Albion escapes with a one-point win to remain unbeaten
Journal-Register
Monday, October 04, 2026



CHEEKTOWAGA — Surviving a scare, Albion rallied for a fourth touchdown to nip upset-minded Cheektowaga 7-6 Friday night in a key B North Division game.

“Give them all the credit, they played great. They gave us all we wanted and more,” Albion Coach Dick Diminuco said of Cheektowaga which is now 1-4.

A three-yard touchdown run by quarterback Andre Kinder and an extra point kick by Matt Saeva midway through the final quarter proved to be just enough offense to boost Albion to 4-0, 5-0 overall and keep the Purple Eagles deadlocked with Tonawanda, a 28-0 victor over Medina, for the B-North lead.

A fumble recovery by Ray Smith at the Cheektowaga seven-yard line set up the decisive scoring opportunity for Albion.

Kinder plunged over from three yards out three plays later for the touchdown with 6:38 remaining and Saeva tacked on the deciding extra point kick.

“That extra point was big,” Diminuco said.

Cheektowaga did get the ball back two more times and drove deep into Albion territory both times, first to the 12 and then to the 36.

However, the Purple Eagles defense rose to the occasion stopping both drives with interceptions, the first by Kinder in the endzone and the second by Darrel Froman near the 10 on the game’s final play.

In between those two possessions, Saeve had a big 55-yard punt to get the struggling Purple Eagles offensive unit out of a hole.

Cheektowaga grabbed a 6-0 lead with just one second to go in the first half on a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Lackie to Randy Deifert on a fourth down and nine play.

The Albion special teams unit though answered with a big play as Chad Brooks broke through to stop the two-point conversion run.

The drive was Cheektowaga’s third into Albion territory in the opening half. Earlier, the Purple Eagles defense stopped the Warriors at the Albion 14 and again at the 23.

The Albion offense, which crossed midfield only once in the half, managed just 50 yards.
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