Southwestern Frewsburg enters second merged season with new roles to fill

Overview

• Southwestern Frewsburg is entering the second season of its merged program after going 10-1 in 2025.
• Jake Burkholder said the team graduated 17 seniors and returns one defensive starter and two offensive starters, with several other players moving into larger roles.
• Drake Beckstrom is stepping into the starting quarterback role after leading the JV program last season.
• Zach Markham, a returning first-team all-state player, is expected to anchor the line.
• The schedule opens Sept. 4 at Franklinville/Ellicottville before home dates with Salamanca on Sept. 11 and Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale on Sept. 18.

Southwestern Frewsburg Football Preview

Southwestern Frewsburg begins 2026 with the momentum of last fall and the natural turnover that follows a senior-heavy season.

Head coach Jake Burkholder wants the program to build on last season, when Southwestern Frewsburg finished 10-1. The challenge now is replacing a large graduating class while developing a group that has waited for its turn.

"We had a great season in 2025 and look to build off of that foundation," Burkholder said. "We graduated 17 seniors, but have many players that are ready to step up and fill the shoes of last years seniors. C-South is a tough league and there is never down week!"

The roster turnover is real. Burkholder said Southwestern Frewsburg returns one defensive starter and two offensive starters, while also bringing back several players who handled meaningful varsity minutes last season.

The quarterback role is one of the headline changes. Drake Beckstrom, a junior QB/LB, is stepping into the starting job after leading the JV program last year.

"Drake is a great leader and puts the work in to be successful both on and off the field," Burkholder said.

Senior WR/DB Joe Sirianni is one player Burkholder pointed to as a potential breakout candidate. Sirianni's 2025 varsity line included 11 receptions for 154 yards and four touchdowns.

Up front, senior OL/LB Zach Markham gives the team an anchor. Burkholder called Markham a returning first-team all-state player, and his 2025 production included 55 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

Burkholder also named Connor Campion as a new contributor to know, and Oscar Harris as a special-teams player who could make a difference. Harris converted 51 PATs and one field goal in 2025.

Burkholder named Sirianni, Beckstrom, Carter Casselman, Aiden Cusimano and Markham as captains. Casselman also brings defensive production from last fall after recording 19 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in 2025.

Burkholder wants this group to be tough, physical and smart, with a spread offense and a defense built on physicality and sound fundamentals. He described the defense as a multi-front group with a mixed bag of coverages.

"We take the season one week at a time," Burkholder said. "The obvious goal is always to win a state title, but you can't get there without handling the task in front of you."

The 2026 schedule starts Sept. 4 at Franklinville/Ellicottville. Southwestern Frewsburg then has back-to-back home games: Salamanca on Sept. 11 at Southwestern and Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale on Sept. 18 at Frewsburg.

The rest of the regular-season schedule includes a Sept. 25 trip to Gowanda/Pine Valley, home games against Fredonia on Oct. 2 and Newfane on Oct. 9, and road games at Portville/CR/BR on Oct. 16 and Falconer/CV/MG on Oct. 23.