Panthers claim shootout over Titans

Oct 11, 2025

OBSERVER Staff Reports

GOWANDA - Winter Mentley-Peters ran for 206 yards and Carter Capozzi completed 14 of 21 passes for 170 yards as Gowanda/Pine Valley won a 44-34 shootout over Franklinville/Ellicottville in Class D football Friday.

The Panthers (5-1, 4-1) took a 16-0 lead in the first quarter on touchdown receptions of 12 yards by Reginald Irion and 20 yards by Trelin Warrior. Both were from Capozzi.

The Titans (2-4, 2-3) responded with a 22-point second quarter when Landon Learn caught a 15-yard touchdown from Rylan Benjamin, Blake Smith ran for a 26-yard score and Benjamin ran for a 3-yard score.

But the Panthers tied the game going into halftime as Capozzi scored on a 22-yard run.

After Jaden Knopf gave Gowanda/Pine Valley a 28-22 lead with a 1-yard TD run, Smith answered with a 61-yard touchdown run of his own.

But Irion returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a score and Mentley-Peters added a 2-point conversion to give the Panthers a 36-28 lead.

Smith answered with a 76-yard touchdown run, but the conversion failed. Knopf then put the game away with a 1-yard score.

Smith ran for 230 yards and three touchdowns for the Titans.

Franklinville/Ellicottville 0 22 6 6 - 34

Gowanda 16 6 14 8 - 44

Gowanda/Pine Valley

G/PV-Irion 12 pass from Capozzi (Mentley-Peters run)

G/PV-Warrior 20 pass from Capozzi (Barrett run)

F/E-Learn 15 pass from Benjamin (Benjamin run)

F/E-Smith 26 run (pass failed)

F/E-Benjamin 3 run (Smith pass from Benjamin)

G/PV-Capozzi 22 run (run failed)

G/PV-Knopf 1 run (run failed)

F/E-Smith 61 run (kick failed)

G/PV-Irion 75 kickoff return (Mentley-Peters run)

F/E-Smith 76 run (pass failed)

G/PV-Knopf 1 run (Mentley-Peters run)

LEWIS HAS ANOTHER BIG NIGHT

SALAMANCA - Bradyn Fuller and Trent Lewis combined for 15 carries and 229 yards as Southwestern/Frewsburg coasted past Salamanca 49-7 in Class C South action at Veterans Memorial Park.

Fuller ran seven times for 117 yards, including a 26-yard score, while Lewis had eight carries for 112 yards and a 69-yard score for Southwestern/Frewsburg (6-0, 5-0).

Lewis also completed six passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns - 62 yards and 34 yards to Roger Markham in addition to a 25-yarder to Joey Sirianni.

Henry Eckert also ran for a 1-yard score and Branden Francis returned a fumble 43 yards for a touchdown.

Xazavier Escobar returned a kickoff 98 yards for Salamanca's lone score.

Defensively for Southwestern/Frewsburg, George Marshall was in on seven tackles and Eckert was in on five. Roger Markham intercepted a pass.

The Warriors fell to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the league.

Southwestern/Frewsburg 28 14 7 0 - 49

Salamanca 0 0 7 0 - 0

S/F-Lewis 69 run (Harris kick)

S/F-RMarkham 62 pass from Lewis (Harris kick)

S/F-Francis 43 fumble return (Harris kick)

S/F-Fuller 26 run (Harris kick)

S/F-RMarkham 34 pass from Lewis (Harris kick)

S/F-Sirianni 25 pass from Lewis (Harris kick)

S/F-Eckert 1 run (Harris kick)

Sal-Escobar 98 kickoff return (Chudy kick)

OLEAN TOPS DUNKIRK

OLEAN - Domonick Hirliman ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns while Joe Mest threw for 148 yards and a pair of scores as Olean topped Dunkirk 35-12 in Class B2 action at Bradner Stadium.

Mykel Rivera caught four passes for 94 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown, and Tyler Sullivan caught a 23-yard score for the Huskies (4-1, 4-1), who led 21-0 at halftime.

Hayven Smith completed six passes for 141 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown to Aries Cheverez for the Marauders (1-5, 1-5). Dunkirk's Alex Sanchez Hernandez also ran for a 2-yard touchdown.

Thomas Smith was in on six tackles while Javier Battle had a sack for the Marauders, who will host Maryvale next Friday.

Colby Booth had three of Olean's seven sacks. The Huskies will travel to Iroquois next Friday.

Dunkirk 0 0 12 0 - 12

Olean 7 14 0 14 - 35

Ole-Hirliman 3 run (Mest kick)

Ole-Rivera 51 pass from Mest (Mest kick)

Ole-Sullivan 23 pass from Mest (Mest kick)

Dun-Cheverez 69 pass from Smith (conversion failed)

Dun-Sanchez Hernandez 2 run (conversion failed)

Ole-Hirliman 2 run (Mest kick)

Ole-Bodhanowycz 13 run (Mest kick)

BLACK NIGHTS WIN FIRST GAME

SILVER CREEK - Silver Creek/Forestville picked up its first victory of the season with a 27-12 Class D win over Cattaraugus-Little Valley.

Will Duliba threw a pair of touchdown passes to Gavin DeLong while Max Tenamore ran for another score. Jayvon Sanchez also returned a fumble 60 yards for a score for the Black Knights (1-5, 1-4).

The Timberwolves fell to 1-5 overall and 0-5 in the league.