SWC75
Bored Historian
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 33,487
- Like
- 64,475
(The championship games are already starting at the Dome)
This year’s field:
CLASS AA
Section 3 CBA 10-0 (330-125) NYSSWA ranking, (within the division) #3 Max Preps State ranking (overall) #13 Max Preps national ranking #1081. 9-7 record in state playoffs. Won 2004 AA tournament championship.
Section 4 Binghamton 8-2 (417-134) Honorable Mention (HM), MP 12/1041, 2-4, Large school poll championship 1985
Section 5 Rochester Aquinas 7-3 (227-167) #12, MP 7/702, 17-4, A-1998, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2010
Section 6 Orchard Park 9-1 (391-194) #8, MP 17/1202, 7-8, AA-2008, 2011
Section 1 New Rochelle 8-1 (165-34) #7 MP 10/933, 12-7, AA- 2003
Section 9 Pine Bush 9-1 (350-85) #17, MP 5/567, 0-1
Section 2 Shaker 10-0 (342-123) #1, MP 9/7848, 0-0 BYE
Comments: CBA looks to be a better team than Binghamton but so did West Genesee last year and they lost after bolting to an early 21-0 lead. And Max Preps thinks the Patriots are a bit better than the Brothers. Aquinas is one of the great programs in the state but their first year in AA has been a bumpy ride. Orchard Park is the defending state champs. But again, Max Preps likes Aquinas better, (they tend to play more out-of state teams). New Rochelle doesn’t have a Ray Rice to fuel their offense but they have a great defense. Pine Bush has put up big numbers and Max Preps likes that but they don’t have much of a history in this event and neither does Section 9, except for Monroe-Woodbury. Shaker has no history at all in the event but they are ranked #1 in the state by NYSSWA. They and CBA are the only unbeaten teams in this classification, which therefore seems to be wide open.
CLASS A
Section 3 Nottingham 8-2 (280-169) #12, MP 23//1537, 0-0
Section 4 Union Endicott 8-1 (320-136) #8, MP 8/756, 1-8 Polls: Large 1979, Class A 1989
Section 5 East Ridge 10-0 (381-150) #4, MP 15/1154, 0-1
Section 6 Sweet Home 10-0 (371-110) #2 MP 31/1894, 6-4, AA- 2008, 2009
Section 1 Somers 10-0 (345-124) #11, MP 26/1618, 0-1
Section 9 Cornwall 10-0 (447-98) #6, MP 37/2056, 4-7
Section 2 Burnt Hills 9-1 (455-100) #5, MP 14/1131, 7-3
Section 10 Potsdam 9-1 (405-146) #26, MP 175/6159, 0-2
Comment: There’s alack of prior state champions in this field. Sweet Home won back to back titles in 2008-2009, during Section 6’s big power play. Burnt Hills has been knocking on the door in recent years, finishing second three times in the last four years. U-E has won a couple of titles decades back and are the highest rated team by Max Preps. The three bottom teams, Cornwall, Burnt Hills and Potsdam have run up some impressive victory margins but none of them has ever won a state title. Nottingham avenged one of their defeats in beating J-D and their other loss was to AA’s champion, CBA, so their 8-2 recovered probably under-rates them. But this is one of two divisions Section III has ever won, (the next one is the other). Note: Lawrence High School of Long Island is the #1 ranked team in the state in this classification. Long Island has it’s own playoffs.
CLASS B
Section 3 Cazenovia 9-1 (381-111) #5, MP 20/1266, 1-5
Section 4 Maine-Endwell 10-0 (528-95) #1, 1/302, 7-2, A- 2004, 2011
Section 5 East Rochester Gananda 8-1 (351-139) #6, MP 38/2061, 0-0, Poll- 1978 Large
Section 6 Alden 10-0 (366-132) #2, MP 21/1433, 0-2
Section 1 Our Lady of Lourdes 9-0 (303-93) #3, MP 41/2259, 0-0
Section 9 Marlboro 10-0 (306-94) #4, MP 73/3441, 0-1
Section 2 Glens Falls 9-1 (310-160) #8, MP 42/2271, 1-1
Section 7 Peru 9-1 (414-74) #7, MP 50/2750, 6-11, B- 2001
Comment: Again, there not a lot of history here with 5 of the eight teams never having won a state title. But the big story is the season Maine-Endwell had. They won the Class A title last year, returned 21 of 22 starters and dropped down to Class B due to a drop in overall enrollment in the school. Class B never had a chance. The Spartans, who beat what appeared to be a dominant ESM team last year 21-7, crushed ten opponents by an average of 43 points per game. No one came within three touchdowns of them all year. Max preps has them rated the #1 team in New York State, even over all the Class AA and Class A teams. They rank them #301 nationally, 266 spots better than any other New York team. They would have be favored to win the Class AA or A titles, much less Class B. So much for enrollment determining how good your football team is. All does not end well when you have to play Maine-Endwell.
CLASS C
Section 3 Skaneateles 10-0 (455-167) #7, MP 29/1855, 0-0
Section 4 Chenango Forks 10-0 (344-117) #3, MP #24/1564, 16-8, B-2003, 2004
Section 5 Hornell 10-0 (390-109) #1, 11/1029, 11-2, A- 2009, 2010, 2011
Section 6 Cleveland Hill 8-2 (300-161) #10, MP 55/2928, 0-2
Section 1 Woodlands 9-0 (353-93) #8, MP 25/1612, 0-0
Section 9 O’Neill 8-2 (394-124) #9, MP 88/4066, 0-4
Section 2 Hoosick Falls 10-0 (462-44) #2, MP 33/1945, 4-5
Section 7 Saranac Lake 10-0 (409-97) #6, MP 47/2487, 5-7
Comment: Be careful what you wish for. Skaneateles wanted to be allowed to compete for the sectionals and then the state title. They got their wish. Their first opponent is Chenago Forks, who has beaten Section opponents eight times in the state playoffs, (seven in Class B where they beat those other Lakers, the ones from Cazenovia, three times). If the Skaneateles Lakers can get by the Blue Devils, here comes the windshield. The Hornell Red Raiders are the reigning dynasty of New York State football, with three straight state titles and 48 wins in a row, (second best in the country). And those three titles were in Class B. Like Maine-Endwell, they were dropped down a classification due to a change in school enrollment and are a load and a half at this level. It’s always fun to see which team did the best job in the state of blowing it’s opponent’s doors off. Maine-Endwell outscored it’s opponents by the greatest margin but I think Hoosick falls takes the cake. They not only rolled over their ten opponents by 462-44 but nobody got within 31 points of them all year. The thing is, sometimes a team that has never been challenged all year doesn’t respond well to a close game and Saranac Lake could certainly give them one.
