Week 8 Connolly Cup Players of the Week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Connolly Cup is one of the most prestigious awards among Western New York High School Football, given to the area's best skill player annually at the end of the season. Each week the Connolly Cup committee presents a list of players that showcased excellent athletic ability over the previous weekend. Here are the Week 8 Players of the Game selected by the Conolly Cup committee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB Vinny Fazzio (Barker/Royhart) - Barker/Royhart clinched the C-North division with a big win over Maritime/Tapestry. Fazzio was all over the field as a runner (8 carries 91 yards and a TD), a receiver (3 catches 63 yards and 2 TDs) and was an impactful LB racking up 12 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR [player_tooltip player_id='518166' first='Jack' last='Eskridge'] (Bennett) - I had Eskridge pegged as a preseason favorite to win the Connolly Cup this season. This is his first time on this list and he made 4 huge offensive plays for the Tigers as they got the #1 seed and 1st round bye in the Class AA playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB Dylan Swanson (Catt/Little Valley) - Swanson continues his breakout year with a 131 yard performance and 2 scores in a Class D contest to decipher playoff seeding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1811603' first='Thandon' last='Bensink'] (Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton) - Bensink had his big coming out party last year but the Eagles have been pretty pass heavy this season. Thandon came through when needed the most this week as he put 130 yards on the ground and 3 TDs as CL/W/B clinched a home playoff game for the first round.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1513348' first='Zach' last='Bridenbaker'] (Depew) - Bridenbaker's junior season is getting better and better. Depew had already clinched a playoff berth and with them playing a non-league game against Class AA and neighboring town, Lancaster not much was to be gained. And while the Wildcats lost the game, Zach was a force registering 222 yards from scrimmage and scored both of Depew's TDs. He also racked up 8 tackles on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='747255' first='Brady' last='Waring'] &amp; WR [player_tooltip player_id='1513223' first='Silas' last='Nellis'] (Eden/North Collins) - This astounding passing attack has been a regular on our Player of the Week list. Nellis &amp; Waring have combined for 6 nominations this season. In their 17 point victory over Alden, Waring threw for over 300 yards and 6 TDs while running for 70. Nellis was the main benefactor with 9 receptions, with 4 of them going for scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1246845' first='Carter' last='Capozzi'] (Gowanda/Pine Valley) - Capozzi has been a name to know since his sophomore campaign. So it is surprising this is the first time seeing his name on this list. But it came at a great time with Gowanda getting a big Class D win over Randolph. Capozzi accounted for over 280 yards of offense and 3 TDs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='473979' first='Justus' last='Kleitz'] &amp; WR Nick Ciancio (Iroquois) - The records keep extending for Kleitz, whose already WNY all time passing leader. In their week 8 game vs East Aurora, Justus threw for 315 yards and 5 TDs. The differnece in this performance was his top target was breakout senior, Nick Ciancio who caught 5 passes for 138 yards and 3 scores.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1241972' first='Chase' last='Bonta'] (Jamestown) - Another preseason favorite for the Connolly Cup, Bonta is expected to be a finalist for the second year in a row with another 1,000 yard performance while making 70 stops on defense. In their week 8 game vs Lockport, Chase ran for 143 yards and 4 TDs. On defense, he added a 53-yard pick 6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1595095' first='Danny' last='Ahearn'] (Lancaster) - Ahearn was the catalyst for the Legends AA championship last year and is taking on an even larger role as most of their studs from 2024 have graduated. In a dominating 48-14 win, Danny ran for 108 yards and 2 scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1624567' first='Mac' last='Capen'] (Newfane) - Capen is making a case for being the best athlete in Section VI with his 4th player of the week nomination. Newfane and Wilson squared off this passt weekend with the #1 seed on the line. Mac was unstoppable as he ran for 223 yards and scored 5 TDs on the ground as the Panthers clinched home field advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='707562' first='Domonic' last='Cook Jr.'] (St. Francis) - In a tough battle, St. Francis pulled away from McDowell (PA) and it was Cook that stood out from the rest. Dom racked up 180 yards from scrimmage and 2 rushing TDs; including a 68 breakaway scamper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1742403' first='Amir' last='Ceasar'] (Williamsville South) - I had Ceasar as a top player to look for this season and he has been a big part of the Billies offense; Will South entered Week 8 already clinching the #1 seed. But Amir still showed out with 204 scrimmage yards and 3 TDs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->