Alexander (3-3)
1:30 p.m. Saturday
You can call this Season 3 for the Alexander football team.
The first season was one in which the squad was pummeled by Oakfield-Alabama, Pembroke and Attica in the first three games of the season. The second was three straight wins over Holley, Elba/Byron-Bergen and Barker.
Now it is playoff time.
When Lucas Czechowski booted a field goal to give Alexander a 9-8 win over Holley in the fourth week of the season, it was just the start to a run that has earned the Trojans a home game in the Class DD playoffs.
His team now looks to make a run through the playoffs with Canisteo-Greenwood on tap in the opener and likely Caledonia-Mumford waiting in the finals.
The road ahead is a challenge as C-G has played some pretty stiff competition in teams like Le Roy and Cal-Mum during the regular season, probably Clyde-Savannah in the semifinals and the Red Raiders getting a bye week in the opening round.
Cal-Mum gets a rest during the opening week of the playoffs because Lyons had to cancel the rest of its season.
Alexander coach Dave Radley and his squad are not looking that far in the future just yet as the Redskins await in the opening round.
C-G has an offense that will keep the Alexander defenders on their feet on every play. The Redskins spend most of the game in a shotgun formation and run a lot of motion and option plays out of it.
Quarterback Mark Ahearn is a good runner and does a great job of drawing in linebackers before pitching the ball to running back Brett Marlatt.
The Trojans have seen a lot of different looks during Genesee Region League competition, but no team as diverse on the offensive side of the ball as Canisteo-Greenwood.
Ryan Piechoki, who is playing with a broken hand, leads the Alexander defense with 53 tackles and will get help from Ryan Wilson (26 tackles), A.J. Dybala (25) and Jordan Leitten (23).
Alexander will try to run the football and take advantage of scoring opportunities.
The offense has not put up any huge numbers this season but can move the ball and play the field position game as well as anybody.
Jay Schafer is the top rusher and has gained 514 yards with four touchdowns on 81 carries. Mike Woodrow has gotten more reps as the season goes on and finished the regular season with 210 yards and two scores on 39 attempts.
Piechoki has scored five times on 35 carries and will see carries in short yardage situations.
There has not been much of a passing game, which could be something the team will need in the playoffs to make a run.
Zach Burke completed 24-of-59 pass attempts for 291 yards, but has six interceptions to go with just one touchdown. His top target has been Czechowski, who has eight receptions for 104 yards, but he will also look in the direction of Steven George and possibly Leitten, who has big-play ability.
This is the second first round home game Alexander has ever hosted.
