Fredonia leans on returning backfield, defensive front in 2026 outlook

Overview

• Ayden Wronski rushed for 757 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, while Markel Davis added 355 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
• Lavonce Donaldson returns after catching eight passes for 185 yards and one touchdown in 2025.
• Logan Dowdy made 47 tackles in 2025, while Max Cuthbert had six tackles for loss and four sacks.
• Fredonia is scheduled for home games against Gowanda/Pine Valley on Sept. 18, Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale on Sept. 25, Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton on Oct. 16 and Dunkirk on Oct. 23.

Fredonia 2026 Football Preview

Fredonia enters the 2026 football season with a roster that includes returning production in the backfield, several two-way skill players and a group of underclassmen across the line.

Greg Sherlock leads Fredonia into the new season.

Backfield production returns

Ayden Wronski and Markel Davis give Fredonia its clearest returning offensive production from 2025.

Wronski, a senior RB/LB, rushed for 757 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. He also caught two passes for 28 yards and added 41 tackles on defense.

Davis, a senior RB/DB, rushed for 355 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. He also caught three passes for 40 yards, finished with 33 tackles and had three passes defended.

Lavonce Donaldson, a junior RB/DB, gives Fredonia another returning skill option. As a sophomore, Donaldson caught eight passes for 185 yards and one touchdown, and he added 14 tackles and one tackle for loss.

Defensive front and secondary pieces

Fredonia also brings back defensive production along the line.

Logan Dowdy, a junior OL/DL/LB, finished 2025 with 47 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble. Max Cuthbert, a junior OL/DE, added 31 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Paul Tabone, a senior WR/DB, gives Fredonia experience in the secondary. He had 37 tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 2025 after recording four catches for 24 yards and one pass defended as a sophomore in 2024.

The line group also includes Joshua Schwertfeger, Robin Madariaga, Cameron Piazza, Chase Johnson, Jack Hazelton, Elijah Martin and Breydon Kuzdale on the roster. Gavin Piazza and Noah Palisin are the listed quarterbacks, and Brayden Korzeniewski is listed as a WR/DB/K.

Schedule landmarks

Fredonia opens Sept. 4 at Alden. Its home schedule begins Sept. 18 against Gowanda/Pine Valley at the Orange Bowl at Fredonia Wheelock Elementary. Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale visits the Orange Bowl on Sept. 25.

The October road stretch sends Fredonia to Southwestern/Frewsburg on Oct. 2 and Portville/CR/BR on Oct. 9. Fredonia then closes the listed regular-season schedule with home dates against Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton on Oct. 16 and Dunkirk on Oct. 23.

The clearest early story for Fredonia is how its returning run-game production and defensive front translate around a young roster. Wronski, Davis and Donaldson give the offense proven skill production, while Dowdy and Cuthbert give the defense returning playmakers near the line of scrimmage.