WESTERN NEW YORK'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AWARD - EST. 1972
The 2026 season starts now
Know of a varsity high school football athlete who plays in Section VI or the Monsignor Martin conferences and deserves to be recognized? Let us know.
* Please submit any weekly performance stats no later than noon on the Sunday following the game.
2026 SEASON - Legends Players of the week
WEEK 10
Blake Deloreto (WR-DB/Grand Island) Averaging 26 yards per reception Deloreto caught four passes for 104 yards. Three of those receptions resulted in touchdowns.
Carter DerSarkissian (RB/Barker Roy-Hart) Once again the Bulls offense relied on DerSarkissian and he had another impressive game. Carrying the ball 35 times he rushed for 250 yards and scored all three of his team’s touchdowns.
Everett Fix (QB/Lancaster) The Legends quarterback continues to show why he is as dangerous running as he is passing the ball. Fix finished with a balanced stat line. He completed 10 – 11 passes for 111 yards. He ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
Alexander Garland (RB-DB/Randolph) Garland led a ground attack that propelled the Cardinals to their sixth consecutive win. With 26 carries he ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns. He helped out on defense with seven tackles.
Tristen Gibbs (QB-LB/Chautauqua Lake-Westfield-Brocton) Leading the Eagles to a berth in the Class C championship game Gibbs accounted for both of their touchdowns. He threw a 26-yard touchdown pass. He ran 21 times for 110 yards and the other TD.
Dontre Hampton (RB-LB/Bennett) Hampton was electric on both sides of the ball. Running for both Tigers touchdowns he had 214 yards on 24 carries. One of those touchdowns covered 60 yards. Defensively he made 12 tackles including 3 TFL. He also had a key pass break up late in the game.
Noah Harrison (WR-DB/OC Rivals) Harrison accounted for all but one point for the Rivals. He had six carries for 54 yards and two touchdowns. His third score came on the receiving end of a touchdown pass. He made seven solo stops and was credited with 12 total tackles including a tackle for loss and had a pass break up.
Anthony Mantione (QB-LB/Grand Island) The Vikings counted on Mantione to have a big game and he did not disappoint. Completing 5 – 8 passes he threw for 107 yards and three touchdowns. He had 23 carries and ran for 243 yards and three more touchdowns (accounting for all six Grand Island TDs.) He also made six tackles from his linebacker position.
Jake Morello (SB-LB/Newfane) Averaging nearly nine yards per carry Morello gained 160 yards and scored two touchdowns on 18 attempts. He also made six tackles on defense.
Amare Ridgeway (RB-LB/Health Sciences) Ridgeway ran for 85 yards and one touchdown for the Falcons. He led the defense with 17 solo tackles and 23 total tackles. He forced one fumble and had 3 TFL.
Rashawn Robinson (QB-DB/South Park) Injuries forced Robinson into the starting quarterback position. He led the Sparks to a win in their final contest of the season. Showing incredible accuracy, he completed 10-11 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, he made six tackles, forced a fumble and defended against two passes.
Zane Rogers (RB-DE/Gowanda-Pine Valley) A notable outing for Rogers as he had 11 carries for 168 yards and a touchdown. He caught two passes for 89 yards and another TD. From his defensive end position, he had two sacks.
Bobby Simmons (WR-DB/West Seneca West) Simmons play on both offense and defense stood out as he helped the Warhawks to an impressive semi-final win. He caught six passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He made five tackles (three solo) and had one pass defended.
Justin Teubner (FB-DL/Lancaster) Teubner stood out for the Legends as they advance to the Class AA finals. He scored two touchdowns while carrying the ball just eight times. From the defensive line he had six solo tackles (eight total). He recovered a fumble and was credited with half a sack.
Josh Urban (RB-LB/West Seneca East) Urban handled the ball 31 times as the Trojans ran a total of 46 offensive plays. With 30 carries he ran for 274 yards and two touchdowns. He turned his one pass reception into his third TD. Just as impactful on defense he made 18 tackles and had 3 TFL.
Article & Announcements
54th Annual Connolly Cup Awards Banquet
Please join us for the Annual Awards Banquet where The Connolly Cup Committee will present the winner of the William R. Connolly Cup and recognize the top ten Finalist.
Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2026
Time: Doors open at 6:00pm
Location: Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant
Address: 3785 South Park Ave, Blasdell, NY 14219
Our Story
Since 1972, the Connolly Cup Committee has recognized Western New York’s top high school football players. Over more than five decades, the William R. Connolly Memorial Cup has become one of the region’s most respected honors in the sport.
The game has changed. The standard has not. Each week of the season, the Committee honors the area’s standout players. At year’s end, the ten most outstanding athletes are invited to our awards banquet, where the Connolly Cup is presented to the Most Outstanding High School Football Player in Western New York.
The award is well known. The man behind the name is less so.
William R. “Bill” Connolly devoted his life to service. He volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross, officiated youth and high school football, and supported families in need through his work with the United Way. When health issues ended his days as an official, he continued to serve as a volunteer trainer for the Riverside High School football team and the Riverside Athletic Club in the JFK Touch Football League.
That commitment traveled with him. During family summers in Canada, he organized a softball league for local boys. When his daughter Molly wanted to play, he started a junior co-ed league so younger children could join. In 1971, the ball field near the Connolly summer home was dedicated in his honor. Improvements in 2008 renewed that tribute.
The award itself grew out of a football argument among friends. In 1971, Auburn quarterback Pat Sullivan won the Heisman Trophy over Cornell’s Ed Marinaro, a favorite among many fans. Members of the Riverside Athletic Club—passionate students of the game—debated the result and resolved to create a local honor for exceptional high school talent in Western New York.
After Bill’s untimely passing, the club named that award for him. Today, the William R. Connolly Memorial Cup continues that purpose: celebrating excellence on the field and carrying forward a legacy of service to young people and the community.
Copyright © 2026 Connolly Cup - All Rights Reserved.
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.