Fredonia continues to hold bragging rights over Dunkirk in their long-running high school football rivalry. On Friday night, the two schools met on the gridiron for the 133rd time in their history, and this installment ended the way the majority of recent Dunkirk-Fredonia rivalry games have ended -- with the Hillbillies victorious. In a penalty-laden game broadcast on WDOE, Fredonia prevailed by a 29-7 score at the Orange Bowl and hoisted the Central Connection Mayors Cup.
Fredonia (4-4) struck first on its opening drive, with senior Ayden Wronski powering his way for an 8-yard touchdown. In the 2nd quarter, Dunkirk (2-6) tied the game on a four-play drive. Receptions by Joshua Pacheco and Jordan Thomas-Smith got the Marauders deep, and Pacheco capped the march with a 6-yard touchdown run. The Billies regained the advantage before halftime when sophomore Noah Palisin hooked up with junior Graham Putney on a 23-yard touchdown pass, making the score 14-7. The same duo combined for another touchdown to extend Fredonia's lead in the 3rd quarter. Early in the 4th quarter, a short punt gave the Billies a drive start at the Dunkirk 15-yard line, and two plays later, Wronski put the game away with his second touchdown of the night on a 10-yard run, followed by a two-point conversion.
In addition to his two touchdowns, Ayden Wronski logged 155 rushing yards on 18 carries for Fredonia. Graham Putney led all Billies receivers with four catches for 57 yards to go with his two scores. Dunkirk senior Xavier Boland completed 19 out of 36 passes for 214 yards, but also threw two interceptions. Jordan Thomas-Smith led all receivers with eight receptions for 95 yards for the Marauders.
With the win, Fredonia has now defeated Dunkirk in 24 of their last 27 meetings dating back to 1999. It also marked the second year in a row that the Hillbillies won the Mayors Cup, which began in 2024.
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Ezequiel Sanchez throws down Noah Palisin to end a Fredonia drive
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Jordan Thomas-Smith makes a tough sideline catch for a 29-yard gain
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Graham Putney scores the first of his two touchdowns on a 23-yard grab
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Ayden Wronski finds paydirt in the 4th quarter
Photos and videos by Greg Larson
