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 7
Mason Anderson (WR/St. Francis) With six receptions Anderson scored three touchdowns and gained 103 yards. His TDs covered 35, 34 and 13 yards.
Mason Anderson (QB/West Seneca West) In a win against Williamsville North with 1st place in Class A-1 on the line Anderson excelled. He was very accurate completing 24-32 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown. He ran 12 times for 35 yards and another two TDs. He showed command of his offense along with great leadership.
AJ Cinquino (RB/North Tonawanda) Cinquino led the Lumberjacks to their best offensive game of the season. He scored five touchdowns while carrying the ball 22 times for 275 yards.
Carter DerSarkissian (RB-S/Barker Rot-Hart) Helping the Bulls keep their spot atop Class C-North DerSarkissian scored six touchdowns. He ran gained 216 yards while carrying the ball just ten times and scoring on five of those runs and added a 2-point conversion. He also returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown. He did this while only playing in the first half.
Elijah Doxey (RB/OC Rivals) Limited touches did not slow Doxey’s production. With seven carries he scored three touchdowns. He caught one pass for another score. He also had a punt return of 50 yards. Handling the ball just nine times he accumulated 187 combined yards to go along with those four TDs. Defensively he made 11 tackles including 2 TFL.
Everett Fix (QB/Lancaster) In a battle of the top AA teams Fix led the Legends offense by completing timely passes and running for two touchdowns in their win against Bennett.
Christian Hall (DB/West Seneca East) The Trojans maintained their top spot in Class B-1 after their convincing win over Williamsville South. Hall led the defense with 11 tackles. He also had an interception and recovered a fumble on special teams.
Harper McKenzie (WR/Clarence) McKenzie had an outstanding performance for the Red Devils. With 9 receptions he gained 195 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Ross Michalski (DB/Springville) The freshman certainly had an impressive outing from his safety position. He intercepted three passes returning two for touchdowns. Those TDs covered 55 and 11 yards respectively and he totaled 111 return yards. With just two carries he ran for 34 yards and a third TD and even kicked one extra point. He also made five tackles.
Kamron Minter (DE/McKinley) One of the Macks defensive stars Minter had 14 tackles, 4 TFL and forced a fumble in their win over Maryvale.
Dom Myers (RB-DB/Olean) Leading his team in both passing and rushing the sophomore had another noteworthy game for the Huskies. With just eight passes' Myers threw for two touchdowns. He ran 17 times for 147 yards and another two TDs. Defensively he contributed five tackles, two of which were for loss of yardage.
Jaiden Rainey (RB/LB-Cleveland Hill) When the Golden Eagles need him Rainey certainly delivered. He ran for 256 yards on 17 carries and scored four touchdowns. He made four tackles and was credited with a half sack and forced fumble.
Cole Schlueter (RB-LB/Pioneer) Schlueter impacted the game on both sides of the ball. He ran for two touchdowns and 131 yards on 16 carries. He also made 11 tackles for the Panthers.
Peyton Taylor (QB/Eden-North Collins) Helping the Raiders back into the win column Taylor threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns. For the night he completed 15-21 of his pass attempts. He also ran for 59 yards and another score.
Gabe Terry (RB-S/Hamburg) Another monster game from Terry was not a surprise. In the Bulldogs win he had 16 carries for 208 yards and four touchdowns. He also contributed on defense with seven 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.
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