CLASS D
Section 3 Sandy Creek 10-0 (267-109) #3, MP 87/3942, 0-0
Section 4 Tioga 9-1 (388-97), #1, MP 70/3378, 1-1
Section 5 Avon 9-1 (390-108) #2, MP 19/1254, 0-0
Section 6 Randolph 8-2 (309-120) #4, MP 32/1907, 6-2, D- 2005, 2009
Section 1 Tuckahoe 6-2-1 (236-108) #7, MP 162/5843, 13-7, D- 2006, 2010
Section 9 Chester 7-3 (398-176) #20, MP 328/9408, 1-6
Section 2 Rensselaer 9-1 (345-147) #5, MP 176/6171, 5-5
Section 7 Moriah 5-5 (185-235) NR, MP 287/8576, 5-10
Comment: Last year Westmoreland sailed into the State Class D plays carrying a sterling 10-0 (370-118) record and lost to Tioga 34-55 in the first round. The amazing thing was that Tioga scored 55 points against a team that had been giving up only 12 points per game without even attempting a pass. The Tigers look at least as tough this year and I don’t think newbie Sandy Creek is as good as Westmoreland was last year. 2009 champ Randolph won their last seven games by an average of 32 points, including a 21-0 win in the sectional finals over #1 state ranked Maple Grove. So watch out for the Cardinals. Tuckahoe really did have a tie game, 27-27 with Haldane. They played four overtimes and couldn’t decide the issue. That’s apparently the limit in New York State football. Moriah shows the weakness of Section 7, although the Vikings have some success in the state tournament in the past. It certainly seems like the Class D champion will come from the western half of the bracket. It’s interesting how highly Map Preps rates Avon.
THE QUARTERFINALS
For the second straight year, Section 3, (Central New York), was the bug and Section 4, (The Southern Tier), the windshield as we lost 4 of the 5 games against them. Section 6 (The Buffalo Area) had similar success against Section 5, (Rochester). Sections 9, (west of the Hudson) won 3 of 5 from Section 1, (east of the Hudson). Section 2, (Albany) blitzed Sections 7 and 10, (the Lake Champlain and St. Lawrence areas) 4-0 with one bye because 7/10 don’t have AA champions.
CLASS AA
After watching four other Section 3 champions get blown out of the playoffs by a combined 71-166, (18-42), CBA defended the honor of the Section by blowing out to a 31-0 lead on Binghamton of Section 4, the same team that overcame a 0-21 deficit to beat West Genesee last year. The Brothers then held on despite sputtering on offense in the second half, fighting off several Patriot drives to win 31-7. J.D. Zazzara threw for two scores and DeShawn Salter ran for two.
Defending state AA champion Orchard Park took on perennial Class A powerhouse Rochester Aquinas and came out on top, 14-7. The Quakers have won two Class AA state titles and the Little Irish have won 5 Class A titles so it was quite a confrontation. The Quakers scored the winning TD with 3:19 left in the defensive battle on a 24 yard run from Mitch Wilson. Aquinas had tied the game earlier in the fourth quarter on a 3 yard run by Billy Lombardi. The other score was a 19 yard run by Ben Holmes in the second quarter.
New Rochelle is back. The Section 1 champions crushed Pine Bush of Section 9, 39-7. The “Bushmen” had never won a AA sectional title and hadn’t appeared in the stat playoffs in 17 years and it looked it. They came out fumbling, the first coming on the second play of the game. They fell behind by two touchdowns against the perennial state power. They got back to within 7-14 but that was as good as it got. New Rochelle’s “Huguenots” had been a great defensive team, (they’d given up 34 points in 9 games), but not that much of an offensive team, (165 points). But they exploded for 39 points in this one behind quarterback Khalil Edney, who threw for three scores and ran for another.
Shaker of Section 2 had a bye because there are no AA championships in Sections 7 or 10.
CLASS A
Nottingham fell behind 8-28 to Union Endicott and mounted a comeback that fell short, losing 23-34, despite 212 yards passing and 71 rushing, including a 61 yard score. Mike Cheslock rushed for 153 yards and 3 scores for the winners.
Sweet Home of Section 6, the 2008-09 state champions, overcame a 7-21 fourth quarter deficit beat Eastridge of Section 5, 28-21. The Panthers drove 87 yards with two minutes left to tie it. In overtime Mike Torillo hit an uncovered Mike McCoy on a 4th and 19 play for the lead. Eastridge, in the same situation, threw an incomplete pass and the game was over.
Somers had their Section1 Final against Sleepy Hollow delayed first until November 7th and then November 8th by first Hurricane Sandy and then the Noreaster that followed. The opening round State playoff game against Section 9’s Cornwall was postpones to November 12th as a result. This gave them the difficult task of winning two games in five days and they couldn’t do it. They put Sleepy Hollow to sleep, 42-13 but couldn‘t handle Cornwall, losing 13-34. But Cornwall might have proven difficult to beat anyway as Alex Cruz of Cornwall set a sectional record with 11 catches for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns of 82 and 78 yards. He was asked by his teammates to break into a salsa dance like his namesake, Victor Cruz of the Giants but declined. His quarterback, Mike White, after throwing for 500 yards in the Section 9 finals, threw for another 435 in this game.
Section 2’s Burnt Hills used a scorched-earth policy to eliminate Section 10’s Potsdam 42-0. They charged to a 28-0 halftime lead thanks to two TD passes from Ryan McDonnell to Eric Dillon who also returned a blocked punt for a score. The Spartans have played for the state title three times in four years without a win. Dillon: “This is a veteran group with 30 seniors and we’ve been in big games and that should help us from here on.
CLASS B
Cazenovia proved no match for the best team in the state, according to Max Preps. Maine Endwell scored three first quarter touchdowns with it’s powerful running game and shut down the Laker attack to cruise to a 50-14 victory. Caz’s only first half score was on a fumble return and the Patriots led 27-7 at the half and continued pounding away in the second half, ending the scoring on a fumble return of their own.
It’s too bad that Hornell, the three time defending Class B champion, lost a few students and was downgraded to Class C. It would be some confrontation to see Maine-Endwell take on a school with a 50 game winning streak. In their absence, East Rochester Gananda represented Section 5. They were no match for Alden of Section 6, who ran for 418 yards in a 35-7 win. Corey Barczykowski ran for 273 yards on 24 carries and scored
Three touchdowns. Now let’s see him do it against Maine-Endwell.
Section 1’s Our Lady of Lourdes will be trying to heal themselves after losing in threw three touchdown passes, one with 2:12 left, and Adam Laubach kicked the inner. The Dukes were a much smaller but quicker team and used that to their advantage.
Both Glens Falls of section 2 and Peru of Section 7 are the “Indians”. Peru came in averaging 41 points a game, 10 more than Glens Falls but the Falls Indians dominated the line of scrimmage to out-rush the Peru Indians, 293-120 on the way to a 36-20 victory. “It was the first time all season that a team controlled us up front” said Peru coach Pat Lilac”. Joe McMahon ran for 193 yards on 24 carries and scored twice for the winners.
CLASS C
Skaneateles’s two year, 19 game winning streak came to an end against perennial Section 3 nemesis Chenango Forks, the 9th time in this young century the Blue devils have ended the season of a Section 3 hopeful in the state playoffs. Conor Herr threw for 284 yards but had three interceptions and overthrew a wide-open Colin Jones in one of two late drives that could have tied the game but ended on failed fourth down attempt deep in Blue Devil territory. Forks rushed for 336 yards, 191 by Isaiah Zimmer.
Fork’s next opponent is Section 5’s Hornell, winner of the last three Class B titles but now terrorizing Class C. They won their 50th straight game, (the nation’s second best streak) over Section 6’s Cleveland Hills, 27-6. Julian Reinhardt intercepted three passes and returned one 44 yards for a touchdown. He also had a 76 yard punt return for a score and a 19 yard TD reception. The reed Raiders didn’t physically dominate the game, being out-gained 170-184 but Reinhardt’s play produced a decisive win anyway. Nonetheless, Hornell suddenly looks vulnerable.
