Playoffs! Section III | Syracusefan.com

Playoffs! Section III

SWC75

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Every year at this time in football there is a crescendo of on the field drama that lasts now more than three months, (with one missing link). It starts with the high school playoffs, (first Section III, then the state championships). Then comes the small college playoffs- the NAIA, NCAA Division III, Division II and Division 1AA, (FCS). Then comes the NFL playoffs, leading to the Super Bowl. The one missing link is the NCAA Division I, (FBS), which essentially has a two team playoff for a decision with 120 schools in it, with obvious contenders left out every year. Maybe after all this conference realignment, the powers that be will fix that. The four team playoff that will commence in 2014 will be a step forward but an 8 team playoff would be better. In the meantime we have seven other championship tournaments to look forward to.

I’ve always liked tournaments. Two teams meet then two other teams meet and then the winners pair off, each subsequent game a battle of winners. The eventual winner isn’t always the best team, (see the NCAA basketball tournament last year), but they are the champions and have proven it on the field. You either are the best team or you won the tournament that included all the best teams. There’s never any controversy- unless, as in FBS, the tournament is too small and leaves out obvious contenders.

SECTION III

Section III of New York State basically covers Central New York. There are five classifications based on enrollment: AA for the largest schools, then A, B, C and D.( This year they have created a class below that of schools who didn’t feel they can compete, sponsored by the National Football Foudnation. They compete for their own sectional championship but do not advance to the state playoffs.) Some schools are “borderline schools” that switch from classifications in some years as their enrollment or the statistical standard changes. In rare cases, schools are promoted beyond their enrollment, usually because they are private schools with no boundaries such as a public school system would have, and can draw students, (and elite players) from all over. The local example of that is Christian Brothers Academy, (CBA), which, by enrollment would be in Class C and was there at one time but so dominated that class, then Class B, then Class A that they now play in Class AA and have won the state championship at that level.

This is a pet peeve of mine. The strength of high school programs is largely based on having youth programs that feed into the varsity, good facilities and the quality of coaching. It may be an advantage to have a greater enrollment to draw players from but if the extra students aren’t good players, what good does it do you? High school ball used to be organized in geographical conferences with natural rivalries. Schools who fell behind their rivals would either build up the youth programs, facilities and coaching or they would seek another conference with lesser rivals. Presently they are thrown in together with similarly sized schools that may be some distance away and be could be much stronger programs and yet they are expected to compete with them just because they have a similar number of students.

There is also the problem that schools who have hopes of making the playoffs and maybe going onto the states can get their players to commit to preparing for the football season during the summer while those that don’t can’t and their kids take summer jobs to make some spending money instead. Then those schools hastily organize teams as the season is about to begin, with predictably dire results when they play the schools with good teams. High school games used to have 28-14 type scores. If a team won a game by 30 or 40 points, it was big news, an awesome display. Now, as you look at the box scores each week you can see multiple games with 40-0 or 50-0 type halftime scores. Some of these teams could score 100 points if they wanted to. What kind of educational experience is that- for the players on either team? Some schools simply give up on the season before it’s done because their players are tired of the physical and emotional beatings they keep taking.

Finally, with five divisions, we have the same problem boxing has with its split divisions and multiple sanctioning organizations- fiefdoms. Boxers with the WBO super-middleweight title have no motivation for fighting the WBA super-middleweight champion because they are already a “champion” and can retain it just by fighting the tomato cans the WBO fills their “top ten” with rather than risking their title against somebody who might actually beat them. There’s nothing so greedy involved with high school ball but the fact is, there aren’t really five levels of football quality in high school football.

Before the current classification system, there used to be a concept of simply “Big Schools”, (basically the Onondaga County League North- where most of the population is, the CNY Cities League and the Central Oneida League for the Utica area schools), and the “Small Schools” (Mostly the Onondaga County League South, at least in the Syracuse area). I always thought that worked pretty well. The small schools basically equated to classes B,C and D. The big schools were classes A and AA. Looking at the sectional results over the years, I see that Onondaga in the Mike Hart years won state titles in Class D, then Class C, then Class D again. They won by bigger margins in Class C than they did in Class D. Dolgeville has won 12 Class D Sectional titles and three in Class C. They even beat CBA for the Class C title in 1995. Cazenovia, a perennial Class B power, won titles there in 2006 and 2007, then moved down to Class C in 2008 and 2009 and couldn’t win titles there.

