The sixth Friday Night Matchup of the high school football season features a contest with playoff implications. West Genesee will travel to Fayetteville-Manlius on Friday night at 7 p.m.

The Hornets (4-1) and Wildcats (4-1) both have a chance to clinch a home playoff spot and a two-seed in the postseason with a win on Friday.

 

 

West Genesee Head Coach Joe Corley knows his team is motivated to improve every game.

"We took strides last year," said Corley. "We had a young but really motivated group. They've been motivated all the way through. Here they are their senior year, they've waited for this for a long time and we're in a good position."

Seniors on this year's team haven't had an easy road. The team finished 0-8 in 2016 and improved to 4-5 last year. The Wildcats are off to a fast 4-1 start this season. 

Heading into week six, the Wildcats have an opportunity to do something they haven’t done since 2011 – win a fifth game.

Tyler Cook spoke highly about the team chemistry. “Everything about this team I love. I like how we’re really connected and we’re a family.”

"This year we just put everything together because we're all seniors, and we've all played together since we were young," said senior wideout Ben Rustay.

Corley has 30 seniors on this year's team, and most of them have worked extremely hard over the past few seasons to get this year's team in playoff contention.

"These guys have always put the time in in the weight room; they've always put the time in in summer camps.  Everything we ask these guys to do, they do," said Corley. "They've been just such a pleasure to coach through the years, and I'm just finally happy to be here and be in this position with the seniors."

"We're so excited, but we can't focus on being on TV; we gotta focus on the game itself. You know we're on TV, but we gotta win the game," said senior QB Tyler Cook.

"It's definitely something you look forward to, seeing yourself on TV. And, F-M is a really good team. They're 4-1 for a reason. They're really good and hopefully we can give them a good game," Rustay said.

At Fayetteville-Manlius , the Hornets are excited to host the Wildcats on Homecoming night. They’re planning to hold a “whiteout” on an evening where they’re expecting a packed house.

“To have those bleachers full of white is going to be the difference in the game,” said Hornets senior Tim Shaw at practice on Wednesday.

It’ll be an exciting scene at F-M when the Wildcats come into town. Tune in to Spectrum News Friday night to watch.

That hard work has the Wildcats in a current tie with Fayetteville-Manlius for second place in Double AA-2. The two teams will square off in our Friday Night Matchup.