Section 9’s O’Neill High beat Seciton1 ‘s Woodlands, 35-18. Woodland’s coach Mike Meade was not at the game, attending his son’s wedding. Senior Running Back D’Andre Tilford said “ It was real tough because we couldn’t do anything without him. They also could do anything about Falcons running back Jerry Nasi, who ran for 240 yards in 30 carries and scored 3 touchdowns. He wasn’t invited to the wedding. It was the first time a Section 9 Class C team had beaten a Seciton1 team in the state playoffs in 16 years.
Section 2’s Hoosick Falls, who had beaten every team they’d played this year by at least 31 points, proved they could win a close game. Saranac Lake, who had been crushed by the Panthers 13-47 in last year’s State playoffs, was nursing a 6-0 halftime lead after having turned away the only Panther threat of the half with a fumble recovery. It was the first time Hoosick Falls had trailed all year. But tailback brad Burns decided to do something about the situation and did it, rushing for three second half touchdowns in the 20-12 win. Burns gave Falls the lead with a 35 yard burst and then scored again from the five after Lake fumbled the kick-off, which left their hopes in a watery grave.
CLASS D
For the second year in a row Tioga demolished an undefeated Section 3 team. This one was even easier than their 55-34 destruction of Westmoreland last season. The Comets were handicapped by illness as 14 players had to miss practice during the week. But they were further handicapped in that they had to play Tioga, who rolled to a 30-0 lead after one quarter and cruised to a 54-13 win. The Tigers knew how to deal with an underdog who had never been in the state playoffs. After recovering a fumble on the Comets first play from scrimmage, they scored in three plays, the recovered an onside kick and drove in and scored again. Sandy creek never recovered. Their coach, Mike Stevens said after the game: “That’s a program fighting for a state championship. We are a program fighting for a sectional championship.”
A week after beating #1 ranked Maple Grove 21-0 in the Section 6 finals, Randolph, the 2005 and 2009 state champions, rolled over #2 ranked Avon of Section 5, 34-14 after cruising to a 27-0 first half lead. They rushed for 377 yards, including 252 from Jordan Dowiaz, who scored twice.. Since losing to Maple Grove 14-27 to drop to 1-2 on September 14, they are 8-0 and have out-scored their opposition 306-60, (38-8).
Tuckahoe beat Chester for the six time in six state playoff games, 34-18. They ran for 44 yards Nick Reisman ran for 222 yards on 31 carries and Kayvon for 170 yards on 12 carries. Both scored twice.
Rensselaer had trouble getting going against Moriah, suffering three turnovers, two within their 20 yard line. They were leading only 6-0 when the made a goal line stand at their one yard line shortly before the half. Two long passes later, they’d scored to make it 12-0. That opened the flood gates and a 38 point second half made the final 50-0. Moriah was 0 for 11 in the air, had five turnovers and a blocked punt. Seth Butler ran for 145 yards and two scores while quarterback Steve Harwood threw three touchdown passes for the winners.
The field for the Semi-Finals:
CLASS AA
Section 3 CBA 11-0 (361-132) NYSSWA ranking, (within the division) #3 Max Preps State ranking (overall) #7 Max Preps national ranking #649. 10-7 record in state playoffs. Won 2004 AA tournament championship.
Section 6 Orchard Park 10-1 (405-201) #8, MP 9/757, 8-8, AA-2008, 2011
Section 1 New Rochelle 9-1 (204-41) #7 MP 2/338, 13-7, AA- 2003
Section 2 Shaker 10-0 (342-123) #1, MP 10/797, 0-0
Comment: Orchard Parks’ defending champs will be a formidable foe for CBA but their giving up 201 points is a little generous for at team that ahs reached this far. It’s a little strange to see Shaker, a team that’s never made the state playoffs, be ranked #1, over three schools that have won state championships in the past. Could this be a rematch of the classic 2004 final between CBA and New Rochelle? Maybe but it would be hard-pressed to match that game without Greg Paulus and Ray Rice.
CLASS A
Section 4 Union Endicott 9-1 (354-159) #7, MP 8/704, 2-8 Poll: Large 1979, Class A 1989
Section 6 Sweet Home 11-0 (399-131) #2 MP 19/1220, 7-4, AA- 2008, 2009
Section 9 Cornwall 11-0 (481-122) #5, MP 15/1066, 5-7
Section 2 Burnt Hills 10-1 (497-100) #4, MP 17/1133, 8-3
Comment: I just have a feeling about Burnt Hills, that after finishing second three times in four year that this is their year. But even with Aquinas moving up and Maine-Endwell moving down, there’s plenty of competition. Cornwell has slaughtered it’s opponents at nearly the same rate and Sweet Home, who beat Burnt Hills for the 2008 and 2009 titles is waiting in the other side of the bracket.
CLASS B
Section 4 Maine-Endwell 11-0 (578-109) #1, 1/180, 8-2, A- 2004, 2011
Section 6 Alden 11-0 (401-139) #2, MP 11/902, 1-2
Section 9 Marlboro 11-0 (329-114) #3, MP 37/2205, 1-1
Section 2 Glens Falls 10-1 (346-180) #5, MP 31/1917, 2-1
Comment: Could Maine-Endwell beat an NFL team? Probably not but I’d favor them against anyone in the state, especially in Class B.
CLASS C
Section 4 Chenango Forks 11-0 (372-128) #3, MP #16/1103, 17-8, B-2003, 2004
Section 5 Hornell 11-0 (417-115) #1, 12/994, 12-2, A- 2009, 2010, 2011
Section 2 Hoosick Falls 11-0 (482-56) #2, MP 25/1685, 5-5
Section 9 O’Neill 9-2 (429-138) #6, MP 45/2425, 1-4
Comment: Again the power seems to be in the west, although the Max Preps ratings are closer. But the history is there two, with 5 state titles vs. none. I have a feeling that Hornell’s poor offensive showing last week might mean that they are not on quite the level of their previous champions and that 50 game winning streak might just end vs. Forks.
CLASS D
Section 4 Tioga 10-1 (442-110), #1, MP 42/2362, 2-1
Section 6 Randolph 9-2 (343-134) #2, MP 13/1032, 7-2, D- 2005, 2009
Section 1 Tuckahoe 7-2-1 (270-126) #4, MP 188/6383, 14-7, D- 2006, 2010
Section 2 Rensselaer 10-1 (395-147) #3, MP 130/5095, 6-5
Comment: Judging by the Max Preps ratings, the balance of power is definitely in the west in this division. Since their one loss, Tioga has out-scored 8 foes by 360-83, (45-10).
Since their 1-2 start, Randolph has out-scored 8 opponents by 306-60, (38-7.5). It’s what playoffs are all about. Irresistible force vs. irresistible force.
