Can you hear the cheerleaders, noisemakers and snare drums? Can you smell the grills, popcorn and crisp fall air?
That means it’s once again high school football season.
Western New York high schools begin the 2025 season Thursday with a handful of games and it kicks off in earnest Friday. Last season no greater Niagara region teams reached Highmark Stadium for the Section VI championships, while Medina was the lone team to reach a semifinal.
But 10 of 11 teams in the area return a quarterback with extensive experience this year, while two teams — Barker/Roy-Hart and Starpoint — have new coaches, albeit familiar faces. Medina and Newfane are looking to stay atop the standings, while Grand Island, Niagara Falls and Starpoint are looking to take a step up from the middle of the pack.
Lockport and Wilson are looking to rebound from rebuilding years after 2023 championship game appearances. And Barker/Roy-Hart, Lewiston-Porter and North Tonawanda are seeking their first winning campaigns in a decade, while Niagara Wheatfield is aiming for its first since 2018.
Here are the top players and games to look for this season:
Players to watch
Mac Capen, Sr., Newfane: The quarterback did it all for the Panthers, who grabbed a share of the Class C North championship. Capen threw for 533 yards and five touchdowns, while also leading the team with 821 yards rushing and nine scores in his first season as the starter last season. He also had 36 tackles and three interceptions as a linebacker on defense. At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Capen is a load to haul down, and with Newfane’s move to Class D, he gets a slew of defenses that haven’t played against him yet.
Collin Doxey, Sr., Newfane: Doxey had a breakout season on the Newfane defensive line. He led the team with 59 tackles while adding seven sacks. He had two sacks in three different outings and anchored a defense that surrendered just 11.8 points per game and held five opponents to single digits in nine games.
Christian Moss, Sr., Medina: Moss had the best statistical season for a running back in program history — quite an accomplishment for a Medina player. He finished fourth in Section VI with 1,825 yards and tied for third with 26 touchdowns, averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Medina returns starting quarterback Preston Woodworth and all his top receivers, but Moss should still be the focal point of the offense. As one of two active players in Section VI — along with Lackawanna’s Tyrone Clark — with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Moss is looking for his next encore after a 500-yard, 10-touchdown improvement last year.
Nik Korte, Sr., Grand Island: After throwing for 702 yards and four touchdowns last season, Grand Island fans are going to have to keep their heads on a swivel because Korte might line up all over the place this season. The Vikings are looking to replace leading rusher Michael Sole’s 946 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bruiser Dominic Nucci is still their top short-yardage threat after scoring 11 touchdowns last season, but Korte is likely to take on a bigger role in the offense this season after running for 346 yards and five scores last season.
Darryl Smith, Jr., Niagara Falls: Smith had a breakout season in his return to Niagara Falls after one season at Canisius. He hauled in 38 passes for 814 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver, while notching four interceptions and seven pass breakups as a cornerback. Smith has an offer from Temple University, the only area player with a Division I scholarship offer right now. The Wolverines plan for Smith to be a shutdown cornerback on defense, while finding a variety of ways to get the ball in his hands on offense.
Breakout candidates
Ryan Hough, Sr., Wilson: Hough emerged as one of the best all-around athletes in Western New York after showcasing his talents in basketball and track last season. He had 23 receptions for 398 yards and accounted for seven of Wilson’s nine touchdowns through the air last year. Hough has averaged 18.5 yards on 33 receptions during his two-year career, scoring nine touchdowns. With quarterback Vic Cusatis having a full season under his belt, Hough could be in for a big year.
Michael Taylor, Sr., Niagara Falls: Taylor became the unquestioned starting quarterback last season for the Wolverines, throwing for 1,134 yards and 11 touchdowns. He worked on improving his accuracy during the offseason and should get plenty of opportunities to throw this season, while also being a threat to take off and run. If Taylor stays healthy, Niagara Falls could build off last year’s 4-5 campaign.
Games to watch for each team
Iroquois at Grand Island, 7 p.m., Sept. 5: A tough game to start the season for Grand Island, as Iroquois loves to chuck the ball around. Quarterback Justus Kleitz led Section VI in attempts (314), completions (217), yards (3,234) and touchdowns (35) last season. A win could indicate Grand Island is ready to hop back into the Section VI championship picture after jumping from Class B to Class A once again.