There was no Class AA until 1983. Cortland and East Syracuse-Minoa, former CNY Cities League and Onondaga County league North teams now in Class A, both made the original Class A playoffs. When the state playoffs began in 1993 with no Class AA, the section had to choose a team and sent the Class AA champs to the states. The next year they abandoned Class AA for two years until the State created the class so the Class A schools would have a chance to make the states. They didn’t but the playoff scores were close. Liverpool beat Whitesboro 21-14. Henninger beat Fulton 20-12. Whitesboro used to be Class AA Rome Free Academy’s biggest rival. I just don’t see a lot of difference between the level of completion in Classes AA and A or in B, C and D. The Dolgevilles, Onondagas and General Browns should be competing with class B powers like Cazenovia, Westhill and Oneida. ESM, J-D and Whitesboro should be taking on teams like Baldwinsville, West Genesee and RFA as they always used to. By separating them, you break off rivalries and have them playing too many inferior opponents.

What I’d like to see is a return to the “big school-small schoo”l concept and have two classifications with two divisions in each. Class A would be a combination of the current Classes AA and A and Class B would be a combination of Classes B, C and D. Within each classification there would be 1st Division and a 2nd Division . The first division would be the teams who had the best won-lost record over the previous five years. The second division would be the teams that had the worst won- lost records over the previous five years. The divisions would be re-assessed each year so teams having trouble competing in the 1st division could move down and have better records while teams that have been dominating the 2nd division could move up and compete with better teams. Your placement would be based on the fi8eld results and whatever contributors to them: enrollment, youth programs, coaching, winning tradition, etc. There would be sectional playoffs for each division but the state playoffs would have only the champions of each classifications 1st divisions. I thin k you’d have a more balanced regular season with fewer 60-0 games. I think you’d have more games between the good teams and the teams who have trouble competing would have a better chance to do so.

Anyway, we have what we have. One virtue of having too many divisions, (but not, I feel, an adequate reason for it), is that lots of schools have won sectional championships - 50 out of 78 current Section III football schools. Here is a list. Please note that there was no Class AA in 1979-82 and 1994-95. Also, before the state playoffs, ties were allowed and the teams that tied were considered co-champions. That happened three times: Bishop Grimes and Clinton in Class B in 1984, Dolgeville and Beaver River in Class D in 1987 and Skaneateles and Mount Markham in Class C in 1992. I’ve listed both participants as champions below. I’ve also added in the highest rated Section III teams in the state polls from 1969, (when they began) through 1978. The state poll was for all teams in 1969 and divided into large schools and small schools from 1970-78

Adirondack C- 1989, 1991
Auburn Poll- 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975 (large) AA- 2006
Baldwinsville AA- 1986, 1989, 2009, 2010
Beaver River D- 1986, 1987
Bishop Grimes- B- 1984
Bishop Ludden C- 2000, 2007
Camden A- 2003
Carthage A- 1997, 2007, 2013
Cato-Meridian D-1993
Cazenovia Poll- 1971, 1976 (small) C- 1996, B- 2001, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013
Central Square A- 1985
Chittenango B- 1993 A- 1999, B-2011
Christian Brothers Academy C- 1997 B- 1998, 1999, 2000, A- 2001, 2002, AA- 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013
Clinton B- 1984
Corcoran Poll- 1971 (large) A- 1991 B- 1994, 1995, AA- 2002, 2003
Dolgeville D-1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, C- 1993, 1994, 1995, D- 1998, 2000, 2002, 2008
East Syracuse-Minoa A- 2006, 2011
Fayetteville-Manlius A- 1998, AA- 2001
Fowler B- 1991
Frankfort Schuyler C- 1982
Fulton A- 2000
General Brown- C - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013
Hamilton D-1996, 1999
Henninger AA- 1990, A 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2013
Herkimer C- 1980, 1981, 1984, 2011
Holland Patent B- 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989
Homer B- 1985, 1986, 2000
Jamesville-Dewitt Poll- 1976 (large) B- 1981, A- 1984, B- 1997
Ilion Poll- 1975 (small) C- 1985, 1990, B- 1996
Indian River C-1987
Lafayette Poll- 1970 (small)
Liverpool A- 1979, 1982, AA- 1983, 1987 A-1994, AA- 1998
Lowville C- 1986, 1988, 1998
Mount Markham Poll- 1977 (small) C- 1983, 1992
New Hartford A - 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2008
Nottingham Poll- 1977 (large) B- 1980, A- 2012
Oneida Poll- 1974, 1978 (small) B- 2008
Onondaga D- 2001, C- 2002, D-2003, 2006, 2007, 2010
Rome Catholic D-1979, 1980
Rome Free Academy Poll- 1978 (large) A- 1980, 1981, AA- 1984, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996
Sandy Creek- D- 2012
Sauquiot Valley D-1984
Skaneateles C- 1992, 2012
Solvay Poll- 1972 (small) B- 1979, 2002
Utica Notre Dame Poll- 1969, 1973 (large) B- 1982, A-1983, C- 1999
Vernon-Verona-Sherrill B- 1990, 1992
Watertown Immaculate Heart D- 2005
Weedsport D-1981, 1994, 1995, C-2001, D- 2004
West Canada D-1997
West Genesee AA- 1988, 2007, 2011
Westhill Poll- 1973, (small) B-2003, 2004, 2009
Westmoreland C- 1979, D-1988, C- 2006, 2008, D- 2009, 2011
Whitesboro A- 1986, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010

The number of titles won:

15- Dolgeville
10- Christian Brothers Academy
9- Cazenovia, Rome Free Academy
8- Whitesboro
6- Corcoran, General Brown, Henninger, Liverpool, New Hartford, Onondaga, Westmoreland
5- Auburn, Herkimer, Utica Notre Dame, Weedsport
4- Baldwinsville, Holland Patent, Ilion, Jamesville-Dewitt, Nottingham, Westhill
3- Carthage, Chittenango, Homer, Lowville, Mount Markham, Oneida, Solvay, West Genesee
2- Adirondack, Beaver River, Bishop Ludden, East Syracuse-Minoa, Fayetteville-Manlius, Hamilton, Rome Catholic, Skaneateles,Vernon-Verona-Sherrill1
1- Bishop Grimes, Camden, Cato-Meridian, Central Square, Clinton, Fowler, Frankfurt-Schuyler, Fulton, Indian River, Lafayette, Sandy Creek, Sauquiot Valley, Watertown Immaculate Heart, West Canada

State (playoff) Champions from Section III (10):
1997- West Canada (Class D)
2000- Dolgeville (Class D)
2001- Onondaga (Class D)
2002- Onondaga (Class C)
2003- Onondaga (Class D)
2004- Christian Brothers Academy (Class AA), Weedsport (Class D)
2006- Auburn (Class AA)
2007- West Genesee Class AA), Bishop Ludden (Class C)
I last added to this list seven years ago! :(
 
This year’s field, (I am tardy with this so this is actually after the first round of the playoffs):

CLASS AA

Henninger 8-0 (310-90, #6 in this class in the NYS sportswriter’s poll, #8 overall in the state and #957 in the country according to MaxPreps 6 sectional titles) vs.
Auburn 6-2 (279-186 unranked by NYSSWA, #55/2767 MaxPreps, 5 titles)

Henninger beat West Genesee 60-8 in the first round. Auburn beat Corcoran 35-30. . The Maroon lost to Henninger 21-46 during the season and also to Baldwinsville 8-30 but were a surprise winner of the section and our alst state AA champions back in 2006. Henninger used to be the dominant power in the section and are coming back strong after some down years.

Liverpool 8-0 (286-79, #20 NYSSWA # 19/1398 MaxPreps, 6 titles) vs.
Baldwinsville 7-1 (265-106, #21 NYSSWA, #24/1669 MaxPreps, 4 titles)

Liverpool beat CNS 46-13 and Baldwinsville topped perennial power CBA 28-20 in the first round. These two powers-by-the-lake are old rivals. Liverpool, like Henninger is back in a big way after some off years. B’ville lost to Henninger 14-26.

CLASS A

Indian River 8-0 (354-130, #6 NYSSW, #39/2089 MaxPreps 1 title) vs.
Carthage 6-2 (260-153 unranked by NYSSWA, #98/4276 MaxPreps 3 titles)

Indian River has beaten all three of their Class A opponents by decisive margins, although they haven’t blown them away. They’ve been in and out of the section so their title total is a bit deceiving. They beat Oswego, 49-14 in the first round. Carthage is the defending champs and won’t go down easily. They beat Fulton, 43-15 in the first round but lost to Indian River 20-42 during the season.

Whitesboro 7-1 (265-110, #14 NYSSWA, #91/4098 MaxPreps 8 titles) vs.
East Syracuse-Minoa 5-3 (263-187 unranked by NYSSWA, #133/5302 MaxPreps. 2 titles)

Whitesboro, the perennial power in this class, beat J-D 35-13 in the first round but lost to Indian River 21-41 during the season. ESM, for years mediocre, has been strong the last few years. They had a bumpy ride this season losing their opener to Vestal 13-47, then their second game to Indian River, 21-32. Later they lost to Oswego. But they looked good beating New Hartford 33-8 in the first round.

CLASS B

Cazenovia 8-0 (360-83, #3 NYSSWA, #16/1315 MaxPreps 9 titles) vs.
Westhill 7-1 (267-146, #20 NYSSWA, 107/.4514 MaxPreps 4 titles)

All four Class B teams came into the last game of the regular season unbeaten when Westhill got crushed by Homer 13-47 and Oneida was drowned by the Lakers, 18-64. Then all four of them won their first round games, (Cazenovia over another set of Lakers, Skaneateles, 54-8, Westhill over Mexico 42-28, Homer 34-0 over South Jefferson and Oneida 48-0 over Marcellus). Now the opponents switch off from that last weekend of the season.

Homer 8-0 (455-71, #4 NYSSWA, 23/1622 MaxPreps 3 titles) vs.
Oneida 7-1 (266-171 #16 NYSSWA, #68/3271 MaxPreps 3 titles)

All season long, we’ve been waiting for a Cazenovia-Homer game and I think we’ll get it. By the MaxPreps ratings Caz would be favored over every team in the section in any class except Henninger. But Homer has even bigger numbers. Common opponents: South Jefferson, who Caz beat 34-13, Homer 34-0 and Skaneateles, whom the Lakers beat 54-8 and the Trojans 69-2. Whoever wins this class will then get to test themselves against Maine-Endwell of Section 4, who has won three straight state titles and 45 games in a row.

CLASS C

Herkimer 8-0 (301-80, #5 NYSSWA, #56/2787 MaxPreps 4 titles) vs.
Jordan-Elbridge 7-1 (203-75, unranked by NYSSWA, #204/6974 MaxPreps 0 titles)

J-E lost to the institute of Technology 0-14. They beat Thousand Islands 42-6 in the first round. Herkimer beat Canastota 24-0.

Utica-Notre Dame 7-1 (294-101, #10 NYSSWA, #92/4103 MaxPreps 5 titles) vs.
General Brown 7-1 (283-117 #13 NYSSWA, #84/3983 MaxPreps 6 titles)

Notre Dame was very impressive in beating the Institute of Technology 42-0 at their place after the Eagles had won six in arrow. The Juggler’s only loss was to Herkimer 24-28. General Brown, the defending champs, lost their second game 21-40 to Sherburne-Earlville and have won six in a row, avenging their lone defeat by a resounding 40-7 in the first round. This should be a great match-up.

CLASS D

Dolgeville 7-1 (315-87, #8 NYSSWA, #93/4130 MaxPreps 15 titles) vs.
Cato-Meridian 7-1 (292-75 #10 NYSSWA, #171/6303 MaxPreps 1 title)

The Blue Devil’s are Section III’s most prolific team over the years with 15 titles and could add to that this year. Their only loss was 14-30 to Class C favorite Herkimer in the opener. Since then they’ve skewered seven straight opponents by an average score of 43-8, (think the Seahawks vs. the Broncos in the Super Bowl). Cato’s only loss is a 21-25 squeaker to Sandy Creeks on the other side of the bracket. They won a squeaker of their own over Westmoreland 34-26 in the first round, (a team Dolgeville beat 36-8). The Blue Devils trounced former power Onondaga 40-7 in their first round game.

Sandy Creek 7-1, (250-90, #5 NYSSWA, #136/5382 MaxPreps 1 title) vs.
Morrisville-Eaton/Hamilton 7-1 (259-118 #12 NYSSWA #182/6593 2 titles)

Is it really fair have two high schools combine their teams? ME/H’s two titles are as Hamilton High School. Anyway, their loss was to Dolgeville by 14-41. They beat Weedsport 25-20 in the first round. Sandy creek, which has recently become a power, lost only to Class C’s General Brown, 24-35 and beat West Canada Valley 21-0 in the first round.

Tonight, (Friday): Sandy Creek vs. Morrisville-Eaton/Hamilton; Dolgeville vs. Cato-Meridian, Utica Notre Dame vs. General Brown; Herkimer vs. Jordan-Elbridge, Whitesboro vs. East Syracuse-Minoa and Indian River vs. Carthage.

Saturday: Homer vs. Oneida; Cazenovia vs. Westhill; Liverpool vs. Baldwinsville and Henninger vs. Auburn
 
Great write up!! Its really interesting to see section III football history for anybody who grew up/played in cny (doesn't hurt to see your team in that state title list either :) ). I always enjoy watching the sectionals thru finals on time warner, this isn't Florida but there are still some great local athletes at the high school level. LGO
 
Love to see my hometown Sandy Creek do so well over the past several years. Hope they win tonite...
 
I was a sophomore on the Ilion team that won in 1985. We lost in the sectional semis in 1986 as well. Back then both the sectional semis and finals were played in the Dome. Now only the finals are. It is a great treat for Section 3 to have the Dome. For all the other schools in NY State, they have to make it to the State final to get to play under the Teflon roof.
 
Hmmm... someone got deleted! :p
yeah, bullspit.

im guessing its because youve agreed to my terms...

looking forward to section 2, and then northern new jersey!!!

what kind of time frame are we looking at??

i hate waiting and not knowing...
 
I was a sophomore on the Ilion team that won in 1985. We lost in the sectional semis in 1986 as well. Back then both the sectional semis and finals were played in the Dome. Now only the finals are. It is a great treat for Section 3 to have the Dome. For all the other schools in NY State, they have to make it to the State final to get to play under the Teflon roof.
My parents and brother lived in Ilion for a while in the early 80s. He was an engineer at Remington Arms at the time. Congrats on being part of a successful team. Way cool...
 
yeah, bullspit.

im guessing its because youve agreed to my terms...

looking forward to section 2, and then northern new jersey!!!

what kind of time frame are we looking at??

i hate waiting and not knowing...


I'll be covering the states in the next round. Then on to the small colleges, just like I've been doing for years.
 
I'll be covering the states in the next round. Then on to the small colleges, just like I've been doing for years.
good, i enjoy a lot of your historical work.
 
My parents and brother lived in Ilion for a while in the early 80s. He was an engineer at Remington Arms at the time. Congrats on being part of a successful team. Way cool...
My grandfather and father both retired from the Arms.
 
My grandfather and father both retired from the Arms.
Cool place. I loved the museum. See if your grandfather or father remember Phil Greenfield. Worked there from the early 80s to early 90s and was involved in the golf league for the employee group. Working for Intel in Oregon now.
 

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