Grit Over Glory: Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Football Looks to Shock Canisteo-Greenwood in Class D Quarterfinals
Written by Pete Zehler on October 31, 2025
After a season filled with adversity, the Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Aggies will enter the Class D playoffs as the No. 6 seed, looking to make some noise after a challenging 1-7 campaign. It’s been a tough fall for the Aggies, marking their worst season since the O-A/E merger nearly a decade ago.
Early on, the Aggies showed flashes of potential — battling tough in close losses to defending Class C champion East Rochester, Attica, and Canisteo-Greenwood. But as injuries mounted, so did the losses. Starting quarterback Brayden Jachimowicz, standout freshman running back Alex Ohlson, and key linemen Landon Smith and Landon Pangrazio all went down, leaving major holes on both sides of the ball. Despite the setbacks, the Aggies picked up a morale-boosting Week 7 non-league win over C.G. Finney, with several backup players stepping up in big moments.
Matchup Preview
O-A/E heads to Canisteo-Greenwood tonight to face the No. 3 seed Chargers (5-3) in a rematch of their Week 4 defensive slugfest, which ended in a narrow 7-0 Charger victory. Canisteo-Greenwood’s defense has been among the best in Class D, but their offense has struggled — scoring more than 14 points just once in league play all season.
Given that, this matchup might actually be the best draw the Aggies could have hoped for. Among all the top Class D teams, the Chargers are one opponent that O-A/E has already proven it can hang with — and their offensive struggles give the Aggies a realistic shot at pulling the upset. If O-A/E can control the pace, lean on its ground game, and hold the Chargers to 14 or fewer points, they have a legitimate chance to extend their season. The winner moves on to face the victor of Avon vs. Geneseo/Mount Morris in the semifinals.
Key Players
Junior running back Noah Lyon has been the Aggies’ most consistent playmaker this year, rushing for a team-high 632 yards. Freshman Jayden Blew has emerged late in the season, recording 189 yards and 3 touchdowns — most of which came in the team’s final two games. Veterans Nick Scott and Brendan Perry should also see touches in the backfield.
At quarterback, freshman Carson Shetler has shown improvement since being thrust into the starting role midseason. While the passing game remains limited, Shetler has proven capable as a runner and will look to manage the offense efficiently.
On defense, Ty Reilly anchors the unit with 54 tackles and 4 tackles for loss. Dominic West, Nick Scott, Mark Caparco, and Brady Werth have all made steady contributions in the trenches and secondary.
Prediction
The Aggies have a puncher’s chance. To win, they’ll need to establish the run early, not ask their young quarterback to do much in the air, and generate backfield pressure to disrupt Canisteo-Greenwood’s ground attack. It’s a tall task against one of Class D’s stingiest defenses — but in playoff football, anything can happen.
If O-A/E can find the same grit that carried them through their lone win, they could be celebrating more than just a moral victory tonight.