SEMI-FINALS
CLASS AA
Section 6’s Orchard Park eliminated CBA 26-14 and assured that there would be no Section 3 team in the Carrier Dome in the state finals in any classification for the second straight year. The Quakers were the bigger, stronger team and dominated up front on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Ben Holmes ran for 175 yards and running back Mitch Wilson gained 178 more. CBA showed an ability to throw long and quarterback Joe Zazzara passed for 276 yards but was only 12 for 30. The Brothers ran for just 24 yards. Zazzara hit Deshawn Salter for a 75 score late in the third period to make it 14-20 and then CBA recovered a fumble on the Orchard Park 35 and hope burned brightly. But Zazzara threw an interception on the next play and the Brothers never threatened again.
New Rochelle of Section 2 built up a 20-0 lead over #1 ranked Shaker of Section 2 and survived a wild finish as the Blue Bison scored three touchdowns, the last two within two minutes late in the fourth quarter, to take a 21-20 lead with 1:35 left. The local paper said the Shaker players were “99% sure they were going to the Carrier Dome”. But Huguenot quarterback Kahil Edney had other plays. He ran for 19 yards, then passed to Joe Clarke on the Shaker 19 with 45 seconds left. Then he found Clarke in the end zone for the winner and added a two pint conversion pass to Jason Cenesus to make the final 28-21.
CLASS A
Section 6’s Sweet Home spotted Union Endicott of Section 4 a two touchdown lead, then dominated the rest of the game on the way to a 40-22 win. U-E scored on three first half bombs, 47 yards, 31 yards and 33 yards on the final play of the half. But Mike McCoy ran around end for a 65 yard score on the first play of the second half to give Panthers the lead for good. An interception set up another score and take control of the game.
They will face a familiar foe in the Finals. Sweet Home won the state Class A title in both 2008, (35-28) and 2009 (34-7) over Burnt Hills of Section 2 and will now try to beat them a third time. The Spartans downed Cornwall of Section 9, 28-13, stopping drives and their 1 and 2 yard line and each time responding with 99 and 98 yard scoring drives of their own. The first came after an interception at the 1. Dan Maynard ran 13 times for 134 yards and the score that capped the 98 yard drive that began when Cornwall star Alex Cruz dropped a 4th down pass in the end zone. Those tow drives turned a 14-13 game into the more decisive final.
CLASS B
Section 4’s Maine-Endwell, ranked by Max Preps as the #1 team in the state at any level, proved they are certainly the best in Class B by thrashing #2 Alden of Section 5, 49-14. They ran for 398 yards in building up a 49-0 lead through three quarters. Alden totaled 163 yards rushing and 65 passing. Alden quarterback Brian Stoldt said “It kills me to say it but the better team won today. There’s no doubt about it. They’re a powerhouse and you run into them sometimes.” Their coach, Dick Diminico: “Our strength all season has been our offensive line and they just beat us up up front….I guess that’s where you win or lose football games.” I watched part of this game and it looked like a college team vs. a high school team.
Glens Falls of Section 2 beat Marlboro of Section 4 28-17 using trick plays. They connected on a flea-flicker on the first play. For 64 yards to set up their first score. They used a halfback option pass from 22 yards out to clinch it in the 4th quarter. Mike Lanoir, who threw the pass, said “I think we have thrown those about three times all year. We took advantage of them not having a lot of film on us and not knowing what we do.” Lanoir also had an 80 yard scoring run.
CLASS C
Hornell of Section 5, the three time defending state Class B champion, beat Section 4’s Chenango Forks 20-7 for their 51 straight victory, the second longest streak in the nation. Quarterback Richie Harkenrider passed for 190 yards and Zack Bacon rushed for 156 more for the Red Raiders. Hornell out-gained Forks, 389-143 but three turnovers kept Forks within range until late in the game. The Blue Devil’s only score came after a muffed punt they recovered at the Hornell 5 yard line.
James J. O’Neill, (or at least the high school named after him), of Section 9 bolted to a 21-7 lead over Section 2’s Hoosick Falls, a team that had dominated everyone they’d played all year, (no regular season opponent had gotten within 31 points of them). They hadn’t even given up a point in the first quarter until this. But they didn’t panic, started playing defense, shutting out the Raiders the rest of the way and forcing 5 turnovers in a 43-21 win. Brad Burns rushed for 196 yards and 5 touchdowns for the winners.
CLASS D
Section 6’s Randolph won a 7-6 defensive duel over Section 4’s Tioga. They stuff a two point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter and then ran out the clock with a long drive that featured a conversion on 4th and short. Both teams moved the ball. Tioga had two 100 yard rushers, Jesse Manuel, (109 yards) and Tyler Spires, (105), who scored the only TD for Tioga on a 35 yard burst Randolph had the only semblance of a passing game as Mitch Maycock was 3/6 for 70 yards, including a 16 yard TD pass to Nathan Beaver. Jordan Dwiasz had 101 rushing yards for the winners.
Tuckahoe of Section 1 survived 14-12 vs. Rensselaer of Section 1 behind two touchdowns by Nick Reisman. He had 70 yards rushing and his quarterback, Shyheim Nixon had 96 in another defensive duel.
The Match-ups for the finals:
CLASS AA
Section 6 Orchard Park 11-1 (431-215) #3, MP 4/588, 9-8, AA-2008, 2011
Vs.
Section 1 New Rochelle 10-1 (232-62) #2 MP 2/304, 13-7, AA- 2003
The #1 AA team in the state, according to the NYS Sportswriter’s Association, is actually Canisius, which is part of the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association, which runs it’s own championships. (Federation tournament, anyone?) Max Preps ranks them #3 in the state and #527 in the nation. Orchard Park has the more powerful offense, New Rochelle the better defense, although Shaker suddenly found a way to score on them late in the game. Both schools have a strong pedigree in this event.
CLASS A
Section 6 Sweet Home 12-0 (439-153) #2 MP 8/756, 8-4, AA- 2008, 2009
Vs.
Section 2 Burnt Hills 11-1 (525-113) #4, MP 10/812, 9-3
The #1 team in NYS, according to the sportswriters, is Lawrence of Section 8, which does not participate in the NYS playoffs. Long Island continues to have their own playoffs. Can Sweet Home beat Burnt Hills for a third time? Well, that‘s what Burnt Hills did to Cornwall, whom they also beat in the semi-finals in 2009 and 2011, (Burnt Hills lost to Maine-Endwell in the finals last year). But in their fourth state final in 5 years, maybe it’s the Spartan’s time?
CLASS B
Section 4 Maine-Endwell 12-0 (627-113) #1, 1/137, 9-2, A- 2004, 2011
Vs.
Section 2 Glens Falls 11-1 (374-197) #2, MP 23/1575, 3-1
Glens Falls will need plenty of trick plays to compete with Maine Endwell, one of the great teams in NYS history. Max Preps rates them the #3 “small school” in the nation, behind a couple of schools in Florida.
CLASS C
Section 5 Hornell 12-0 (437-122) #1, 9/809, 13-2, A- 2009, 2010, 2011
Vs.
Section 2 Hoosick Falls 12-0 (525-77) #2, MP 165/1164, 6-5
Hornell seems like the obvious favorite after it’s Class B titles and with it’s long winning steak. But Hoosick Falls has put up some big numbers this year and my impression of the Red Raiders in the playoffs is that they aren’t as dominant as I expected. They are at least vulnerable in this game.
