2026 - 1st Annual Dick Gallagher Kickoff Classic

<p>The Dick Gallagher Kickoff Classic featured top public schools in Western New York taking on top Private schools in the opening weekend of the 2026 High School football season. There were four games featured over two days in neutral sites. Here is the summary of each of those contests;</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lancaster vs McQuaid (Rochester) @ University at Buffalo</h2>   <p>Lancaster came right out of the gate and scored 20 straight point s against McQuaid and never looked back. The Legends defense had a huge game recording 4 sacks and a pair of INTs from DBs [player_tooltip player_id='1814200' first='Parker' last='Waite'] and Liam Ahearn in his varsity debut. While Lancaster's rushing game was the talk of the day (250+ yards on the ground and 4 scores), their passing attack showed big play ability displayed by a 63-yard TD from QB [player_tooltip player_id='1940979' first='Everett' last='Fix'] to WR [player_tooltip player_id='1901212' first='Aiden' last='Banks']. Fix also put on a clinic with his legs rushing for 110 yards and another TD. Although McQuaid was able to add a TD late in the game, the damage was done as Lancaster took Game 1 of the Dick Gallagher kickoff classic, 34-14.</p>   <p><strong>Player of the Game</strong></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">There were some questions heading into the season who would lead Lancaster's backfield this season. But there was no question in Week 1 as Teubner was electric carrying the ball for 103 yards on 12 carries (8.6 ypc) and found the endzone 3 times. He was also a dynamic defender recording 1 of Lancaster's 4 sacks</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Francis vs Bennett @ University at Buffalo</h2>   <p>This was a battle of two perennial powerhouses in Buffalo's Catholic Schools and Buffalo's public schools section. Both teams are expected to make championship runs in their respective divisions. But on this day, St. Francis would take this one 53-20. The start of the game looked promising for the Tigers as they struck first with a TD run [player_tooltip player_id='1513357' first='Dontre' last='Hampton']. But that would be the only time Bennett would have the lead as the Red Raiders scored three unanswered TDs from WR [player_tooltip player_id='1649124' first='Aiden' last='Hopwood'] RB Domonic Cook Jr and a 14-yard TD run by 2025 WNY Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='501394' first='Trent' last='Buttles']. It is worth noting on Bennett's behalf that RB [player_tooltip player_id='1513357' first='Dontre' last='Hampton'], who I think will be a Connolly Cup finalist this season, played a remarkable game running for 107 yards and 3 scores.</p>   <p><strong>Player of the Game</strong></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">No surprise here as Buttles is the top prospect in WNY. St. Francis scored early and often in this game with 4 of their 7 TDs coming from Trent. Buttles threw a 63-yard strike to [player_tooltip player_id='1649124' first='Aiden' last='Hopwood'] on their first play from scrimmage before running one in himself. Before the game was said and done, he would throw another to Hopwood and a 15-yard acrobatic TD catch by [player_tooltip player_id='1467402' first='Mason' last='Anderson'].</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bishop-Timon vs University Prep (Rochester) @ Erie Community College</h2>   <p>This was not the start to the 2026 season that Timon was looking for as U-Prep, one of the top teams in NYS for Class AA came into Buffalo and handed Timon a tough loss 30-3 with the Tigers' only points coming from a 32-yard field goal by junior, Josh Galligan in the second quarter.</p>   <p><strong>Breakout Player Alert</strong></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Smith transferred to Timon this off-season from Canisius and while the Tigers lost, his varsity debut was a memorable one. Amere is a breakaway runner and he displayed such skills going for 72 yards on just 5 carries (14.4 YPC). Still a sophomore, this will be a name to look out for.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Canisius vs Health Sciences @ Erie Community College</h2>   <p>The fourth and final game of the Dick Gallagher Kickoff Classic was another blowout as the Catholics beat the Publics for the third time. The Crusaders played a two-QB system as they have the last few years. Their signal callers were Zaeden Zayatz and [player_tooltip player_id='1701908' first='Nathaniel' last='Lindstrom'] with the latter throwing a 24-yard TD to [player_tooltip player_id='1257801' first='Antonio' last='Olivero'] in both of their varsity debuts. Newly added to the Canisius roster, RB [player_tooltip player_id='1939503' first='Leo' last='Burg'] scored in the 3rd Quarter. Health Sciences attempted a comeback with TDs by WR Kavon Johnson and QB [player_tooltip player_id='2255916' first='Kiyan' last='Allen']. The Crusaders came away with a 41-14 win.</p>   <p><strong>Player of the Game</strong></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Kimble did what he has been doing since his freshman season; dominate the game. Canisius #1 responsibility is always to get Eli the ball. While he only carried it 14 times, he took those attempts for 231 yards and 4 scores. He also added an INT on defense that set up one of those TDs.</p>

The Dick Gallagher Kickoff Classic featured top public schools in Western New York taking on top Private schools in the opening weekend of the 2026 High School football season. There were four games featured over two days in neutral sites. Here is the summary of each of those contests;