Don Santini, a Section V football coaching legend who coached the Le Roy Oatkan Knights early in his career, died Wednesday.
He was 85.
Santini was the head coach in Le Roy from 1966 through 1974 before returning to his alma mater, Fairport High School (1957).
He led the Knights to the program's first-ever undefeated season (8-0) in 1966. The team won four league championships with Santini at the helm.
He was the first coach in Section V history with 200 wins, finishing his career with 2004, which now ranks fourth on the all-time list.
He compiled a 57-15 -2 record at Le Roy.
Santini started his coaching career in 1963 in Morrisville.
After returning to Fairport, Santini became rooted in the community and led the Red Raiders to seven Section V titles. His Fairport teams also won two state titles.
Even though Santini spent only eight years in Le Roy more than five decades ago, he is fondly remembered by Le Roy's football faithful.
Ed Henry wrote on social media, "Don Santini stressed his athletes to stay focused on game day as they were playing for pride and tradition. He was the ultimate motivator who inspired excellence in his teams. He was enthusiastic, excitable, fiery, and had a work ethic with no equal."
Jim Bonaquisti, who started his playing career a year after Santini returned to Fairport, said the former Knight's coach was still a coach he and other Le Roy players wanted to impress.
"We scrimmaged Fairport my junior and senior season," Bonaquisti wrote on social media. "I know I played a little bit harder because even though he wasn't my coach, I didn't want to let him down. Coach always showered you with praise for the great effort."
Santini was inducted into the Section V Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
The Pembroke Dragons defeated the Frewsburg Bears on Saturday to secure another shot at a West Regional title in 8-Man Football.
The final score, 50-19.
The Dragos is now 11-0 on the season and will face Frankfort-Schuyler out of Section III for the West Regional Championship on Friday, Nov. 29th, at Vestal High School.
Caleb Felski ran for 428 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also tossed a touchdown pass. Also scoring, Vijay Dhanda and Caleb Kimmel. Defensively the Dragons were led by Madden Perry who had a team high 11 tackles. Hayden Williams and Felski each had two interceptions a piece.
The Pembroke Dragons will play for another Section V 8-Man football title this week after winning its semifinal game over Red Jacket 46-14.
It is the fourth time in five years the Dragons have played for a sectional title.
Caleb Felski ran for 328 yards on 16 carries and four touchdowns. Other scores were by Vijay Dhanda and Caleb Kimmel.
Defensively, the Dragons were led by Jayden Bridge and Octavius Martin, who each had 12 tackles. Madden Perry added nine while Felski and Dhanda each had interceptions.
The Dragons will face the Holley-Lyndoville Hawks for the sectional final.
It was a sectional semifinal game but the battle was decided early as Batavia scored 50 points in the first half on the way to a 56-6 win over East Rochester Prep on Friday night.
Stats:
Bronx Bucholz, 7-11 passing for 83 yards and three touchdowns.
Zailen Griffin, 73 yards on nine carries
Jameson Motyka, 33 yards and two TDs on three receptions, plus a fumble recover TD
Carter Mullen, one reception for six yards and for a TD plus a 69 yard punt return for a TD
Maggio Bucholz, seven tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery
Luke Gutman, seven tackles
Batavia gets a shot a block on Saturday at SUNY Brockport. The Class B title game is at noon.
When 1978 Batavia High School grad Phil Zickl Jr. becomes part of the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame later this month, he knows his late grandfather Robert E. Noonan (1907-1965) would be proud and cheering him on if he could.
Noonan was an avid football fan and player who aspired to get into the NFL. Despite a chain of missteps, including a twice-broken leg, he never made it. He had been a strong supporter of his grandson, who went on to play football into his sixties, scoring big at 64 this year when he and his team, the Syracuse Express, were named to the Hall of Fame.
