PRZNY Team Previews: Depew Wildcats

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Last Season (5-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depew's 2025 season couldn't have started out much better as they won 5 of their first 6 games. But a tight loss to eventual Class B Champions, Lackawanna in the second last game of the season would knock their seeding down to #6. From there, the Wildcats drew an away quarterfinal matchup with West Seneca East in which the Trojans won big 70-24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Prospect</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1513348"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a57987415235"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bridenbaker was a three time Connolly Cup Player of the Week last season and finished the year leading Depew in rushing, receiving and tackles. I expect him to be a Connolly Cup finalist 2026 and build off his 1,700 yards from scrimmage and 18 TD performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three X-Factors</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1513363"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a579874152ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Szratter is entering his third full season as the starting QB for the Depew Wildcats. He has a strong arm with exceptional deep ball accuracy. I wouldn't consider him a "running QB" but he can scramble very well and move around in the pocket. Kole is also exceptional on special teams as their placekicker and kickoff specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1738261"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a57987415312"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ayala is small in stature but he is a tough player with a lot of speed. He can be critical in all three phases of the game with his football intuition, low center of gravity and strong balance. Luis is a solid cover man and will get most of his success at CB but has the attributes to be an electrifying playmaker at RB and WR.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552894"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a57987415362"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I had Vance pegged as a breakout player last season and while his volume of touches weren't as high as they could be, he did an excellent job with the opportunities he was given. He was an exceptional dual threat complimentary RB with breakaway speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakout Player</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1692699"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a579874153b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There is already a lot of hype surrounding Fryling making his varsity debut in 2026. Myles showed quality tape at the JV level. At 5'10 230, he has room to grow but he does possess excellent mechanics. He is strong and aggressive at the point of attack and consistently blocks to the whistle. It is still a wait and see how Depew uses him as a sophomore but he will be a name to know for the next three seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names to Know</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Position</span></strong></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players</span></strong></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Class</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">OL</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">[player_tooltip player_id='1864315' first='Josh' last='Refermat']</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">2028</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">ATH</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">[player_tooltip player_id='1864312' first='Silas' last='Borowiec']</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">2028</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">OL/DL</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">[player_tooltip player_id='1941257' first='Lamar' last='Sherman']</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">2028</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">ATH</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">[player_tooltip player_id='2174131' first='Marcus' last='Mccarter Jr']</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">2029</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Losses</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Position</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Commitment/Contributions</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL</td><td>Mason McGloin</td><td>St. John Fisher</td></tr><tr><td>DL</td><td>Roman Boyer</td><td>Wildcats leader in sacks</td></tr><tr><td>ATH</td><td>Tyler Fryling</td><td>Erie Community College (Baseball)</td></tr><tr><td>DB</td><td>Dorian Nailor</td><td>Lead the Wildcats in INTs</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Schedule</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Date</th><th class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Opponent</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/football/game/depew-vs-dunkirk/9-4-2026/?c=818298f8-4c29-48b9-89e8-c8dccb0aa793">9/4</a></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/dunkirk/dunkirk-marauders/football/">@ Dunkirk*</a></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/football/game/depew-vs-olean/9-11-2026/?c=e20b5288-df4a-4d47-a2dd-a292ebb18c74">9/11</a></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/olean/olean-huskies/football/">vs Olean*</a></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/football/game/depew-vs-iroquois-redhawks-elma/9-18-2026/?c=4579bedc-e3cf-4ec6-abc3-f70229c23b63">9/18</a></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/elma/iroquois-redhawks/football/">vs Iroquois</a></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/football/game/cheektowaga-chargers-vs-depew/9-25-2026/?c=2ae9f52f-32cf-45c8-9812-05ffe46d6feb">9/25</a></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/cheektowaga/cheektowaga-chargers/football/">@ Cheektowaga</a></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/football/game/depew-vs-lackawanna/10-1-2026/?c=0c428130-ae90-4524-93d6-06b83a49fdd3">10/1</a></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/lackawanna/lackawanna-steelers/football/">vs Lackawanna*</a></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/football/game/depew-vs-east-aurora-holland/10-9-2026/?c=6d5d852a-aca3-498b-b4dc-18211c2e59dd">10/9</a></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/east-aurora/east-aurora-holland-blue-devils/football/">@ East Aurora/Holland</a></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/football/game/depew-vs-pioneer-yorkshire/10-16-2026/?c=f5a18b75-0c57-4c54-9d1a-59096b9f95f8">10/16</a></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/yorkshire/pioneer-panthers/football/">@ Pioneer</a></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/football/game/depew-vs-lancaster/10-23-2026/?c=4dbb0454-93f5-4d3b-a98c-b7ffffa8550b">10/23</a></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/lancaster/lancaster-legends/football/">vs Lancaster</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Outlook</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current Head Coach:</strong> Joe Pagano (entering his second season)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depew is facing familiar opponents this season starting with a road bout against Dunkirk and ending with cross town rival (non-league adversary) Lancaster. The games that will decipher Depew's progress will be against perennial Class B powerhouses Lackawanna on 10/1 and Pioneer on 10/16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class B division can be a crapshoot with 5 of the last 7 champions no longer playing in B. Depew is a young, talented team that lost a couple key linemen but are one of the more skilled teams in Class B. If they can win the war in the trenches, they may be the surprise team in Section VI.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->