It’s a pivotal third week of the season for Greater Niagara football teams.
Some teams are looking to continue their success while others are looking to avoid an 0-3 hole.
Starpoint looks to remain the lone unbeaten team in the region when it hosts Williamsville East while Grand Island and Niagara Wheatfield aim for two straight wins.
Here’s a look at the Week 3 games.
Jamestown (1-1) at Lockport (0-2), 2 p.m., Saturday
The Lions are still searching for their first win of the season as they welcome the Red and Green.
Lockport is coming off a 48-22 loss to Lancaster in Week 2, where it trailed 41-0 at halftime. Lockport looks to replicate its second half success on offense, as it scored 22 points, including two touchdown passes while Jahkwon Davis rushed for 205 yards and a score in the game.
Jamestown is coming off a 41-30 loss to St. Joe’s in Week 2 after a 40-0 route to start the season against Frontier. Junior Chase Bonta leads in rushing with 236 yards and two scores.
Franklinville/Ellicottville (1-1) at Wilson (0-2), 7 p.m., Friday
Wilson begins Class D play with a home contest but aims to avoid its first 0-3 start for the second time in three seasons. The Lakemen are coming off a 20-6 non-league loss to Alden and trailed 14-0 at halftime.
Wilson’s offense, however, generated some success in the fourth quarter as quarterback Victor Cusatis threw his first touchdown pass of the season, a 31-yard strike to Ryan Hough. Running back Michael Ruble leads the team with 160 yards on 25 carries.
After defeating Cleveland Hill by three scores in Week 1, Franklinville/Ellicottville aims to bounce back following its 16-point halftime deficit erased in a 32-28 defeat to WNY Maritime/Tapestry. Senior quarterback Isaac Towne has thrown for 319 yards and four touchdowns while classmate Carter Smith has scored three rushing touchdowns and rushed for 168 yards.
Williamsville East (1-1) at Starpoint (2-0), 7 p.m., Friday
Starpoint enters the Class A2 tilt looking for its first 3-0 start since 2021, which turned into the first of three straight six-win seasons. The Spartans are coming off a 34-0 win over North Tonawanda.
In the victory against the Lumberjacks, Starpoint accounted for 348 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, including three passing from quarterback Mike Grady to wide receiver A.J. Anselm. Grady has continued the chemistry with Anselm as the duo has connected for nine catches for 182 yards.
And defensively, Joe Richardson had an 88-yard fumble recovery for a score while Lucas Lombardo broke a program record with his 12th career sack.
Starpoint looks to get its ground game going against the Flames in their first meeting since a 28-6 loss last year in Week 2. Through two games this season, the Spartans have only averaged 96 yards on the ground.
Williamsville East, meanwhile, enters after its first two contests were decided by eight points, a 20-15 win against Kenmore West and a 31-28 win against Williamsville North. Quarterback Ryan McKinnon has accounted for 477 of the Flames’ 627 yards of total offense and five scores.
Kenmore East (1-1) at Grand Island (1-1), 7 p.m., Friday
After two games on the road, the Vikings look for a second straight win in the friendly confines of Gene Masters Stadium.
The Vikings are coming off a 31-8 victory against West Seneca East in Week 2. The blue-and-white built up a 24-0 lead at halftime and found success in the ground game.
Grand Island rushed for 218 yards in the win, with Michael Sole rushing for 126 yards and Dominic Nucci scoring two touchdowns. Nik Korte rushed for a score while wide receiver Jonathan Neville threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Kozlowski.
Kenmore East, meanwhile, earned its first win in a 36-20 win against Cheektowaga in Week 2. Junior Anthony Moore has been the featured back, averaging 9.9 yards per carry and has scored two of the Bulldogs’ six total scores.
Lewiston-Porter (0-2) at Olean (1-1), 7 p.m., Friday
The Lancers look to avoid a third straight loss as they head to the Southern Tier. Lew-Port is coming off a 32-7 loss to Maryvale in Week 2.
The Lancers recorded their first touchdown of the season thanks to a rushing touchdown from Jackson Courts. Courts ran for 111 yards in the loss and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
Olean, meanwhile, enters following a 32-7 opening win against Albion but is coming off a 26-0 loss to Springville. Junior running back Domonick Hirliman has scored two of the Huskies’ four rushing touchdowns
Niagara Falls (1-1) at Bennett (1-1), 7 p.m., Friday
After two home games to start its season, Niagara Falls heads to Buffalo to face the Tigers. The Wolverines are coming off a 34-28 overtime loss to Orchard Park last Saturday.
The Wolverines had a 28-26 lead late in the fourth quarter before the Quakers rallied to extend the game into the final period and win in overtime.
After a 42-0 shutout loss to Washington, D.C.’s Saint John’s in Week 1, Bennett responded with a 55-8 win against Hutch-Tech in Week 2. Quarterback Jordan Freeman has thrown for 245 yards and two touchdowns while running back Noah McDuffie has rushed for 107 yards and scored twice.
Niagara Wheatfield (1-1) at McKinley (2-0), 2 p.m., Saturday
The Falcons head to a matinee at All-High Stadium with momentum on the ground. The red-and-black’s offense racked up 177 of its 305 total yards on the ground in a 42-13 win over Frontier.
Dylan Pringle rushed for 115 yards on only 12 carries and scored two touchdowns in Niagara Wheatfield’s win. The senior has now rushed for a team-high 163 yards and three scores this season.
McKinley looks to stay unbeaten and have outscored its opponents, 52-11. The trio of Tyrone Hughes, Demaree Baker-Houston and Kalaugn Ford have rushed for 729 total yards and scored four times.
Medina (1-1) at Cleveland Hill (1-1), 2 p.m., Saturday
Medina hopes to get back on track following a 23-6 loss to Newfane. The Mustangs gave up four interceptions and rushed for 122 yards in the loss.
The rushing total was Medina’s fewest since rushing for 134 against Fredonia on Nov. 4, 2022. Christian Moss has rushed for 281 yards and four touchdowns through the first two weeks.
Cleveland Hill moved to .500 following a 40-0 win against Tonawanda in Week 2.