CLASS D
Section 6 Randolph 10-2 (350-140) #1, MP 11/908, 8-2, D- 2005, 2009
At
Section 1 Tuckahoe 8-2-1 (284-138) #3, MP 142/5456, 15-7, D- 2006, 2010
It’s so rare to a see a defensive battle in the state playoffs these days. One virtue of a low-scoring game is that it’s inevitably close. Randolph won a 7-6 game to get here and Tuckahoe a 14-12 thriller. Expect something similar in the finals.
This year’s field:
CLASS AA
Section 3 CBA 10-0 (330-125) NYSSWA ranking, (within the division) #3 Max Preps State ranking (overall) #13 Max Preps national ranking #1081. 9-7 record in state playoffs. Won 2004 AA tournament championship.
Section 4 Binghamton 8-2 (417-134) Honorable Mention (HM), MP 12/1041, 2-4, Large school poll championship 1985
Section 5 Rochester Aquinas 7-3 (227-167) #12, MP 7/702, 17-4, A-1998, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2010
Section 6 Orchard Park 9-1 (391-194) #8, MP 17/1202, 7-8, AA-2008, 2011
Section 1 New Rochelle 8-1 (165-34) #7 MP 10/933, 12-7, AA- 2003
Section 9 Pine Bush 9-1 (350-85) #17, MP 5/567, 0-1
Section 2 Shaker 10-0 (342-123) #1, MP 9/7848, 0-0 BYE
Comments: CBA looks to be a better team than Binghamton but so did West Genesee last year and they lost after bolting to an early 21-0 lead. And Max Preps thinks the Patriots are a bit better than the Brothers. Aquinas is one of the great programs in the state but their first year in AA has been a bumpy ride. Orchard Park is the defending state champs. But again, Max Preps likes Aquinas better, (they tend to play more out-of state teams). New Rochelle doesn’t have a Ray Rice to fuel their offense but they have a great defense. Pine Bush has put up big numbers and Max Preps likes that but they don’t have much of a history in this event and neither does Section 9, except for Monroe-Woodbury. Shaker has no history at all in the event but they are ranked #1 in the state by NYSSWA. They and CBA are the only unbeaten teams in this classification, which therefore seems to be wide open.
CLASS A
Section 3 Nottingham 8-2 (280-169) #12, MP 23//1537, 0-0
Section 4 Union Endicott 8-1 (320-136) #8, MP 8/756, 1-8 Polls: Large 1979, Class A 1989
Section 5 East Ridge 10-0 (381-150) #4, MP 15/1154, 0-1
Section 6 Sweet Home 10-0 (371-110) #2 MP 31/1894, 6-4, AA- 2008, 2009
Section 1 Somers 10-0 (345-124) #11, MP 26/1618, 0-1
Section 9 Cornwall 10-0 (447-98) #6, MP 37/2056, 4-7
Section 2 Burnt Hills 9-1 (455-100) #5, MP 14/1131, 7-3
Section 10 Potsdam 9-1 (405-146) #26, MP 175/6159, 0-2
Comment: There’s alack of prior state champions in this field. Sweet Home won back to back titles in 2008-2009, during Section 6’s big power play. Burnt Hills has been knocking on the door in recent years, finishing second three times in the last four years. U-E has won a couple of titles decades back and are the highest rated team by Max Preps. The three bottom teams, Cornwall, Burnt Hills and Potsdam have run up some impressive victory margins but none of them has ever won a state title. Nottingham avenged one of their defeats in beating J-D and their other loss was to AA’s champion, CBA, so their 8-2 recovered probably under-rates them. But this is one of two divisions Section III has ever won, (the next one is the other). Note: Lawrence High School of Long Island is the #1 ranked team in the state in this classification. Long Island has it’s own playoffs.
CLASS B
Section 3 Cazenovia 9-1 (381-111) #5, MP 20/1266, 1-5
Section 4 Maine-Endwell 10-0 (528-95) #1, 1/302, 7-2, A- 2004, 2011
Section 5 East Rochester Gananda 8-1 (351-139) #6, MP 38/2061, 0-0, Poll- 1978 Large
Section 6 Alden 10-0 (366-132) #2, MP 21/1433, 0-2
Section 1 Our Lady of Lourdes 9-0 (303-93) #3, MP 41/2259, 0-0
Section 9 Marlboro 10-0 (306-94) #4, MP 73/3441, 0-1
Section 2 Glens Falls 9-1 (310-160) #8, MP 42/2271, 1-1
Section 7 Peru 9-1 (414-74) #7, MP 50/2750, 6-11, B- 2001
Comment: Again, there not a lot of history here with 5 of the eight teams never having won a state title. But the big story is the season Maine-Endwell had. They won the Class A title last year, returned 21 of 22 starters and dropped down to Class B due to a drop in overall enrollment in the school. Class B never had a chance. The Spartans, who beat what appeared to be a dominant ESM team last year 21-7, crushed ten opponents by an average of 43 points per game. No one came within three touchdowns of them all year. Max preps has them rated the #1 team in New York State, even over all the Class AA and Class A teams. They rank them #301 nationally, 266 spots better than any other New York team. They would have be favored to win the Class AA or A titles, much less Class B. So much for enrollment determining how good your football team is. All does not end well when you have to play Maine-Endwell.
CLASS C
Section 3 Skaneateles 10-0 (455-167) #7, MP 29/1855, 0-0
Section 4 Chenango Forks 10-0 (344-117) #3, MP #24/1564, 16-8, B-2003, 2004
Section 5 Hornell 10-0 (390-109) #1, 11/1029, 11-2, A- 2009, 2010, 2011
Section 6 Cleveland Hill 8-2 (300-161) #10, MP 55/2928, 0-2
Section 1 Woodlands 9-0 (353-93) #8, MP 25/1612, 0-0
Section 9 O’Neill 8-2 (394-124) #9, MP 88/4066, 0-4
Section 2 Hoosick Falls 10-0 (462-44) #2, MP 33/1945, 4-5
Section 7 Saranac Lake 10-0 (409-97) #6, MP 47/2487, 5-7
Comment: Be careful what you wish for. Skaneateles wanted to be allowed to compete for the sectionals and then the state title. They got their wish. Their first opponent is Chenago Forks, who has beaten Section opponents eight times in the state playoffs, (seven in Class B where they beat those other Lakers, the ones from Cazenovia, three times). If the Skaneateles Lakers can get by the Blue Devils, here comes the windshield. The Hornell Red Raiders are the reigning dynasty of New York State football, with three straight state titles and 48 wins in a row, (second best in the country). And those three titles were in Class B. Like Maine-Endwell, they were dropped down a classification due to a change in school enrollment and are a load and a half at this level. It’s always fun to see which team did the best job in the state of blowing it’s opponent’s doors off. Maine-Endwell outscored it’s opponents by the greatest margin but I think Hoosick falls takes the cake. They not only rolled over their ten opponents by 462-44 but nobody got within 31 points of them all year. The thing is, sometimes a team that has never been challenged all year doesn’t respond well to a close game and Saranac Lake could certainly give them one.
