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 8
Cal Beebe (QB/Lancaster) Having to come off the bench early in the contest Beebe was quite impressive in the 98th and final Depew-Lancaster game in this long-standing rivalry. He completed 13-20 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
David Chase (QB/Starpoint) Chase led Starpoint with a dominate performance. He threw three touchdowns while completing 13-19 passes for 227 yards.
Glen Echeverria (ATH/Frontier) Running behind an injury riddled offensive line Echeverria ran for 94 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 113 yards and a third TD. He also made four solo tackles.
Alexander Garland (RB-DB/Randolph) Leading the Cardinals to the Class D division championship Garland rushed for 180 yards and five touchdowns. He did this while only carrying the ball eight times. He also had five tackles.
Dontre Hampton (RB-LB/Bennett) As the Tigers prepare for the playoffs Hampton capped off the regular season by running for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. He also caught one pass which he turned into a 72-yard touchdown. He made two tackles and successfully defended against five passes.
Jaylen Hawkins (RB-SS/Sweet Home) Injuries forced Hawkins to play Quarterback and he more than met the challenge. In Sweet Home’s 34-24 win he completed 8 of 15 pass attempts for 149 yards and three touchdowns. He ran the ball 14 times for 130 yards and another TD.
Jackson Kwaizer (TE-LB/Iroquois) Kwaizer made 13 tackles for the night. Added to that he had six receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Brock Lamont (RB-LB/Akron) Lamont was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing night for the Tigers. He totaled 255 yards of offense. He ran for 175 yards and a touchdown while adding 80 receiving yards. It was another impressive defensive performance with 18 tackles.
Grant Michalski (RB/Springville) Michalski was instrumental in yet another Griffins win. Playing for three quarters of the game he gained 365 yards and scored five touchdowns while carrying the ball only 14 times.
Joey Molnar (WR-DB/West Seneca East) Molnar made plays all over the field in this thrilling over time contest. He ran for 90 yards and scored a touchdown in the Trojans’ win over cross-town rivals West Seneca West. He completed 5 of his 7 passes for 127 yards and two more scores. On the other side of the ball, he made six tackles, intercepted a pass and had 1TFL.
Bryson Reid (QB/Lake Shore) On a near perfect night Reid completed 16-19 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran ten times for 58 yards and another TD.
Amare Ridgeway (RB-LB/Health Sciences) Ridgeway was dominate for the Falcons on both sides of the ball. He ran for 121 yards and scored one touchdown. Defensively he had an 18-tackle performance which included an incredible 15 solo stops and 4TFL.
Joe Santoro (RB-DB/Williamsville East) Playing in this rivalry game brought out the best in Santoro. He helped the Flames defeat Williamsville South by running for 100 yards and scoring a touchdown. He completed his one pass attempt for a 53-yard touchdown. He made six solo tackles and was credited with seven total.
Nasir Spencer (SB-LB/Newfane) Spencer led the Panthers over longtime rival Wilson. He ran for three touchdowns including two that covered 69 and 52 yards. Overall, on six carries he gained 147 yards. He also caught three passes for another 43 yards. From his linebacker position he made 10 tackles, caused a safety and forced a fumble.
Ryder Wolcott (QB/Cardinal O’Hara) Wolcott led Cardinal O’Hara to a convincing win over Bishop Kearney of Rochester. He threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns while completing 12-20 passes. He ran for two more TDs while gaining 59 yards on six carries. He contributed two solo tackles.
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.