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 Players of the week
WEEK 2
Blake Beckerink (WR-DB/CSP) Beckerink certainly made the most of his opportunities. Leading the Wolfpack to their second consecutive win he ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns on just ten carries. He also contributed defensively with six tackles.
Hudson Campbell (RB-LB/Lockport) Campbell had quite an impressive night for Lockport. While only carrying the ball seven times he scored three touchdowns. With three pass receptions he added another score. He also had a 2-point conversion. Of his three tackles one was for a loss of yards.
Elijah Doxley (RB/OC Rivals) His overall play led to a combined 249 yards. He scored twice and gained 124 yards on 13 carries. He caught two passes for 85 yards and added another score. He had a 40-yard kick return, scored an extra point and also made two tackles.
Aiden Hopwood (WR/St. Francis) In a battle of two of the top ranked teams in the state the Red Raiders traveled to Syracuse to take on Christian Brothers Academy. Hopwood turned in a dominate performance with seven pass receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns to help St. Francis to an imposing win.
Josh Lee (RB/South Park) Putting on an impressive running display Lee gained 185 yards on 27 carries and scored one touchdown. He also added 30 yards with two pass catches.
Anthony Martis (QB/Williamsville East) Completing over 78% of his passes Martis connected on 11 of his 14 attempts for 134 yards and four touchdowns.
Eamon Mouyeos (WR-OLB/Williamsville North) Mouyes caught six passes for 132 yards and two TDs. From his linebacker spot he made seven tackles and recovered a fumble.
Trey Pfeiffer (RB/Iroquois) Helping Iroquois break into the win column Pfeiffer scored five rushing touchdowns while gaining 120 yards on 21 carries.
Hayden Schappacher (WR-DB/Portville) Accounting for all of his team’s 16 points Schappacher had two rushing touchdowns and a 2-point conversion. He completed a pass for the other two points. He also made nine tackles and intercepted a pass.
Connor Shiesley (WR/North Tonawanda) Averaging 24 yards per catch he gained 216 yards and scored one touchdown. Eight of his nine receptions resulted in first downs.
Gabe Terry (RB/Hamburg) Leading the Bulldogs to an impressive win Terry had 18 carries for 208 yards and three touchdowns.
Cinsere Tucker (WR-DB/West Seneca East) Tucker contributed 55 yards and a touchdown with four catches. He also returned an interception 72 yards for another score and had three total tackles.
Jackson Turski (QB/Clarence) Turski completed 14 of his 20 pass attempts for 233 yards and three touchdowns. Spreading the ball around, he connected with six different receivers.
Chase Uribes (FB-DE/Grand Island) It’s not always eye-opening stats that land a player on the Players of the Week list – although that certainly helps. Offensively it was Uribes’s tenacious blocking that helped the Vikings win Friday evening. Defensively, in addition to a sack and interception he was a disruptive force along the line and in the Maritime backfield.
Ryder Wolcott (QB-DE/ Cardinal O’Hara) Wolcott led O’Hara to an impressive win throwing two touchdowns and 189 yards. He also gained 65 yards and scored two more TDs on just two carries. On defense he made nine tackles, two tackles for loss of yardage and had three quarterback hurries.
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.
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