CLASS D
Section 3 Sandy Creek 10-0 (267-109) #3, MP 87/3942, 0-0
Section 4 Tioga 9-1 (388-97), #1, MP 70/3378, 1-1
Section 5 Avon 9-1 (390-108) #2, MP 19/1254, 0-0
Section 6 Randolph 8-2 (309-120) #4, MP 32/1907, 6-2, D- 2005, 2009
Section 1 Tuckahoe 6-2-1 (236-108) #7, MP 162/5843, 13-7, D- 2006, 2010
Section 9 Chester 7-3 (398-176) #20, MP 328/9408, 1-6
Section 2 Rensselaer 9-1 (345-147) #5, MP 176/6171, 5-5
Section 7 Moriah 5-5 (185-235) NR, MP 287/8576, 5-10
Comment: Last year Westmoreland sailed into the State Class D plays carrying a sterling 10-0 (370-118) record and lost to Tioga 34-55 in the first round. The amazing thing was that Tioga scored 55 points against a team that had been giving up only 12 points per game without even attempting a pass. The Tigers look at least as tough this year and I don’t think newbie Sandy Creek is as good as Westmoreland was last year. 2009 champ Randolph won their last seven games by an average of 32 points, including a 21-0 win in the sectional finals over #1 state ranked Maple Grove. So watch out for the Cardinals. Tuckahoe really did have a tie game, 27-27 with Haldane. They played four overtimes and couldn’t decide the issue. That’s apparently the limit in New York State football. Moriah shows the weakness of Section 7, although the Vikings have some success in the state tournament in the past. It certainly seems like the Class D champion will come from the western half of the bracket. It’s interesting how highly Map Preps rates Avon.
THE QUARTERFINALS
For the second straight year, Section 3, (Central New York), was the bug and Section 4, (The Southern Tier), the windshield as we lost 4 of the 5 games against them. Section 6 (The Buffalo Area) had similar success against Section 5, (Rochester). Sections 9, (west of the Hudson) won 3 of 5 from Section 1, (east of the Hudson). Section 2, (Albany) blitzed Sections 7 and 10, (the Lake Champlain and St. Lawrence areas) 4-0 with one bye because 7/10 don’t have AA champions.
CLASS AA
After watching four other Section 3 champions get blown out of the playoffs by a combined 71-166, (18-42), CBA defended the honor of the Section by blowing out to a 31-0 lead on Binghamton of Section 4, the same team that overcame a 0-21 deficit to beat West Genesee last year. The Brothers then held on despite sputtering on offense in the second half, fighting off several Patriot drives to win 31-7. J.D. Zazzara threw for two scores and DeShawn Salter ran for two.
Defending state AA champion Orchard Park took on perennial Class A powerhouse Rochester Aquinas and came out on top, 14-7. The Quakers have won two Class AA state titles and the Little Irish have won 5 Class A titles so it was quite a confrontation. The Quakers scored the winning TD with 3:19 left in the defensive battle on a 24 yard run from Mitch Wilson. Aquinas had tied the game earlier in the fourth quarter on a 3 yard run by Billy Lombardi. The other score was a 19 yard run by Ben Holmes in the second quarter.
New Rochelle is back. The Section 1 champions crushed Pine Bush of Section 9, 39-7. The “Bushmen” had never won a AA sectional title and hadn’t appeared in the stat playoffs in 17 years and it looked it. They came out fumbling, the first coming on the second play of the game. They fell behind by two touchdowns against the perennial state power. They got back to within 7-14 but that was as good as it got. New Rochelle’s “Huguenots” had been a great defensive team, (they’d given up 34 points in 9 games), but not that much of an offensive team, (165 points). But they exploded for 39 points in this one behind quarterback Khalil Edney, who threw for three scores and ran for another.
Shaker of Section 2 had a bye because there are no AA championships in Sections 7 or 10.
CLASS A
Nottingham fell behind 8-28 to Union Endicott and mounted a comeback that fell short, losing 23-34, despite 212 yards passing and 71 rushing, including a 61 yard score. Mike Cheslock rushed for 153 yards and 3 scores for the winners.
Sweet Home of Section 6, the 2008-09 state champions, overcame a 7-21 fourth quarter deficit beat Eastridge of Section 5, 28-21. The Panthers drove 87 yards with two minutes left to tie it. In overtime Mike Torillo hit an uncovered Mike McCoy on a 4th and 19 play for the lead. Eastridge, in the same situation, threw an incomplete pass and the game was over.
Somers had their Section1 Final against Sleepy Hollow delayed first until November 7th and then November 8th by first Hurricane Sandy and then the Noreaster that followed. The opening round State playoff game against Section 9’s Cornwall was postpones to November 12th as a result. This gave them the difficult task of winning two games in five days and they couldn’t do it. They put Sleepy Hollow to sleep, 42-13 but couldn‘t handle Cornwall, losing 13-34. But Cornwall might have proven difficult to beat anyway as Alex Cruz of Cornwall set a sectional record with 11 catches for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns of 82 and 78 yards. He was asked by his teammates to break into a salsa dance like his namesake, Victor Cruz of the Giants but declined. His quarterback, Mike White, after throwing for 500 yards in the Section 9 finals, threw for another 435 in this game.
Section 2’s Burnt Hills used a scorched-earth policy to eliminate Section 10’s Potsdam 42-0. They charged to a 28-0 halftime lead thanks to two TD passes from Ryan McDonnell to Eric Dillon who also returned a blocked punt for a score. The Spartans have played for the state title three times in four years without a win. Dillon: “This is a veteran group with 30 seniors and we’ve been in big games and that should help us from here on.
CLASS B
Cazenovia proved no match for the best team in the state, according to Max Preps. Maine Endwell scored three first quarter touchdowns with it’s powerful running game and shut down the Laker attack to cruise to a 50-14 victory. Caz’s only first half score was on a fumble return and the Patriots led 27-7 at the half and continued pounding away in the second half, ending the scoring on a fumble return of their own.
It’s too bad that Hornell, the three time defending Class B champion, lost a few students and was downgraded to Class C. It would be some confrontation to see Maine-Endwell take on a school with a 50 game winning streak. In their absence, East Rochester Gananda represented Section 5. They were no match for Alden of Section 6, who ran for 418 yards in a 35-7 win. Corey Barczykowski ran for 273 yards on 24 carries and scored
Three touchdowns. Now let’s see him do it against Maine-Endwell.
Section 1’s Our Lady of Lourdes will be trying to heal themselves after losing in threw three touchdown passes, one with 2:12 left, and Adam Laubach kicked the inner. The Dukes were a much smaller but quicker team and used that to their advantage.
Both Glens Falls of section 2 and Peru of Section 7 are the “Indians”. Peru came in averaging 41 points a game, 10 more than Glens Falls but the Falls Indians dominated the line of scrimmage to out-rush the Peru Indians, 293-120 on the way to a 36-20 victory. “It was the first time all season that a team controlled us up front” said Peru coach Pat Lilac”. Joe McMahon ran for 193 yards on 24 carries and scored twice for the winners.
CLASS C
Skaneateles’s two year, 19 game winning streak came to an end against perennial Section 3 nemesis Chenango Forks, the 9th time in this young century the Blue devils have ended the season of a Section 3 hopeful in the state playoffs. Conor Herr threw for 284 yards but had three interceptions and overthrew a wide-open Colin Jones in one of two late drives that could have tied the game but ended on failed fourth down attempt deep in Blue Devil territory. Forks rushed for 336 yards, 191 by Isaiah Zimmer.
