ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.- Déjà vu strikes at Ralph Wilson Stadium. A year after Cleveland Hill beat Fredonia in the Class C Section VI Championship, the Golden Eagles topped the Hillbillies 22-13 to claim the 2013 section title.
Cleveland Hill struck first with a Brandon Thomas two-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter and converted the two-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead.
With 1:47 left in the first half, Fredonia answered back with a 37-yard touchdown run by Matt McCarthy. The Hillbillies trailed the Golden Eagles 8-7 at halftime.
In the second half, Cleveland Hill went back to its workhorse. Thomas scored on touchdown runs of four yards and one yard. The Golden Eagles took a 22-7 lead late before Fredonia’s John Piper caught a 51-yard touchdown late in the four quarter.
Thomas rushed for 114 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns. Cleveland Hill quarterback Aaron Jackson went 3-10 for 30 yards. He also rushed for 54 yards on 19 carries.
Cleveland Hill will play in the Far Wesr Regionals at Sahlen’s Stadium next Saturday at noon.