Tigers look to avenge season opening loss
Journal-Register
Friday, July 30, 2026

Fresh from scoring their first victory and looking to avenge a season opening loss, the Lyndonville Tigers will host the Buffalo Gladiators at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Vets Park in a New York State Amateur Football League game.

The undefeated Gladiators (3-0) posted a 14-8 win in the season opener over the Tigers, who rebounded to defeat the Monroe County Sting 21-13 in their home debut last weekend.

“We’re getting better every week, and we’re not going to make the mistakes that killed us the last time,” Tigers fullback and tri-captain Joey Suhr said. “We should have won that first game, but we just killed ourselves with mistakes. Our offense is starting to jell now and our defense is playing great.”

The Gladiators, who have romped past Mohawk Valley (30-7) and the Hornell Dragons (33-6) in the past two weeks, are led by veteran quarterback John Augustine Jr. who has completed 40 of 52 passes for 616 yards and four touchdowns. Matt O’Malley had been a favorite receiving target, while Shawn Coppolla and Elroy Birmingham are the featured running backs.

“They’re off to a great start and everybody is talking a lot about Buffalo, but I think we can beat them,” Suhr said.

Quarterback Eric Valley leads the Tigers’ offense, which includes Suhr at fullback with Kelly Rhim and Adam Eckerd sharing time at the running back spots, Lionel Rhim and Cory Frasier at wide receiver and Cliff Brown and Matt Whiting at tight end. The Medina trio of Joel Fidanza, Joe Sands and Dale Cleveland have helped to anchor the line. Lionel Rhim rushed for 165 yards against the Sting.

The Tigers’ defense has been led by linebackers Eric Vaughn, Ian Wetherbee and Tim Allen along with linemen Mike Eaton, Jon Ostrander and Mike Maurer.

It will be doubleheader day at Vets Park as the Buffalo Warriors will host the Cleveland Cardinals at 2 p.m. Saturday in an Ohio Valley League game.
View Printable Story

Add a comment