Fork’s next opponent is Section 5’s Hornell, winner of the last three Class B titles but now terrorizing Class C. They won their 50th straight game, (the nation’s second best streak) over Section 6’s Cleveland Hills, 27-6. Julian Reinhardt intercepted three passes and returned one 44 yards for a touchdown. He also had a 76 yard punt return for a score and a 19 yard TD reception. The reed Raiders didn’t physically dominate the game, being out-gained 170-184 but Reinhardt’s play produced a decisive win anyway. Nonetheless, Hornell suddenly looks vulnerable.
Section 9’s O’Neill High beat Seciton1 ‘s Woodlands, 35-18. Woodland’s coach Mike Meade was not at the game, attending his son’s wedding. Senior Running Back D’Andre Tilford said “ It was real tough because we couldn’t do anything without him. They also could do anything about Falcons running back Jerry Nasi, who ran for 240 yards in 30 carries and scored 3 touchdowns. He wasn’t invited to the wedding. It was the first time a Section 9 Class C team had beaten a Seciton1 team in the state playoffs in 16 years.
Section 2’s Hoosick Falls, who had beaten every team they’d played this year by at least 31 points, proved they could win a close game. Saranac Lake, who had been crushed by the Panthers 13-47 in last year’s State playoffs, was nursing a 6-0 halftime lead after having turned away the only Panther threat of the half with a fumble recovery. It was the first time Hoosick Falls had trailed all year. But tailback brad Burns decided to do something about the situation and did it, rushing for three second half touchdowns in the 20-12 win. Burns gave Falls the lead with a 35 yard burst and then scored again from the five after Lake fumbled the kick-off, which left their hopes in a watery grave.
CLASS D
For the second year in a row Tioga demolished an undefeated Section 3 team. This one was even easier than their 55-34 destruction of Westmoreland last season. The Comets were handicapped by illness as 14 players had to miss practice during the week. But they were further handicapped in that they had to play Tioga, who rolled to a 30-0 lead after one quarter and cruised to a 54-13 win. The Tigers knew how to deal with an underdog who had never been in the state playoffs. After recovering a fumble on the Comets first play from scrimmage, they scored in three plays, the recovered an onside kick and drove in and scored again. Sandy creek never recovered. Their coach, Mike Stevens said after the game: “That’s a program fighting for a state championship. We are a program fighting for a sectional championship.”
A week after beating #1 ranked Maple Grove 21-0 in the Section 6 finals, Randolph, the 2005 and 2009 state champions, rolled over #2 ranked Avon of Section 5, 34-14 after cruising to a 27-0 first half lead. They rushed for 377 yards, including 252 from Jordan Dowiaz, who scored twice.. Since losing to Maple Grove 14-27 to drop to 1-2 on September 14, they are 8-0 and have out-scored their opposition 306-60, (38-8).
Tuckahoe beat Chester for the six time in six state playoff games, 34-18. They ran for 44 yards Nick Reisman ran for 222 yards on 31 carries and Kayvon for 170 yards on 12 carries. Both scored twice.
Rensselaer had trouble getting going against Moriah, suffering three turnovers, two within their 20 yard line. They were leading only 6-0 when the made a goal line stand at their one yard line shortly before the half. Two long passes later, they’d scored to make it 12-0. That opened the flood gates and a 38 point second half made the final 50-0. Moriah was 0 for 11 in the air, had five turnovers and a blocked punt. Seth Butler ran for 145 yards and two scores while quarterback Steve Harwood threw three touchdown passes for the winners.
The field for the Semi-Finals:
CLASS AA
Section 3 CBA 11-0 (361-132) NYSSWA ranking, (within the division) #3 Max Preps State ranking (overall) #7 Max Preps national ranking #649. 10-7 record in state playoffs. Won 2004 AA tournament championship.
Section 6 Orchard Park 10-1 (405-201) #8, MP 9/757, 8-8, AA-2008, 2011
Section 1 New Rochelle 9-1 (204-41) #7 MP 2/338, 13-7, AA- 2003
Section 2 Shaker 10-0 (342-123) #1, MP 10/797, 0-0
Comment: Orchard Parks’ defending champs will be a formidable foe for CBA but their giving up 201 points is a little generous for at team that ahs reached this far. It’s a little strange to see Shaker, a team that’s never made the state playoffs, be ranked #1, over three schools that have won state championships in the past. Could this be a rematch of the classic 2004 final between CBA and New Rochelle? Maybe but it would be hard-pressed to match that game without Greg Paulus and Ray Rice.
CLASS A
Section 4 Union Endicott 9-1 (354-159) #7, MP 8/704, 2-8 Poll: Large 1979, Class A 1989
Section 6 Sweet Home 11-0 (399-131) #2 MP 19/1220, 7-4, AA- 2008, 2009
Section 9 Cornwall 11-0 (481-122) #5, MP 15/1066, 5-7
Section 2 Burnt Hills 10-1 (497-100) #4, MP 17/1133, 8-3
Comment: I just have a feeling about Burnt Hills, that after finishing second three times in four year that this is their year. But even with Aquinas moving up and Maine-Endwell moving down, there’s plenty of competition. Cornwell has slaughtered it’s opponents at nearly the same rate and Sweet Home, who beat Burnt Hills for the 2008 and 2009 titles is waiting in the other side of the bracket.
CLASS B
Section 4 Maine-Endwell 11-0 (578-109) #1, 1/180, 8-2, A- 2004, 2011
Section 6 Alden 11-0 (401-139) #2, MP 11/902, 1-2
Section 9 Marlboro 11-0 (329-114) #3, MP 37/2205, 1-1
Section 2 Glens Falls 10-1 (346-180) #5, MP 31/1917, 2-1
Comment: Could Maine-Endwell beat an NFL team? Probably not but I’d favor them against anyone in the state, especially in Class B.
CLASS C
Section 4 Chenango Forks 11-0 (372-128) #3, MP #16/1103, 17-8, B-2003, 2004
Section 5 Hornell 11-0 (417-115) #1, 12/994, 12-2, A- 2009, 2010, 2011
Section 2 Hoosick Falls 11-0 (482-56) #2, MP 25/1685, 5-5
Section 9 O’Neill 9-2 (429-138) #6, MP 45/2425, 1-4
Comment: Again the power seems to be in the west, although the Max Preps ratings are closer. But the history is there two, with 5 state titles vs. none. I have a feeling that Hornell’s poor offensive showing last week might mean that they are not on quite the level of their previous champions and that 50 game winning streak might just end vs. Forks.
CLASS D
Section 4 Tioga 10-1 (442-110), #1, MP 42/2362, 2-1
Section 6 Randolph 9-2 (343-134) #2, MP 13/1032, 7-2, D- 2005, 2009
Section 1 Tuckahoe 7-2-1 (270-126) #4, MP 188/6383, 14-7, D- 2006, 2010
Section 2 Rensselaer 10-1 (395-147) #3, MP 130/5095, 6-5
Comment: Judging by the Max Preps ratings, the balance of power is definitely in the west in this division. Since their one loss, Tioga has out-scored 8 foes by 360-83, (45-10).
Since their 1-2 start, Randolph has out-scored 8 opponents by 306-60, (38-7.5). It’s what playoffs are all about. Irresistible force vs. irresistible force.
