OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Salamanca head coach Chad Bartoszek hangs out on the field at Highmark Stadium during Section VI media day Tuesday in Orchard Park.

ORCHARD PARK — The Salamanca football team has had a target on its back all year and it’s been for good reason.

The Warriors came into the season as the reigning Section VI Class C Champions and were the state semifinalists, losing to Section IV’s Waverly, which eventually won last year’s state title. Returning with plenty of key players, the undefeated Warriors have lived up to their expectations, not only upholding their position as the top team in Section VI, but also as one of the top teams in the state.

The next step in Salamanca’s journey is today’s 6 p.m. sectional championship game at Highmark Stadium.

“It comes from our senior leaders,” Salamanca head coach Chad Bartoszek said about his team’s composure with the pressure this year. “We’ve got a great group over there and they have kept it very, very focused. At some point in the year, midseason, we went to what I call a ‘player-led team.’ They started taking over and making sure we were doing things right in the day to day, and as a coach you can’t ask for anything else.”

While Salamanca (10-0) boasts an unblemished record, it will not be a cakewalk for the Warriors tonight as they take on Portville/Cuba-Rushford (8-2), which gave them the most trouble this year.

“One of the messages we’ve had over this season is keeping things consistent,” Bartoszek said. “Day-to-day, business mode, because you’re going to get to a place like this and you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low. You’ve got to stay the same at a very high level. You’ve got to keep it at a championship level because you’re going to get to a different venue like this and things are going to change.”

While Salamanca has outscored its opponents 414-127, and along the way secured a Section VI Class C South title and a spot in the sectional final, its closest game came against the Panthers in Week 2, 24-19.

“It’s just a battle,” Bartoszek said about Portville/Cuba-Rushford. “They’re physical, they’re tough, they’ve had a good game plan this year with their offensive sets. They’ve got a 1,000-yard rusher, they’ve got a 1,000-yard passer, we know each other well and they were our closest game of the year and it was razor thin. That’s why you’ve got to keep things in perspective throughout the year, because when you get to a venue like this it’s basically a clean slate.”

While some of the Panthers may have surprised themselves by making it to the championship game, there is no doubt they have earned their spot vying for the Class C title.

“It’s unreal,” Portville/Cuba-Rushford running back Maxx DeYoe said about the media day experience Tuesday and getting to compete at Highmark Stadium. “It’s amazing to look out there and see the field. I honestly didn’t think I was going to be here one day, so it’s amazing.”

After dropping two of its first three games, Portville/Cuba-Rushford has won seven in a row, and a lot of credit can be given to a stingy defense and one of the best ground games in Western New York.

“I don’t think I’m going to change anything,” DeYoe said about the mindset for tonight’s game. “We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. The line has got to step up and everyone has got to get big, get tough.”

In its Class C semifinal against Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton, Portville/Cuba-Rushford kept the Eagles off the scoreboard in the second half, and to end the regular season the Panthers limited opponents to single-digit scoring, including one shutout.

Both defenses will surely dictate the flow of the game, but stealing the spotlight could be any of the several marquee players suiting up tonight.

Coming in as the underdog, Class C South No. 4 Portville/Cuba-Rushford is led by DeYoe, the No. 4 rusher in Section VI. The senior tailback has amassed 1,393 yards on 200 carries and has scored 19 touchdowns.

“It’s just my mindset,” DeYoe said about his success this year. “Ever since I was little, just do what you do, get what you can get and keep moving those feet.”

Under center, the Panthers are quarterbacked by senior Eli Sleggs, who has passed for 1,255 yards this year with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The top target for Sleggs is junior Aiden DeFazio, who has 604 yards and seven touchdowns on just 16 receptions.

Salamanca’s defensive front will be relied upon to limit the production of DeYoe and get after Sleggs in the passing game.

“The mindset in the trenches,” Bartoszek said about his defensive front. “Many people aren’t going to know you’re doing a great job, but understand that you’re the reason we’re going to win or lose. Those bodies in the trenches, probably not going to get your picture or name in the paper, but we know you’re the reason this game is going to be a positive or a negative.”

While Salamanca keys in on the Panthers’ offense, the Warriors have given opposing defenses plenty to worry about all season long on the ground and in the air to which Bartoszek credits the speed of his squad.

“When you take the talent that they have and then you add their speed, it makes for a dynamic formula,” Bartoszek said. “I haven’t had many teams that were as fast as this. I don’t think we ever had a team with this type of team speed and you can hit on all areas. I think that’s why we’re seeing the success, because we’re just different places we can go with it.”

Salamanca boasts its very own 1,000-rusher in senior Xavier Peters, who has accumulated 1,096 yards on just 72 carries and scored 14 touchdowns. But senior quarterback Maddox Isaac is just as dangerous when he keeps the ball, rushing for 820 yards on 51 carries to go along with 12 touchdowns.

Through the air, the Warriors are quite efficient with Isaac completing 56 of 84 passes for 1,217 yards and 20 touchdowns to just one interception.

Cory Holleran has some of the stickiest fingers in the section and the Warriors are glad to have him catching footballs on both offense and defense. Holleran reeled in 19 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns, but also is second in the section in interceptions with six.

No matter the final result, Bartoszek, a Salamanca graduate, feels immense pride seeing his players step onto the field at Highmark Stadium and return to the level of play from when he suited up for the Warriors.

“The pride I have for our program and for our team is obviously at an all-time high when we’re here,” Bartoszek stated. “I love it, but as I said it’s about them, it’s about the kids. It’s about giving them an opportunity to be here and enjoy this. I know the Bills are gracious enough to host this at a pretty special place. It’s a lifelong memory for them, that’s the best part.”