“My mother and my aunt, and both are deceased now, but they used to talk about how family-oriented he was and how supportive he was. And so my initial thought is how supportive he would be of this happening, especially because he was so athletic, and he wasn't just successful in football, even though football was his first love … but he would be very positive and very supportive of just the induction,” Zickl said during an interview with The Batavian. “I remember when I first heard, one of my former teammates called me and left a voicemail. But the voicemail, it was hard to hear everything, it kind of crackled a little but I heard him say something about Hall of Fame, and I thought he was calling to tell me that he got inducted to his high school Hall of Fame. So I called him back, got his voice mail, and I said, ‘Hey, Mike, congratulations; I didn't hear the message completely, but it sounded like you said something that you were inducted to your high school hall of fame.’
“So, he called me back and said, 'No, no, Zick, it’s our team, the Syracuse Express.' it's a big deal. It's not that high school Hall of Fames are not a big deal, every Hall of Fame is a big deal as far as I'm concerned. This is the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame. We’re being inducted as one of the teams of honor,” Zickl said. “And I’ve got to say that it caught me off guard. It's one of those things you don't expect somebody to call you on the phone and tell you that. I'm not going to forget that night any time soon.”
His team will be honored during an awards dinner Nov. 11 in Syracuse. The GP/Syracuse Express went 36/6 across the 1985-86-87 seasons and won a pair of Minor Professional League championships in 1985 and 1987.
There were 15 former Orangemen who helped the Express to football glory during those title years. They included Ray Seals — the former Hotel Syracuse doorman who, as a starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers, would later sack Dallas’ Troy Aikman in Super Bowl XXX, and Dave Jacobs and Chuck Cassidy.
It was an athletic combination that defeated the Chicago Cowboys (7-3 at muddy Griffin Field in 1985) and the San Jose Bandits (17-10 in glitzy Las Vegas in 1987) for their crowns, a worthy choice for one of the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame’s “Teams of Honor” for 2024. Listed on a program titled “Welcome to ‘Express’ Football” is #65 Phil Zickl with fellow Outstanding Syracuse Players teammates.
The Express competed in the Empire Football League. The team was owned by Greg Portzline, coached by Tom Anthony, and cheered by supportive crowds at old Griffin Field in Liverpool. This year, it’s being recognized as a Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame Team of Honor for the excellence it demonstrated from 1985 to 1987.
Ever since high school, where he was named Most Outstanding Lineman in his senior year, Zickl played minor league football for 25 years, being named to the American Football Association’s semi-pro records for Most Years of Service, which at the time it was compiled was 20 years. His age when listed as Most Aged Player was 55, having played for the Syracuse Express, Batavia Bandits, Hornell Dragons, Batavia Titans and Buffalo Gladiators.
After graduating BHS, Zikl went on to University at Buffalo and was briefly profiled as an alumnus for his athletic and professional achievements per the following:
“Zickl has continued playing semipro football well into his fifties after a successful playing career at UB as an offensive guard and defensive end in the 1980s. Since 2018, Phil has expanded his health and wellness business (Total Personal Wellness) to include education on American football. He is an American Football specialist and has participated in the sport for more than 40 years as both player and coach.”
Before branching out with his own business, Zickl worked in education as a social worker at Batavia Middle School while also still playing ball in Syracuse. He was able to arrange a schedule of driving to only one weekday practice, followed by a second one on Friday that included an overnight stay, and he would then play the weekend game. He was definitely hooked on the sport.
While he loved the game of football, he also enjoyed the ambition taken on by the group of athletes, he said.
“You’re all trying to work for the same goal. You’re everybody’s teammate, just being on a team working toward a common goal,” he said.
Zickl established his wellness business in 2017, making presentations on various related topics of maintaining and regaining good health; however, the pandemic shut down those in-person activities. The business, as he puts it, “went into hibernation.” He also has a penchant for song lyrics, having written at least 100 sets of parodies that he has licensed, with no certain path for what he’s going to do with them all other than using one as a team warm-up rap song.
He is rethinking the scope of his speaking topics and wants to circle back to what he perhaps knows and loves best: football and the history of American football, dating back to 1869. He has learned plenty of other lessons, though, while immersing himself in the sport, including while with the Express.
“It was a real city of Syracuse team, and the majority of the players were African American, and so I was a minority. And I was a minority for months at a time. And it really made me think that every human being who is capable of understanding being a minority situation should have that experience. Because to me, I think it allows you, I mean, this is aside from what I said before about the team all pulls together, but it also allows you to feel, like, 'walk a mile in my shoes,' type of thing,” he said. “It gives you that opportunity to walk a mile in someone else's shoes, especially because I'm European American, so I don't remember any other times when I was a minority, but I remember early on, you know, first, second year on the team, I remember thinking, this is a really good experience.”
For more information about the Hall of Fame and upcoming event, go HERE.
Phil Zickl, second row from top, far left, with his Syracuse GP Express teammates. Submitted Photo
A Batavia High School legend, died Wednesday in Atlanta at age 88.
Bossler, a fullback, played seven seasons with the Washington Redskins, amassing 3,112 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. He was drafted by the Redskins in the ninth pick of the first round of the 1957 draft.
He was heavily recruited coming out of Batavia HS and was a four-year starter at the University of Miami. In his senior year, MIami finished 8-1-1 and the team was ranked sixth in the nation. He is a member Batavia High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, and the College Football Hall of Fame.
He rushed for 1,642 yards at Miami. He was a first team all-American in 1956 (Jim Brown and Johnny Majors were also in that backfield) and was named MVP of the Senior Bowl when he ran for 187 yards.
While at Miami, one sports writer referred to him as "The Batavia Bulldozer."
Alexander got on the board first on the way to a 30-14 victory over Attica in the football Section V Class D quarterfinal at GCC on Friday.
Jacob Brooks ran the ball in from 14 yards out off the right side of the offensive line to put the Trojans on the board early at 6-0.
After a defensive stop, the Trojans offense once again put together another successful drive. The big run came from senior fullback Damien Hale on a 64-yard zone run. The Trojans then went for a 2-point conversion, and SR QB Brody Heckman ran it in for the successful try, making it 14-0.
At the end of the second quarter, the Trojans were driving again, but on a 4th and 2 from the Attica 20-yard line, the Blue Devils strip-sacked Heckman. SR LB Logan Albano recovered the fumble and ran it back for a 78-yard fumble recovery TD. Attica converted the 2-point try, making it 14-8 at the half.
In the third quarter, following Alexander's third turnover, Attica connected on a 21-yard TD pass after a wild scramble. 14-14
In the fourth quarter, the Trojans settled down and pounded the rock with the tailback Kaden Torres. Torres ran for 134 yards on 12 carries in the second half. He scored from 24 yards out, and then Heckman found Duke Snyder on the two-point conversion pass, making the score 22-14.
After a defensive stop, the Trojan offense continued to grind out yards, culminating with a Brody Heckman keeper TD from 16 yards out. Heckman then kept the 2-point try for the 30-14 point total.
Damien Hale ended the game with 104 yards rushing on 12 carries. Heckman finished with 77 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Defensively, Lbers Damien Hale and Sean Pietrzkowski each had seven tackles and a quarterback sack. Duke Snyder had 1.5 QB Sacks. Dylan Pohl had six tackles and 1/2 sack.
Alexander is now 8-1 on the season.
Alexander, the #2 seed, plays home vs. #3 seed Oakfield-Alabama/Elba. The date and time TBD
Alexander beat Notre Dame in football on Saturday at Van Detta Stadium, 49-6.
The Trojans rushed for 355 yards.
Kingston Woods ran for 118 yards and scored three touchdowns. Damien Hale ran for 100 yards and a TD on 10 carries. Sean Pietrzkowski and Tyler Caldwell also scored rushing touchdowns.
Back Brody Heckman ran an interception back 32 yards for a score in the third Quarter.
Melissa Sawyer was 3-4 on point after attempts.
Sean Pietrzkowski led the Trojans' defense with eight total tackles, two for loss, and one sack.
Duke Snyder had four tackles and sacks, along with an interception. Damien Hale recorded three tackles and an interception for the Trojans. Jacob Smith, Micah Pulliam and Dylan Pohl all recorded sacks.
No stats were submitted for Notre Dame.
The Trojans are now 7-1 on the season and will host Attica in the first round of sectionals Friday night.
Senior LB Carson Warner, Senior DL Ryan Stymus and Matt Kotarski also had big contributions from the defensive side of the ball.
