Friday night will see a high school football matchup rarely seen in Western New York as Canisius plays at Lancaster in a battle of top public and private school teams.
Both schools are two of Western New York's elite programs. The Crusaders and Legends will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at Lancaster's historic Foyle-Kling Field.
Lancaster is ranked third in this week's The Buffalo News large school poll while Canisius is fourth.
"Games like this make the high school football experience better for the kids, and fans and the community," said Canisius Athletic Director Jim Mauro.
Over the last 10 years, Canisius has won three New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association championships and seven Monsignor Martin Association titles while recording two undefeated seasons.
Kraig Kurzanski '84 is in his first year as head coach of the Crusaders.
Lancaster won five straight Section VI Class AA championships in coach Eric Rupp's first five seasons. In the last five state playoffs, the Legends have lost to either the eventual state champion or state runnerup.
Considering the programs' recent histories, the 2022 Canisius-Lancaster game is the most anticipated public-private football matchup in Erie County in decades.
One would have to go back to Week One of 1998, when reigning Monsignor Martin Association champion St. Joe's beat reigning Section VI Class AA champion Orchard Park, 31-20, for the last high-profile game featuring an suburban Erie County team. Those two teams were also reigning champs when they met in 1997, with OP winning in Week Eight, 34-21.
The most notable public-private matchup since then had Canisius play at Jamestown in Week Four of 2014 in what
The Buffalo News called in its high school season preview cover story as "The Game of the Decade." The Crusaders won, 27-14, in a game that featured two players who would go on to the NFL in Jamestown's Steven Carlson and Canisius' TJ Wheatley. That 2014 season ended with the Red Raiders winning their second straight New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA title and the Crusaders winning the inaugural NYSCHSAA playoff championship.
Canisius enters Friday's game with a 3-1 record and is coming off a road win at St. Joe's. Canisius used a strong second half to beat the Marauders, 39-22, for its 16th win over its rival in the last 17 years. The Crusaders have won three straight after a season-opening loss at Walsh Jesuit of Ohio. Canisius also won at Rochester power Aquinas and beat Section VI small-school power Maritime/Health Sciences.
Lancaster is 4-0 following Section VI victories over Jamestown, Niagara Falls, Williamsville North and Hutch-Tech.
Lancaster is holding a Crucial Catch fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society at the game. Half of the $4 ticket fee will go to the fundraiser.
Recent WNY public-private large school nonleague football games
(games involving Erie County suburban teams in italics)
2021 – Sweet Home 22, St. Joe's 20
2019 – St. Joe's 29, Bennett 14
2018 – St. Joe's 50, Bennett 26
2016 – Canisius 60, Lockport 6
2016 – St. Joe's 29, South Park 12
2015 – Bishop Timon-St. Jude 30, Jamestown 13
2015 – Bishop Timon-St. Jude 26, Riverside 0
2015 – Canisius 23, South Park 20
2015 – St. Joe's 14, Lockport 0
2015 – St. Francis 40, Williamsville South 20
2014 – Bishop Timon-St. Jude 46, Riverside 6
2014 – Canisius 27, Jamestown 14
2014 – St. Joe's 30, Clarence 21
2014 – St. Francis 34, South Park 12
2014 – St. Joe's 43, Bennett 14
2013 – Bishop Timon-St. Jude 36, Williamsville South 13
2013 – St. Joe's 35, Clarence 13
2012 – Bishop Timon-St. Jude 21, Williamsville South 14
2012 – Canisius 55, McKinley 30
2012 – St. Joe's 30, Lockport 25
2009 – Williamsville East 20, Bishop Timon-St. Jude 7
2009 – Canisius 28, Jamestown 2
2009 – St. Joe's 40, Niagara Falls 19
2008 – Canisius 49, McKinley 0
2008 – North Tonawanda 42, St. Joe's 10
2007 – Bishop Timon-St. Jude 34, Hutch-Tech 0
2007 – Canisius 14, Riverside 0
2007 – St. Francis 42, North Tonawanda 13
2007 – St. Francis 26, Niagara Falls 7
2007 – McKinley 12, St. Joe's 0
2006 – Hutch-Tech 16, Bishop Timon-St. Jude 6
2006 – Canisius 32, Riverside 8
2006 – St. Joe's 26, McKinley 8
2005 – Canisius 30, Hutch-Tech 16
2005 – St. Joe's 46, McKinley 8
2004 – Canisius 30, Hutch-Tech 6
2004 – Canisius 22, Riverside 0
