PHOTO: Part of homecoming week, athletes from all sports teams greeted the elementary school children this morning as they arrived to school. Wellsville Central School photo.
By JOHN ANDERSON
As the combined LeRoy/Cal-Mum football team comes to Wellsville tonight with a goal to spoil homecoming for the Lions, it’s a strange situation for those who are new to the football program or new to Wellsville football.
And that includes Wellsville coach Tim Keenan. Which is a good thing. There are no emotions for the coach, there are no bad memories, there are no good memories. There is just a coach preparing his team to win each week. Hornell? Nope, don’t know anything about the rivalry. LeRoy? Nothing.
Ahh, but for everyone else, this means something.
But first, why is this a strange situation? LeRoy/Cal-Mum, now called The Rivals (in my opinion, the best consistent football rivalry in the state before they joined programs) is coming in 3-2 with convincing wins over Bath-Haverling, Livonia and East Rochester/Gananda. LeRoy/Cal-Mum was a pre-season favorite in Class C.
In the standings for Class C:
1) Alexander/Pembroke 4-0
2) Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry 4-1
3) LeRoy/Cal-Mum 3-2
4) Wellsville/GVB 4-1
5) East Rochester/Gananda 4-1
6) Hornell/Arkport-Canaseraga 1-4
7) Bath-Haverling 1-4
8) Livonia 0-5
LeRoy/Cal-Mum’s losses were 40-27 to Alexander/Pembroke and a surprising 21-18 loss to Hornell.
Today was the pep rally at the school and students are wearing pink to the game (October is breast cancer awareness month as well).
Coach Keenan said he is excited to face LeRoy/Cal-Mum, not because of the homecoming or rivalry, but because of the team he watched on tape.
“I’m excited. Each week is different. I’ve seen them on film against a couple of our opponents … it will be an exciting game,” Kennan said. “They will be in the shot gun 3-rwde, four-wide to pass and they can run. They are well-coached, have a good line and we match up well with them.Iit’s going to be a matter of who makes tackles and who won’t bite on play fakes.”
Keenan said in practice this week, Wellsville worked on defense.
“They will motion the back out of the backfield and do a QB draw or a pass to the back out of the backfield,” Keenan said. “It’s going to be a new wrinkle to work on all week.”
Wellsville/GVB beat Hornell, 29-12 and lost to Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry, 34-12, a team Leroy/Cal-mum plays next week.
How are the experts calling this one?
Chris Metcalf from LCAA’s Finest says LeRoy/Cal-Mum 30, Wellsville 20
The Zman from WBTA radio in Batavia says LeRoy/Cal-Mum 28, Wellsville/GVB 14
Coach SwazZ from WBTA says LeRoy/Cal-Mum 35, Wellsville/GVB 14
