By JOHN ANDERSON
The state and Section V has taken some major steps to increase opportunities for girls in sports.
First there was a girls-only wrestling championship and a state invitational.
Last year, flag football. This season, a regular season, sectional championships and overall championships.
There is not a state tournament for flag football, but Section V and Section VI decided to give the girls once last game and chance for some fun. As a result, Canisteo-Greenwood’s champions from Section V took on Clarence, the champions from Section VI. Both teams were 10-1 and had a chance to play at Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills.
The final score was 39-0 in favor of Clarence, but you would never know from the smiles on both teams as they posed for a group photo and had a few surprises.
First, in the locker room, each player was able to have one of the Buffalo Bills’ players lockers. There was a professional name plate with their name, number and the Canisteo-Greenwood colors and logo.
If that wasn’t enough, three of the most popular players on the team greeted them. The players were tight end Dawson Knox, first-round draft pick, tight end Dalton Kincaid and Dion Dawkins, the tackle who has become a major celebrity and fan favorite and was also the Bills’ Walter Payton Man of the Year finalist.
The players talked to the girls, signed autographs, posed for individual and team photos along with mascot Billy Buffalo.
Here are photos from Section V and Section VI flag football and from social media:
