SWC75
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FIRST ROUND
CLASS AA
Section III broke through with a blow-out of its own as Henninger joined Indian River in the state semi-finals, (the first time we’ve had two teams get that far in four years). This was a no doubter. The Black Knights plundered Corning-Painted Post for seven touchdowns and a field goal to open the game and led 52-0 at halftime. The reserves played the second half and the final was 52-16. “Henninger head coach Dave Kline said his team was "pretty darn close" to perfect over the first 24 minutes. Corning head coach George Bacalles was inclined to agree. "We ran into a buzz saw," Bacalles said.” (Star-Gazette) Henninger had a 329-37 yardage edge in the first half. Henninger spread the ball around but Running back Deven Redden had 136 yards on 11 carries. The Black Knights looked like a potential state champion.
Elsewhere in the state, Section 6’s Jamestown shut out Section 5’s Victor 24-0, after being held to a field goal in the first half. “Junior quarterback Nikkolas Holland was 12 for 19 for 216 yards and two touchdowns passing. He also ran 9 times for 43 yards and a touchdown.” (WGRZ.com) Section 9’s Newburgh Free Academy had a bye and will face Section 2’s Shenendehowa, who outlasted Section 1’s John Jay- East Fishkill, 27-20. The Plainsmen scored 27 straight points to go up 27-7 early in the fourth quarter but the Patriots came back with two late scores. Quarterback Ryan Shumacher went over on a one yard plunge with 3:29 to go and then threw a 32 yarder to his older brother Robbie, (you’d better throw to your big brother!) at 1:03. An onsides kick bounced out of bounds and the relieved Plainsmen ran out the clock. John Jay was limited to 177 yards of offense by Shenendehoah, who had dominated the game until the late heroics. Star receiver Jordan Ziogar caught two TD passes for the winners .
The semi-final match-ups:
Saturday November 22 at 4PM at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester
Section 3- HENNINGER 11-0 ((428-121, #5 NYSSWA, #3/335 MaxPreps, 1 title) vs.
Section 6- JAMESTOWN 10-1 (388-111, #3 NYSSWA #6/409 MaxPreps, 3 titles)
Saturday, November 22 at 7PM at Dietz Stadium in Kingston
Section 2 – SHENENDEHOWA 11-0 (449-101, #4 NYSSWA, #4/357 MaxPreps , 3 titles) vs.
Section 9- NEWBURGH FREE ACADEMY 8-2 (394-187, #9 NYSSWA #12/936 MaxPreps, 0 titles)
Comment: The Black Knights look as good as anybody but Jamestown and Shenendehoah would be much more formidable opponents than Corning proved to be. I don’t know about Newburgh but the other teams seem very well matched.
CLASS A
Indian River dominated Union-Endicott 19-0 to advance to the state semi-finals, the first Section 3 team to do so in two years. Like most of the winners, they dominated the line of scrimmage and marched up and down the field against an inferior opponent. The score could have bene worse but for two missed extra points, (one blocked), a fumble in front of UE’s goal line and a strange call on a 4th down in which there was a penalty against UE which was measured half the distance to the goal but not a first down. The refs marched off the distance and gave the ball to UE on downs. Shouldn’t the Warriors have gotten a new 4th down? Anyway, they won easily. UE didn’t threaten to score until a long pass was dropped in the end zone in the final minute. One problem for the Warriors as they move forward: They only attempted three passes and the reviver got one hand on one of them. That was as close as they got to a completion. It will get harder to dominate that line of scrimmage as they move forward and if they can’t pass, they will have trouble trying to make it all the way to the top.
Elsewhere, Section 5’s Irondequoit upset Section 6’s Sweet Home, 24-21 when “Irondequoit freshman Jacob Sampson kicked a 22-yard field goal with 3:21 remaining. Irondequoit senior Dylan Harrington intercepted two passes after Sampson's field goal to help send the Eagles to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. ” (Democrat and Chronicle) The Eagles rushed for 285 yards. Section 9’s Cornwall topped Section 1’s Rye, 21-17. “Quarterback Jason Bailey hit Tyler Peddie for the game-winning touchdown on a 15-yard screen pass with 3:01 remaining and Cornwall held off a late drive by Brown-bound quarterback Andrew Livingston to seal the win.” (Times-Herald-Record). Bailey threw three TD passes for the winners. Defending state champions Queensbury of Section 2 had no trouble with Section 10’s Massena, 48-0, scoring 27 of those points in the first eleven minutes of play, starting with a 65 yard TD pass on their first possession. They also had touchdown runs of 57, 55 and 47 yards. They’d beaten Massena 42-0 last year so the result was not unexpected.
The semi-final match-ups:
Friday, November 21 at 8PM at Dietz Stadium in Kingston
Section 9- CORNWALL 11-0 (455-68, #2 NYSSWA, #15/1018 MaxPreps , no titles) vs.
Section 2- QUEENSBURY 11-0 (478-76 #1 NYSSWA, #16/1056 MaxPreps 1 title)
Sunday, November 23 at Noon at Shelen Stadium in Rochester
Section 3- INDIAN RIVER 11-0 (426-142, #4 NYSSWA, #28/1740 MaxPreps 2 titles in this section plus 6 in Secition 10) vs.
Section 5- iRONDEQUOIT 8-3 (294-195 #7 NYSSWA, #37/2136 MaxPreps, no titles)
Comment: The Queensbury-Cornwall winner will be heavily favored in the title game. Both teams are real powerhouses. Queensbury won 36-27 last year and it should be another great game. Indian River last made it to the semi-finals, (for the only time) in 2006 when they were a Section 10 team and lost to Cornwall 6-34. If they can at least get to the final, it will be their best season since the playoffs began. We haven’t had a Section 3 tam playing for a state title since 2010. It could happen.
CLASS B
The last of the five games at CNS proved to be the rubber match between Section 3 and Section 4and ti was the most anticipated match-up. Homer, 10-0, having dominated their opposition by an average of 53-12 vs. Maine-Endwell, also 10-0 but who had ‘only’ won by an average of 34.5-8 but who had won 49 games in a row, including three straight state titles, one at the Class A level. It was the Trojans vs. the Spartans, (what would Helen of Troy look like in a cheerleader’s uniform?), with Cicero being witness to the conflict. The Spartans had plenty of horses but the Trojans gave them all they could ask for. (Okay, I’ll stop.) Homer’s defense dominated ME’s power running game and option in the first half, holding the Spartans to 64 yards and forcing 3 turnovers. The Trojans struck early with a 43 yard touchdown pass from Drew Cottrell to Jayden Gavidia, who also intercepted two passes. Gavidia caught the ball over ME defensive back Mike Palmer, who tied the game with a 62 yard punt return just before halftime. But the Trojans were undaunted, driving for over 8 minutes to kick a go-ahead field goal. But then the bigger, stronger team took over. ME made some blocking adjustments and started giving the ball to fullback Cornell Woolfolk, who pounded away at the tiring Trojan defense. Woolfolk plunged over form the 1 to give ME the lead for good and quarterback Kyle Balmer added two insurance scores for a 27-10 final. After an interception, Balmer faked to Woolfolk and ran 24 yards to score. The Trojans had one last drive, which Balmer ended with a pick in the end zone. He then went 56 yards for the final score. Balmer rushed for 112 yards and Woolfolk for 88. Alex Bush, the state rushing and scoring elader for Homer, was held to 44 yards and no scores.
Elsewhere, Section 6’s Cheektowaga beat Section 5’s Batavia 35-16. “Marshawn Gibson had a huge day for Cheektowaga. He carried 12 times for 146 yards and caught and 81 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zak Ciezki. Gibson scored four touchdowns for the Warriors.” (WGRZ.com) Batavia turned the ball over four times. Section 9’s Marlboro downed Seciton 1’s Our Lady of Lourdes, (they didn’t have a prayer), 38-21. Lourdes took an early 14-0 lead only to have the Dukes score the next 31 points. Rino Tamburi scored two TDs and quarterback Ray Pacella both threw and ran for TDs. Section 2’s Schalmont continued their amazing run with a 60-20 win over Section 7’s Peru. That 60 is their average offensive output this season. Nick Gallo and Hunter Gak both ran for three touchdowns. Peru survived a return of the opening kickoff for a score to tie it at 14 but it was all Sabres after that. They ran for 302 yards.
The semi-final match-ups:
Saturday November 22, 3PM at Dietz Stadium in Kingston
Section 9- MARLBORO 9-2 (377-167, #5 NYSSWA #63/2956 MaxPreps, no titles) vs.
Section 2- SCHALMONT 11-0 (659-75, #2 NYSSWA, #8/635 MaxPreps, no titles)
Sunday, November 23, 3PM at Sehlen Stadium in Rochester:
Section 4- MAINE-ENDWELL 11-0 (372-86, #1 NYSSWA, #5/358 MaxPreps, 4 titles) vs.
Section 6- CHEEKTOWAGA 9-2 (363-222 #10 NYSSWA #64/2979 MaxPreps no titles)
Comment: Can anyone stop Schalmont? Probably not Marlboro who lost to them 0-66 last year, (it was 0-60 at halftime). Can anyone stop Maine-Endwell, who hasn’t lost a game since 2010, (49 wins in a row). The Spartans’ immovable object beat the Sabres’ irresistible force in the state final last year, 22-21, after falling behind 0-14 early.
CLASS C
I had hoped that Utica Notre Dame, who came on strong at the end of the season and who had a spectacularly talented quarterback in Kevin Warmack could give defending state champions and Section II nemesis Chenango Forks a battle but the Jugglers had nothing to juggle and went down hard, 14-57. It was 6-36 at the half. ““That’s what the weight room does for you,” Notre Dame first-year head coach Jake DerCola said, his Section III champion Jugglers finished at 9-2. “They smacked us around pretty good and we didn’t recover. They set the tone…..“They’ve got size. They’ve got speed. They’ve got power. … I’d be surprised if they didn’t win it again.” (UticaOD.com) Warmack passed for 152 yards and rushed for 74 more but was hobbled after a second quarter in jury. Forks ran for 409 yards, including 140 from quarterback Jack Sherwood who scored 3 times. The Blue Devils never had to punt.
Elsewhere, Section 6’s Maple Grove/Chautauqua Lake, a perennial powerhouse easily beat LeRoy of Section 5, 32-0. Ryan Miller ran for 208 yards and three scores and the “Thunder Dragons”, (who as Maple Grove had already won two state titles before the two schools combined last year) shut out the Knights, who had come in averaging 48 points a game. Section 9’s Millbrook, (they are called the “Blazers”, not the Wonder Breads”) topped Section 1’s Woodlands 42-23. The names sound like something out of Gil Thorpe but 6-2 228 Michael DoCarmo. Is no cartoon character. “"We had a truck running us over," Falcons coach Mike Meade said. "We had kids in position, but they just bounced off of him. We were there. We just couldn't bring him down. He just kept going." …"Coach told us we had to take him down low. We couldn't take him up top," Woodlands senior Myles Thigpen said of the 6-foot-2, 228-pound DoCarmo. "If we took him up top, we were going to go for a ride." (The Journal-News) He carried 32 times for 336 yards and four touchdowns. Section 2’s Hoosick Falls topped Section 7 Saranac Lake 24-6. “Austin Pitt and Colby Davendonis combined for 318 rushing yards and two touchdowns…In all, Hoosick Falls accumulated 432 yards of offense on 62 plays from scrimmage.” (Press Republican)
The semi-final match-ups:
Saturday, November 22, Noon at Dietz Stadium in Kingston
Section 9- MILLBROOK 8-2 (431-150, #4 NYSSWA, #2/4056 MaxPreps, no titles) vs.
Section 2- HOOSICK FALLS 11-0 (441-99, #3 NYSSWA #34/1997 MaxPreps, 1 title)
Saturday, November 22, Noon at Sehlen Stadium in Rochester
Section 4- CHENANGO FORKS 10-1 (420-104, #1 NYSSWA, #11/817 MaxPreps, 3 titles) vs.
Section 6- MAPLEGROVE/ CHAUTAUQUA LAKE 11-0 (439-37, #2 NYSSWA #13/952 MaxPreps 2 titles)
Comment: Chenango Forks’ one loss was to Maine Endwell, so, like Maple Grove and Hoosick Falls, they are undefeated at this level. A game against either would be a great match-up.
CLASS D
Once again, Section 3 Class D champ was no match for Tioga of Section 4. Section 3 has a great history in Class D, with four different schools winning a total of five state titles but Dolgeville became the fourth team in four years to get blown out by Tioga. In 2011 it was Westmoreland, 34-55. In 2012 it was Sandy Creek 13-54. In 2013 it was Herkimer 13-43. In 2014 it was Dolgeville who found themselves down 6-43 at halftime before coming back to make it semi-respectable at 22-46 for the final. The Tigers drove 65 yards to score with the opening kickoff, recovered an ons0de kick, (they like to end things early), and got a 44 yard run from Jesse Manuel, who was coming off a 5 touchdown game in the sectional final vs. Unatego to set up another score. It was 0-20 when Dolgeville got a drive going but they fumbled in front of the Tioga goal line and the Tigers drove for another score. There was no drama after that. Tioga dominated the line of scrimmage and also had more speed on the edge. The announcers noted that Tioga had about twice as many players in uniform as the Blue Devils, under-scoring my oft-made point that the size of a school’s enrollment doesn’t determine the strength of their football program.
Elsewhere, two time defending state champions Randolph of Section (had trouble subduing Section 5’s Red Jacket 19-12, after blowing them away 49-0 last season. “Devyn Nelsen ran 82 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and then sealed the victory with a late interception… Nelsen ran for 144 yards on 21 carries, but it was his defense that clinched the game.” Red Jacket got to the Cardinal 17 but “Then, with 25 seconds left, Nelsen stepped in front of a pass down the seam and came up with an interception to end the threat. (Buffalo News) Now they take on Tioga for the third week in a row. Cambridge-Salem of Section 2 won a wild scoring duel from Ticonderoga of Section 7, 56-35.The Indians played a perfect game offensively- 8 possession, 8 touchdowns, 8 extra points, (no gimme in high school). The Sentinels just couldn’t keep up. Konner Bruce carried 35 times for 303 yards and 3 scores. Ticonderoga has a 14-0 lead but it was a false positive. Section 1’s Tuckahoe had only 22 players and went up against a Chester team from Section 9 that had four players of 260 pounds or more. It was just too much for them as the Hambletonians, (?!?) downed the Tigers, 36-21. It was another game dominated by one back, Angel Suarez of Chester, who gained 307 yards and scored 5TDs on 48 carries, tti was a simple game plan). Suarez was shocked at the numbers himself, calling it “the game of my life”.
The semi-final match-ups:
Friday, November 21st at 4PM at Dietz Stadium in Kingston:
Section 9- CHESTER 9-2 (489-147, #5 NYSSSWA, #147/5632 MaxPreps, no titles)
Section 2- CAMBRIDGE SALEM 10-1 (524-114, #3 NYSSWA, #125/5058 MaxPreps, 1 title)
Friday, November 21 at 5M at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester.
Section 4- TIOGA 10-1 (494-149, #2 NYSSWA, #24/1645 MaxPreps, no title)
Section 6- RANDOLPH 10-1 (391-68, #1 NYSSWA, #17/1134 MaxPreps, 4 titles)
Comment: From the rankings it appears expected that the western winner is expected to take the title. Randolph beat Tioga each of the last two years on the way to the title, 7-6 and then 35-6. They will no doubt be favored again but you wonder if the Tigers are due for a breakthrough. They have certainly chewed up Section 3 the last few years and we used to be very good in this classification.
Overall: There’s no way to know how the blizzard will impact these games. Section Three had a good comeback, winning two games against section 4 and Homer giving Maine-Endwell a good game. Section 6, (the Buffalo area), dominated Section 5, (Rochester) 4-1. Section 2, (the Capital District) had a perfect record, as they should have against the lightly populated sections 7 and 10, (Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence areas). But Section 9, (the Catskills) was also perfect and Section 1, historically the most powerful section in the state, was wiped out 0-5.
CLASS AA
Section III broke through with a blow-out of its own as Henninger joined Indian River in the state semi-finals, (the first time we’ve had two teams get that far in four years). This was a no doubter. The Black Knights plundered Corning-Painted Post for seven touchdowns and a field goal to open the game and led 52-0 at halftime. The reserves played the second half and the final was 52-16. “Henninger head coach Dave Kline said his team was "pretty darn close" to perfect over the first 24 minutes. Corning head coach George Bacalles was inclined to agree. "We ran into a buzz saw," Bacalles said.” (Star-Gazette) Henninger had a 329-37 yardage edge in the first half. Henninger spread the ball around but Running back Deven Redden had 136 yards on 11 carries. The Black Knights looked like a potential state champion.
Elsewhere in the state, Section 6’s Jamestown shut out Section 5’s Victor 24-0, after being held to a field goal in the first half. “Junior quarterback Nikkolas Holland was 12 for 19 for 216 yards and two touchdowns passing. He also ran 9 times for 43 yards and a touchdown.” (WGRZ.com) Section 9’s Newburgh Free Academy had a bye and will face Section 2’s Shenendehowa, who outlasted Section 1’s John Jay- East Fishkill, 27-20. The Plainsmen scored 27 straight points to go up 27-7 early in the fourth quarter but the Patriots came back with two late scores. Quarterback Ryan Shumacher went over on a one yard plunge with 3:29 to go and then threw a 32 yarder to his older brother Robbie, (you’d better throw to your big brother!) at 1:03. An onsides kick bounced out of bounds and the relieved Plainsmen ran out the clock. John Jay was limited to 177 yards of offense by Shenendehoah, who had dominated the game until the late heroics. Star receiver Jordan Ziogar caught two TD passes for the winners .
The semi-final match-ups:
Saturday November 22 at 4PM at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester
Section 3- HENNINGER 11-0 ((428-121, #5 NYSSWA, #3/335 MaxPreps, 1 title) vs.
Section 6- JAMESTOWN 10-1 (388-111, #3 NYSSWA #6/409 MaxPreps, 3 titles)
Saturday, November 22 at 7PM at Dietz Stadium in Kingston
Section 2 – SHENENDEHOWA 11-0 (449-101, #4 NYSSWA, #4/357 MaxPreps , 3 titles) vs.
Section 9- NEWBURGH FREE ACADEMY 8-2 (394-187, #9 NYSSWA #12/936 MaxPreps, 0 titles)
Comment: The Black Knights look as good as anybody but Jamestown and Shenendehoah would be much more formidable opponents than Corning proved to be. I don’t know about Newburgh but the other teams seem very well matched.
CLASS A
Indian River dominated Union-Endicott 19-0 to advance to the state semi-finals, the first Section 3 team to do so in two years. Like most of the winners, they dominated the line of scrimmage and marched up and down the field against an inferior opponent. The score could have bene worse but for two missed extra points, (one blocked), a fumble in front of UE’s goal line and a strange call on a 4th down in which there was a penalty against UE which was measured half the distance to the goal but not a first down. The refs marched off the distance and gave the ball to UE on downs. Shouldn’t the Warriors have gotten a new 4th down? Anyway, they won easily. UE didn’t threaten to score until a long pass was dropped in the end zone in the final minute. One problem for the Warriors as they move forward: They only attempted three passes and the reviver got one hand on one of them. That was as close as they got to a completion. It will get harder to dominate that line of scrimmage as they move forward and if they can’t pass, they will have trouble trying to make it all the way to the top.
Elsewhere, Section 5’s Irondequoit upset Section 6’s Sweet Home, 24-21 when “Irondequoit freshman Jacob Sampson kicked a 22-yard field goal with 3:21 remaining. Irondequoit senior Dylan Harrington intercepted two passes after Sampson's field goal to help send the Eagles to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. ” (Democrat and Chronicle) The Eagles rushed for 285 yards. Section 9’s Cornwall topped Section 1’s Rye, 21-17. “Quarterback Jason Bailey hit Tyler Peddie for the game-winning touchdown on a 15-yard screen pass with 3:01 remaining and Cornwall held off a late drive by Brown-bound quarterback Andrew Livingston to seal the win.” (Times-Herald-Record). Bailey threw three TD passes for the winners. Defending state champions Queensbury of Section 2 had no trouble with Section 10’s Massena, 48-0, scoring 27 of those points in the first eleven minutes of play, starting with a 65 yard TD pass on their first possession. They also had touchdown runs of 57, 55 and 47 yards. They’d beaten Massena 42-0 last year so the result was not unexpected.
The semi-final match-ups:
Friday, November 21 at 8PM at Dietz Stadium in Kingston
Section 9- CORNWALL 11-0 (455-68, #2 NYSSWA, #15/1018 MaxPreps , no titles) vs.
Section 2- QUEENSBURY 11-0 (478-76 #1 NYSSWA, #16/1056 MaxPreps 1 title)
Sunday, November 23 at Noon at Shelen Stadium in Rochester
Section 3- INDIAN RIVER 11-0 (426-142, #4 NYSSWA, #28/1740 MaxPreps 2 titles in this section plus 6 in Secition 10) vs.
Section 5- iRONDEQUOIT 8-3 (294-195 #7 NYSSWA, #37/2136 MaxPreps, no titles)
Comment: The Queensbury-Cornwall winner will be heavily favored in the title game. Both teams are real powerhouses. Queensbury won 36-27 last year and it should be another great game. Indian River last made it to the semi-finals, (for the only time) in 2006 when they were a Section 10 team and lost to Cornwall 6-34. If they can at least get to the final, it will be their best season since the playoffs began. We haven’t had a Section 3 tam playing for a state title since 2010. It could happen.
CLASS B
The last of the five games at CNS proved to be the rubber match between Section 3 and Section 4and ti was the most anticipated match-up. Homer, 10-0, having dominated their opposition by an average of 53-12 vs. Maine-Endwell, also 10-0 but who had ‘only’ won by an average of 34.5-8 but who had won 49 games in a row, including three straight state titles, one at the Class A level. It was the Trojans vs. the Spartans, (what would Helen of Troy look like in a cheerleader’s uniform?), with Cicero being witness to the conflict. The Spartans had plenty of horses but the Trojans gave them all they could ask for. (Okay, I’ll stop.) Homer’s defense dominated ME’s power running game and option in the first half, holding the Spartans to 64 yards and forcing 3 turnovers. The Trojans struck early with a 43 yard touchdown pass from Drew Cottrell to Jayden Gavidia, who also intercepted two passes. Gavidia caught the ball over ME defensive back Mike Palmer, who tied the game with a 62 yard punt return just before halftime. But the Trojans were undaunted, driving for over 8 minutes to kick a go-ahead field goal. But then the bigger, stronger team took over. ME made some blocking adjustments and started giving the ball to fullback Cornell Woolfolk, who pounded away at the tiring Trojan defense. Woolfolk plunged over form the 1 to give ME the lead for good and quarterback Kyle Balmer added two insurance scores for a 27-10 final. After an interception, Balmer faked to Woolfolk and ran 24 yards to score. The Trojans had one last drive, which Balmer ended with a pick in the end zone. He then went 56 yards for the final score. Balmer rushed for 112 yards and Woolfolk for 88. Alex Bush, the state rushing and scoring elader for Homer, was held to 44 yards and no scores.
Elsewhere, Section 6’s Cheektowaga beat Section 5’s Batavia 35-16. “Marshawn Gibson had a huge day for Cheektowaga. He carried 12 times for 146 yards and caught and 81 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zak Ciezki. Gibson scored four touchdowns for the Warriors.” (WGRZ.com) Batavia turned the ball over four times. Section 9’s Marlboro downed Seciton 1’s Our Lady of Lourdes, (they didn’t have a prayer), 38-21. Lourdes took an early 14-0 lead only to have the Dukes score the next 31 points. Rino Tamburi scored two TDs and quarterback Ray Pacella both threw and ran for TDs. Section 2’s Schalmont continued their amazing run with a 60-20 win over Section 7’s Peru. That 60 is their average offensive output this season. Nick Gallo and Hunter Gak both ran for three touchdowns. Peru survived a return of the opening kickoff for a score to tie it at 14 but it was all Sabres after that. They ran for 302 yards.
The semi-final match-ups:
Saturday November 22, 3PM at Dietz Stadium in Kingston
Section 9- MARLBORO 9-2 (377-167, #5 NYSSWA #63/2956 MaxPreps, no titles) vs.
Section 2- SCHALMONT 11-0 (659-75, #2 NYSSWA, #8/635 MaxPreps, no titles)
Sunday, November 23, 3PM at Sehlen Stadium in Rochester:
Section 4- MAINE-ENDWELL 11-0 (372-86, #1 NYSSWA, #5/358 MaxPreps, 4 titles) vs.
Section 6- CHEEKTOWAGA 9-2 (363-222 #10 NYSSWA #64/2979 MaxPreps no titles)
Comment: Can anyone stop Schalmont? Probably not Marlboro who lost to them 0-66 last year, (it was 0-60 at halftime). Can anyone stop Maine-Endwell, who hasn’t lost a game since 2010, (49 wins in a row). The Spartans’ immovable object beat the Sabres’ irresistible force in the state final last year, 22-21, after falling behind 0-14 early.
CLASS C
I had hoped that Utica Notre Dame, who came on strong at the end of the season and who had a spectacularly talented quarterback in Kevin Warmack could give defending state champions and Section II nemesis Chenango Forks a battle but the Jugglers had nothing to juggle and went down hard, 14-57. It was 6-36 at the half. ““That’s what the weight room does for you,” Notre Dame first-year head coach Jake DerCola said, his Section III champion Jugglers finished at 9-2. “They smacked us around pretty good and we didn’t recover. They set the tone…..“They’ve got size. They’ve got speed. They’ve got power. … I’d be surprised if they didn’t win it again.” (UticaOD.com) Warmack passed for 152 yards and rushed for 74 more but was hobbled after a second quarter in jury. Forks ran for 409 yards, including 140 from quarterback Jack Sherwood who scored 3 times. The Blue Devils never had to punt.
Elsewhere, Section 6’s Maple Grove/Chautauqua Lake, a perennial powerhouse easily beat LeRoy of Section 5, 32-0. Ryan Miller ran for 208 yards and three scores and the “Thunder Dragons”, (who as Maple Grove had already won two state titles before the two schools combined last year) shut out the Knights, who had come in averaging 48 points a game. Section 9’s Millbrook, (they are called the “Blazers”, not the Wonder Breads”) topped Section 1’s Woodlands 42-23. The names sound like something out of Gil Thorpe but 6-2 228 Michael DoCarmo. Is no cartoon character. “"We had a truck running us over," Falcons coach Mike Meade said. "We had kids in position, but they just bounced off of him. We were there. We just couldn't bring him down. He just kept going." …"Coach told us we had to take him down low. We couldn't take him up top," Woodlands senior Myles Thigpen said of the 6-foot-2, 228-pound DoCarmo. "If we took him up top, we were going to go for a ride." (The Journal-News) He carried 32 times for 336 yards and four touchdowns. Section 2’s Hoosick Falls topped Section 7 Saranac Lake 24-6. “Austin Pitt and Colby Davendonis combined for 318 rushing yards and two touchdowns…In all, Hoosick Falls accumulated 432 yards of offense on 62 plays from scrimmage.” (Press Republican)
The semi-final match-ups:
Saturday, November 22, Noon at Dietz Stadium in Kingston
Section 9- MILLBROOK 8-2 (431-150, #4 NYSSWA, #2/4056 MaxPreps, no titles) vs.
Section 2- HOOSICK FALLS 11-0 (441-99, #3 NYSSWA #34/1997 MaxPreps, 1 title)
Saturday, November 22, Noon at Sehlen Stadium in Rochester
Section 4- CHENANGO FORKS 10-1 (420-104, #1 NYSSWA, #11/817 MaxPreps, 3 titles) vs.
Section 6- MAPLEGROVE/ CHAUTAUQUA LAKE 11-0 (439-37, #2 NYSSWA #13/952 MaxPreps 2 titles)
Comment: Chenango Forks’ one loss was to Maine Endwell, so, like Maple Grove and Hoosick Falls, they are undefeated at this level. A game against either would be a great match-up.
CLASS D
Once again, Section 3 Class D champ was no match for Tioga of Section 4. Section 3 has a great history in Class D, with four different schools winning a total of five state titles but Dolgeville became the fourth team in four years to get blown out by Tioga. In 2011 it was Westmoreland, 34-55. In 2012 it was Sandy Creek 13-54. In 2013 it was Herkimer 13-43. In 2014 it was Dolgeville who found themselves down 6-43 at halftime before coming back to make it semi-respectable at 22-46 for the final. The Tigers drove 65 yards to score with the opening kickoff, recovered an ons0de kick, (they like to end things early), and got a 44 yard run from Jesse Manuel, who was coming off a 5 touchdown game in the sectional final vs. Unatego to set up another score. It was 0-20 when Dolgeville got a drive going but they fumbled in front of the Tioga goal line and the Tigers drove for another score. There was no drama after that. Tioga dominated the line of scrimmage and also had more speed on the edge. The announcers noted that Tioga had about twice as many players in uniform as the Blue Devils, under-scoring my oft-made point that the size of a school’s enrollment doesn’t determine the strength of their football program.
Elsewhere, two time defending state champions Randolph of Section (had trouble subduing Section 5’s Red Jacket 19-12, after blowing them away 49-0 last season. “Devyn Nelsen ran 82 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and then sealed the victory with a late interception… Nelsen ran for 144 yards on 21 carries, but it was his defense that clinched the game.” Red Jacket got to the Cardinal 17 but “Then, with 25 seconds left, Nelsen stepped in front of a pass down the seam and came up with an interception to end the threat. (Buffalo News) Now they take on Tioga for the third week in a row. Cambridge-Salem of Section 2 won a wild scoring duel from Ticonderoga of Section 7, 56-35.The Indians played a perfect game offensively- 8 possession, 8 touchdowns, 8 extra points, (no gimme in high school). The Sentinels just couldn’t keep up. Konner Bruce carried 35 times for 303 yards and 3 scores. Ticonderoga has a 14-0 lead but it was a false positive. Section 1’s Tuckahoe had only 22 players and went up against a Chester team from Section 9 that had four players of 260 pounds or more. It was just too much for them as the Hambletonians, (?!?) downed the Tigers, 36-21. It was another game dominated by one back, Angel Suarez of Chester, who gained 307 yards and scored 5TDs on 48 carries, tti was a simple game plan). Suarez was shocked at the numbers himself, calling it “the game of my life”.
The semi-final match-ups:
Friday, November 21st at 4PM at Dietz Stadium in Kingston:
Section 9- CHESTER 9-2 (489-147, #5 NYSSSWA, #147/5632 MaxPreps, no titles)
Section 2- CAMBRIDGE SALEM 10-1 (524-114, #3 NYSSWA, #125/5058 MaxPreps, 1 title)
Friday, November 21 at 5M at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester.
Section 4- TIOGA 10-1 (494-149, #2 NYSSWA, #24/1645 MaxPreps, no title)
Section 6- RANDOLPH 10-1 (391-68, #1 NYSSWA, #17/1134 MaxPreps, 4 titles)
Comment: From the rankings it appears expected that the western winner is expected to take the title. Randolph beat Tioga each of the last two years on the way to the title, 7-6 and then 35-6. They will no doubt be favored again but you wonder if the Tigers are due for a breakthrough. They have certainly chewed up Section 3 the last few years and we used to be very good in this classification.
Overall: There’s no way to know how the blizzard will impact these games. Section Three had a good comeback, winning two games against section 4 and Homer giving Maine-Endwell a good game. Section 6, (the Buffalo area), dominated Section 5, (Rochester) 4-1. Section 2, (the Capital District) had a perfect record, as they should have against the lightly populated sections 7 and 10, (Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence areas). But Section 9, (the Catskills) was also perfect and Section 1, historically the most powerful section in the state, was wiped out 0-5.
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