Robert Crandall – Olean Star
The CCMFL playoffs are about to enter their second round this Saturday and a team that is having a great season in the Midget division is the Bolivar Richburg Wolverines. Coached by 7-year veteran Jude Auman the Wolverines take their perfect 7-0 record into Saturdays game against the 6-1 Randolph Raiders. In an era where small town football is struggling to find enough players to field teams, after dropping to 8- man football this season the Bolivar Richburg High School team had to cancel the rest of their season due to a lack of players (injury and illness), the midget football team is keeping the areas football hopes alive. It’s an uphill battle for such a small area team as they compete in the 15 team CCMFL against teams from Olean, Salamanca, Pioneer and Springville which in some cases have combined up to 4 teams over the past few years.
Coming into this playoff season the Wolverines have excelled on both sides of the ball as their offense has produced just shy of 30 points a game while holding opponents to less than 13. Coach Auman couldn’t say enough about his “special group of players that just love to compete”. His admiration for their effort which translates into their success against teams from much larger areas.
Auman’s enthusiasm also is evident in the players as their commitment and belief in each other is very evident. When asked who on the team they would trust the most to carry the ball in a “must” situation, virtually all of them pointed to Joe “TD” Welsch. Welsch is a 4th year player, three with the Wolverines and one with Otto, whom Auman says is one of, if not the, best running backs in the league. As for Welsch, he says his favorite play “is the inside reverse with Melina (Hall), Daxton (Maull), and Luke (Auman) leading the way”. While his teammates pointed to him for big plays, Welsch without hesitation said “Daxton up the gut” was the way to go when you had to gain some yards.
Alongside Welsch in the backfield is 6 year veteran, 2 in cheerleading and 4 in football, Melina Hall. Hall decided to switch to from cheer to football because she “thought football would be easier…I’d much rather run sprints than throw people in the air”
The enthusiasm and love that the Wolverine players and coaches show can be found throughout the CCMFL. Coaches bringing a group of young athletes together in the hopes of creating a successful team that will keep advancing through the playoffs. But even more important than that, creating lasting memories, friendships, and positive life lessons that will be carried on through life. This group of kids, this group of players, in this particular small town, hope that part of those memories will be the thrill of advancing to the CCMFL Super Bowl. As Welsch says ‘the Super Bowl is the Goal”
The second round of the CCMFL playoffs begin at 1 PM Saturday in Springville with Bolivar Richburg and Randolph followed at 3:30 by the Allegany Gators vs the Cattaraugus Little Valley Timberwolves.