Starpoint at Lewiston-Porter, 7 p.m., Sept. 12: The Lancers are seeking their first season above .500 since 2012 and get an early test from nearby Starpoint in Week 2. Lew-Port jumps from Class B3 to B1, with perennial powers Pioneer, South Park and Williamsville South. Lew-Port could use a strong start because injuries have derailed the last few seasons.
Kenmore West at Lockport, 2 p.m., Sept. 6: Lockport gets a tough test right out of the chute. A year after the Lions went to the Section VI Class A championship game, they tumbled to 1-8. Lockport lost some key players from that team, but quarterback Scott Stowe returns after becoming the starter in the middle of last season, throwing for 588 yards and six scores.
Batavia at Medina, 7 p.m., Oct. 24: Aside from last year’s Week 2 loss to Newfane, Medina has rolled through Class C North by outscoring opponents 952-172 en route to five consecutive league championships. The Mustangs are the team to beat again this season, but the regular-season finale brings Section V’s Class B powerhouse to town and it could be a barometer for the postseason.
Newfane at Franklinville/Ellicottville, 7 p.m., Sept. 12: Newfane’s Class D journey starts with a doozy in Week 2. Franklinville/Ellicottville is always in the mix for a Class D championship and made its fourth trip to the sectional final in five seasons. The Panthers have found some success in recent years with consecutive winning seasons in Class C North.
Bennett at Niagara Falls, 2 p.m., Sept. 6: Bennett still projects to be the top of the crop in Class AA, but the season opener could offer a glimpse as to whether Niagara Falls is ready to make a move up the standings. The Tigers have outscored the Wolverines 166-26 in their last four meetings.
Sweet Home at Niagara Wheatfield, 7 p.m., Sept. 5: The defending Section VI Class A champions come calling to open the season. The Falcons have shown overall improvement since Erik O’Bryan became coach in 2022, but they haven’t been able to stack up wins. Quarterback Chase Richards had a solid junior campaign with 983 yards and 13 touchdowns, so Niagara Wheatfield might be able to put some points on the scoreboard this season.
Amherst at North Tonawanda, 7 p.m., Sept. 19: The Lumberjacks face a daunting schedule and get Hamburg and Grand Island during the first two weeks and wrap the season with Health Sciences and McKinley leading into T-NT. North Tonawanda has finished with more than two wins once since 2017 and hasn’t posted a record above .500 since 2016. The Jacks could have consecutive competitive games against Amherst and Kenmore East.
Roy-Hart/Barker at Newfane, 7 p.m., Sept. 5: Bill Bruning returns to coach after stepping down in 2017 and gets a stiff non-league test to open the season. The two schools haven’t found much success since merging football programs, but Bruning was the coach when they went 13-5 in the first two seasons in 2011 and 2012. Quarterback Tysen McCaa is a superb athlete and has the ability to do some damage. Newfane could be an early indicator of how the season unfolds.
Pioneer at Starpoint, 7 p.m., Sept. 19: Dropping from Class A to Class B doesn’t mean the competition gets any easier. In consecutive games, Starpoint gets Pioneer and South Park, which went a combined 18-3 last season. The Panthers lost a lot of talent from last season but haven’t finished below .500 since 2015.
Randolph at Wilson, 7 p.m., Oct. 10: If Wilson plays well, it has a favorable schedule early in the season. Cattaraugus/Little Valley went 1-8 last season — including a 25-point loss to the Lakemen — while Silver Creek/Forestville went 1-7 and Allegany-Limestone is returning from the eight-man ranks. But Randolph comes to the shores of Lake Ontario in Week 6 to kick off a tough three-game stretch to close the season that also includes a trip to Franklinville/Ellicottville and rival Newfane at home.
Area-on-area matchups
• Roy-Hart/Barker at Newfane, 7 p.m., Sept. 5
• North Tonawanda at Grand Island, 7 p.m., Sept. 11
• Starpoint at Lewiston-Porter, 7 p.m., Sept. 12
• Roy-Hart/Barker at Medina, 5:30 p.m., Sept. 18
• Niagara Wheatfield at Niagara Falls, 2 p.m., Sept. 20
• Lockport at Niagara Falls, noon, Sept. 27
• Starpoint at Niagara Wheatfield, 7 p.m., Oct. 23
• Newfane at Wilson, 7 p.m., Oct. 24