“We are very proud of the way our guys were able to execute at a high level from the jump and not look back," said Caoch Tyler Winters. "We have been preaching fast starts the past few weeks, and tonight’s outcome was a byproduct of that exact mentality. The team is very happy to get a big win like this against a good Geneseo team on Senior night and close out the regular season with some momentum. Second season starts tomorrow.”
Also on Friday,
Batavia beat Rochester Prep 42-20. Bronx Bucholz was 5-10, passing for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Zailen Griffin rushed for 86 yards and two TDs on seven carries. Jon Smith, 10 carries, 92 yards, and a TD. Justin Smith, four receptions for 48 yards and a TD.
Batavia's Jameson Motyka strips the ball in the first half from Vertus and makes a big defensive play on senior night. Photo by Steve Ognibene
The Batavia Blue Devils dominated under the lights of Van Detta Stadium on Friday night as the beat the Vertus Warriors 33-8.
Bronx Bucholz was 14-23 passing for 128 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 54 yards on nine carries, scoring twice.
Da'Van Gallo-Williams had two receptions for 22 yards and a TD. Lakoda Mruczek had five receptions for 43 yards and a TD. He had seven tackles on defense. Carter Mullen, five catches for 69 yards and a TD. Maggio Bucholz, 14 tackles and a fumble recovery.
On Thursday at Genesee Community College against Oakfield-Alabama Elba, the Alexander Trojans started hot and keep the heat through all four quarters of football for a 47-14 win.
The Trojans drove down the field with their opening possession, capping the drive with a TD run from Junior Kingston Woods from three yards out.
A stout defense gave the Trojans their second possession soon after and Brody Heckman tossed a 12-yard TD pass to Duke Snyder. With a two-point conversion, Alexander led 14-0.
On its next possession, OAE put together a drive of its own to make the score 14-7, but Alexander answered with a 92-yard kickoff return by Kingston Woods.
Four minutes later, Damien Hale sprung loose and scored on a run up the middle from 17 yards out. Melissa Sawyer's kick was good, notching the score at 28-7 into the half.
In the third, Ryder Reichert scored from three yards out, extending the lead to 34-7.
OAE put together another drive of its own, making it 34-14.
Early in the fourth Heckman, ran a keeper from nine yards out for a TD and Sawyer's kick was good 41-14.
Later in the fourth, Hale scored on a 35-yard run that included braking four tackles, wrapping up the scoring at 47-14.
For Alexander, Sean Pietrzkowski led the Trojan Defense with seven tackles and two tackles for a loss. Mason Snyder had six tackles and two tackles for a loss. Damien Hale and Ryder Reichert each recorded QB sacks.
For OAE Brayden Jachimowicz was 10-22 passing for 83 yards and two TDs, five yards to Hunter Tabolski, and 15 yards to Brendan Porey. Avery Watterson had 10 tackles. Jack Cianfrini had nine tackles. Dominic West had eight tackles.
"Hats off to Alexander for a physical game," said OAE coach Tyler Winters. "We will look to use the remaining weeks of the season to learn how to play tough football against tough opponents. If we can take care of business the rest of the way, we hope to set ourselves up for a chance to still get to where we want to go."
Alexander is now 6-1 on the season, and OAE is 4-3.
Junior WR/LB Mark Caparco - 25-Yard TD Reception, 1 INT on Defense
Junior TE/DL Nick Scott - 30 Receiving Yards, 5 Tackles, 1 TFL
"A complete team effort in today's win," said Coach Tyler Winter. "From a competitive standpoint, it's nice to pick up a big win like this while knowing we still have not played our best ball yet this season. We have a quick turnaround to the next challenge, but we are excited to get back to the grind."
Quarterback Bronx Bucholtz on the move to gain yards in a running game because of high winds last evening at VanDetta stadium. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Strong wind gusts on Batavia's homecoming night at Van Detta Stadium played havoc with offensive schemes leading to a scoreless first half and only one touchdown over the full four quarters.
The Blue Devils beat the Eastridge Lancers 7-0.
Bronx Buchholz was 9-17 passing for 60 yards and one TD. He was intercepted twice. He gained 61 yards on 17 carries.
Maggio Buchholz had five receptions for 23 yards and a TD.
