Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton leans on toughness, returning core

Overview

• Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton coach Ty Harper said the Eagles have "many key players to replace" from last year's state final four team, but also a group that competed hard through the offseason and camp.
• The foundation starts with RB/LB Thandon Bensink, QB/LB Tristen Gibbs and G/DT Walter Lukasiak, all multi-year starters named by Harper.
• Gibbs steps into the quarterback role after a 2025 season in which he made 100 total tackles and forced three fumbles at linebacker.
• Aiden Woodis returns at DB and moves into a wide receiver role after making five interceptions in 2025, while Lance Franklin is back at linebacker after 52 tackles.
• The Eagles are scheduled for early road games at Randolph, Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale and Salamanca before an October run that includes home dates with Franklinville/Ellicottville, Falconer/CV/MG and Gowanda/Pine Valley.

Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton Eagles 2026 Football Preview

Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton's 2026 season under Ty Harper starts with a familiar identity and a new set of roles to settle.

The Eagles are coming off what Harper called last year's state final four team, and the coach knows that group left real work behind for the next one.

"We have a great group of hardworking kids," Harper said. "We have many key players to replace from last year's state final 4 team, but a lot of these kids played varsity snaps last fall. Hopefully we continue to get a little bit better every day and are in the mix at the end of the season."

Harper said the Eagles had a strong offseason and a competitive August camp. The goal is direct: "We expect to compete at a championship level."

Foundation And Identity

Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton's clearest base is physical football. Harper said the Eagles' strength should be simple.

"We're going to run the ball and play great defense," Harper said.

That starts with returning multi-year starters Thandon Bensink, Walter Lukasiak and Tristen Gibbs. Bensink is listed as a senior RB/LB and has been a major part of the ground game, rushing for 897 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025 after running for 942 yards as a sophomore in 2024.

Lukasiak, listed as a senior G/DT, is the centerpiece up front. Harper called him "an excellent 2-way lineman," and Lukasiak's 2025 defensive line included 24 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception.

Gibbs is listed as a junior QB/LB and moves into the quarterback role after anchoring the defense last fall. In 2025, he made 100 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, forced three fumbles, recovered two fumbles and added 231 rushing yards with three touchdowns.

The Eagles' offensive plan is built around that line-of-scrimmage mindset.

"We want to be a physical team that runs the ball," Harper said. "We want to win at the line of scrimmage."

The next offensive step is balance. Harper said the team needs to improve its ability to throw so the offense can become more multi-dimensional by playoff time.

Defensively, Harper wants a group that is "gap responsible, fundamentally sound" and attacking the line of scrimmage, with fronts and coverages changing by opponent.

Players To Watch

Gibbs is one of the central names of the season. Harper named him as a breakout candidate, a team leader and the quarterback stepping into a more vocal role.

"We will ask Tristen to assume a more vocal leadership role, and we're confident that he's up to the task," Harper said.

Aiden Woodis gives the Eagles another two-way piece. Harper said Woodis returns at defensive back and will also start at wide receiver. Woodis' 2025 production included five interceptions, three passes defended, 31 total tackles, 33 receiving yards and one touchdown catch.

Lance Franklin is another linebacker back in the mix after making 52 tackles in 2025. Bensink, Gibbs, Lukasiak, Lane Scarpine, Greyson Wellman and Franklin were the leaders Harper named for this group.

Scarpine is also the new contributor Harper wants readers to know. He is listed as a junior RB/LB and is part of the defensive end group Harper named up front, along with Trent Ramm. Harper also pointed to Lukasiak, Chase Houser and Ricky Rivera as line anchors.

Logan Fuller is the special-teams player Harper identified as someone who could make a difference.

Schedule Landmarks

Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton is scheduled to open with back-to-back road games: Sept. 4 at Randolph and Sept. 11 at Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale. The Eagles are then scheduled to visit Salamanca on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.

October brings a heavy home stretch at Chautauqua Lake Central School. The Eagles are scheduled to host Franklinville/Ellicottville on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m., Falconer/CV/MG on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. and Gowanda/Pine Valley on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.

The lone listed October road game is Oct. 16 at Fredonia, also scheduled for 7 p.m.

For Harper, the measure of the season will be whether the Eagles keep growing into that identity: run the ball, defend, control the line and stay in the championship conversation when the season turns late.