It was a victorious homecoming on Saturday for the Alexander Trojans with a convincing 38-0 win over Geneseo.
The Trojans are now 4-1.
The scoring onslaught started with the opening kickoff. Jacob Brooks returned the kick for a 78-yard touchdown.
Defensively, the Trojans held Geneseo on their first possession. Then, the Trojan offense took the field. Working the run game, the Trojans moved down the field methodically, splitting carries between King Woods, Ryder Reichert, and Kaden Torres. This drive ended with a 12-yard TD Run by sophomore Ryder Reichert.
After another stop, the Trojans' Junior Running Back Kingston Woods scored from two yards out! Melissa Sawyer's PAT made it 19-0. It stayed 19-0 into the half.
In the second half, the Trojans took advantage of the run game, and QB Brody Heckman threw a play-action pass to Duke Snyder for a 55-yard TD.
Later in the third quarter, Kaden Torres scored from two yards out.
Alexander's final score came in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard run by Reichert.
Defensively, the Trojans completed their third shutout of the season. The defense was led by Victor Kirsch, Dylan Pohl and Jake Smith with four sacks. Sophomore Sean Pietrzkowski led all tacklers with eight, two for loss. JR Brody Heckman had an interception, and SR DE Jacob Smith had a strip sack and fumble recovery. LB's Damien Hale and Kaden Torres each chipped in six tackles.
The Trojans will travel to Canisteo Greenwood on Friday.
Also on Saturday,
Batavia improved to 5-0 with a 32-16 win over Honeoye Falls-Lima at HFL. Bronx Bucholz was 10-18 passing for 147 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 178 yards on 23 attempts. Zailen Griffin gained 111 yards on 20 carries. Carter Mullin had four receptions for 90 yards and a TD.
Senior RB Jack Cianfrini - 91 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD, 15-Yard TD Reception from Sophomore QB Brayden Jachimowicz
Senior DL Ryan Stymus - 10 Total Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovery
Junior DB Brendan Porey - 1 INT, 2 PBUs
"We have begun to preach that October is 'tough guy' football season," Coach Tyler Winter said. "In order for our team to get to where we want to go, we need to find a way to persevere and get gritty wins. Our boys did exactly that tonight. There is plenty that we need to improve upon, but it's always good to go on the road and get the win on our quest for improvement."
"After last Friday's game, the message to our team this week has been about getting back to basics and re-setting our program standard," Coach Tyler Winters said. "We felt the boys had a phenomenal week of practice answering that challenge, so it was nice to see them come out tonight and finish a week of execution like we know they are capable of. We will enjoy the win and look to grow from it as we prepare for the next challenge that our Class D schedule presents us with."
Also on Friday:
Batavia beat Arcadia 34-0. Bronx Bucholz was 11-14 passing for 159 yards and one TD. He rushed for 119 yards on 14 attempts and scored twice on the ground. Zailen Griffen gained 88 yards rushing on 10 carries. He scored two TDs. Nolan Ball scored at TD, gaining 20 yards on three attempts. Lakoda Mruczek had five tackles and two interceptions. Brock Bigsby had 7.5 tackles.
Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry beat Le Roy/Cal-Mum 25-21. Jack Egeling gained 65 yards on 14 carries and had a kickoff return of 80 yards for a TD. Brady McClurg was 5-11 passing for 56 yards. Xavier Bown had seven tackles and an interception.
The Alexander Trojans faced a team that has proven a juggernaut so far in 2024 and Friday night's game at GCC proved to be another large-margin win for the Avon Braves.
The Braves beat the Trojans 41-14.
Alexander scored in the second quarter when Brody Hackman carried the ball in from one yard out. The PAT kick was blocked.
In the fourth quarter, Kingston Woods scored on a 14-yard run. The Trojans converted on a two-point run.
Ryder Reichert carried the ball 10 times for 82 yards. Woods finished with 54 yards rushing.
On defense, Dylan Pohl led the Trojans with 2.5 QB sacks, two tackles for loss and three tackles overall. ree Safety Duke Snyder had eight tackles for the Trojans.
The Trojans fall to 3-1, and Avon moves to 4-0 on the season