SEMI-FINALS
CLASS AA
Section 6’s Orchard Park eliminated CBA 26-14 and assured that there would be no Section 3 team in the Carrier Dome in the state finals in any classification for the second straight year. The Quakers were the bigger, stronger team and dominated up front on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Ben Holmes ran for 175 yards and running back Mitch Wilson gained 178 more. CBA showed an ability to throw long and quarterback Joe Zazzara passed for 276 yards but was only 12 for 30. The Brothers ran for just 24 yards. Zazzara hit Deshawn Salter for a 75 score late in the third period to make it 14-20 and then CBA recovered a fumble on the Orchard Park 35 and hope burned brightly. But Zazzara threw an interception on the next play and the Brothers never threatened again.
New Rochelle of Section 2 built up a 20-0 lead over #1 ranked Shaker of Section 2 and survived a wild finish as the Blue Bison scored three touchdowns, the last two within two minutes late in the fourth quarter, to take a 21-20 lead with 1:35 left. The local paper said the Shaker players were “99% sure they were going to the Carrier Dome”. But Huguenot quarterback Kahil Edney had other plays. He ran for 19 yards, then passed to Joe Clarke on the Shaker 19 with 45 seconds left. Then he found Clarke in the end zone for the winner and added a two pint conversion pass to Jason Cenesus to make the final 28-21.
CLASS A
Section 6’s Sweet Home spotted Union Endicott of Section 4 a two touchdown lead, then dominated the rest of the game on the way to a 40-22 win. U-E scored on three first half bombs, 47 yards, 31 yards and 33 yards on the final play of the half. But Mike McCoy ran around end for a 65 yard score on the first play of the second half to give Panthers the lead for good. An interception set up another score and take control of the game.
They will face a familiar foe in the Finals. Sweet Home won the state Class A title in both 2008, (35-28) and 2009 (34-7) over Burnt Hills of Section 2 and will now try to beat them a third time. The Spartans downed Cornwall of Section 9, 28-13, stopping drives and their 1 and 2 yard line and each time responding with 99 and 98 yard scoring drives of their own. The first came after an interception at the 1. Dan Maynard ran 13 times for 134 yards and the score that capped the 98 yard drive that began when Cornwall star Alex Cruz dropped a 4th down pass in the end zone. Those tow drives turned a 14-13 game into the more decisive final.
CLASS B
Section 4’s Maine-Endwell, ranked by Max Preps as the #1 team in the state at any level, proved they are certainly the best in Class B by thrashing #2 Alden of Section 5, 49-14. They ran for 398 yards in building up a 49-0 lead through three quarters. Alden totaled 163 yards rushing and 65 passing. Alden quarterback Brian Stoldt said “It kills me to say it but the better team won today. There’s no doubt about it. They’re a powerhouse and you run into them sometimes.” Their coach, Dick Diminico: “Our strength all season has been our offensive line and they just beat us up up front….I guess that’s where you win or lose football games.” I watched part of this game and it looked like a college team vs. a high school team.
Glens Falls of Section 2 beat Marlboro of Section 4 28-17 using trick plays. They connected on a flea-flicker on the first play. For 64 yards to set up their first score. They used a halfback option pass from 22 yards out to clinch it in the 4th quarter. Mike Lanoir, who threw the pass, said “I think we have thrown those about three times all year. We took advantage of them not having a lot of film on us and not knowing what we do.” Lanoir also had an 80 yard scoring run.
CLASS C
Hornell of Section 5, the three time defending state Class B champion, beat Section 4’s Chenango Forks 20-7 for their 51 straight victory, the second longest streak in the nation. Quarterback Richie Harkenrider passed for 190 yards and Zack Bacon rushed for 156 more for the Red Raiders. Hornell out-gained Forks, 389-143 but three turnovers kept Forks within range until late in the game. The Blue Devil’s only score came after a muffed punt they recovered at the Hornell 5 yard line.
James J. O’Neill, (or at least the high school named after him), of Section 9 bolted to a 21-7 lead over Section 2’s Hoosick Falls, a team that had dominated everyone they’d played all year, (no regular season opponent had gotten within 31 points of them). They hadn’t even given up a point in the first quarter until this. But they didn’t panic, started playing defense, shutting out the Raiders the rest of the way and forcing 5 turnovers in a 43-21 win. Brad Burns rushed for 196 yards and 5 touchdowns for the winners.
CLASS D
Section 6’s Randolph won a 7-6 defensive duel over Section 4’s Tioga. They stuff a two point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter and then ran out the clock with a long drive that featured a conversion on 4th and short. Both teams moved the ball. Tioga had two 100 yard rushers, Jesse Manuel, (109 yards) and Tyler Spires, (105), who scored the only TD for Tioga on a 35 yard burst Randolph had the only semblance of a passing game as Mitch Maycock was 3/6 for 70 yards, including a 16 yard TD pass to Nathan Beaver. Jordan Dwiasz had 101 rushing yards for the winners.
Tuckahoe of Section 1 survived 14-12 vs. Rensselaer of Section 1 behind two touchdowns by Nick Reisman. He had 70 yards rushing and his quarterback, Shyheim Nixon had 96 in another defensive duel.
The Match-ups for the finals:
CLASS AA
Section 6 Orchard Park 11-1 (431-215) #3, MP 4/588, 9-8, AA-2008, 2011
Vs.
Section 1 New Rochelle 10-1 (232-62) #2 MP 2/304, 13-7, AA- 2003
The #1 AA team in the state, according to the NYS Sportswriter’s Association, is actually Canisius, which is part of the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association, which runs it’s own championships. (Federation tournament, anyone?) Max Preps ranks them #3 in the state and #527 in the nation. Orchard Park has the more powerful offense, New Rochelle the better defense, although Shaker suddenly found a way to score on them late in the game. Both schools have a strong pedigree in this event.
CLASS A
Section 6 Sweet Home 12-0 (439-153) #2 MP 8/756, 8-4, AA- 2008, 2009
Vs.
Section 2 Burnt Hills 11-1 (525-113) #4, MP 10/812, 9-3
The #1 team in NYS, according to the sportswriters, is Lawrence of Section 8, which does not participate in the NYS playoffs. Long Island continues to have their own playoffs. Can Sweet Home beat Burnt Hills for a third time? Well, that‘s what Burnt Hills did to Cornwall, whom they also beat in the semi-finals in 2009 and 2011, (Burnt Hills lost to Maine-Endwell in the finals last year). But in their fourth state final in 5 years, maybe it’s the Spartan’s time?
CLASS B
Section 4 Maine-Endwell 12-0 (627-113) #1, 1/137, 9-2, A- 2004, 2011
Vs.
Section 2 Glens Falls 11-1 (374-197) #2, MP 23/1575, 3-1
Glens Falls will need plenty of trick plays to compete with Maine Endwell, one of the great teams in NYS history. Max Preps rates them the #3 “small school” in the nation, behind a couple of schools in Florida.
CLASS C
Section 5 Hornell 12-0 (437-122) #1, 9/809, 13-2, A- 2009, 2010, 2011
Vs.
Section 2 Hoosick Falls 12-0 (525-77) #2, MP 165/1164, 6-5
Hornell seems like the obvious favorite after it’s Class B titles and with it’s long winning steak. But Hoosick Falls has put up some big numbers this year and my impression of the Red Raiders in the playoffs is that they aren’t as dominant as I expected. They are at least vulnerable in this game.
CLASS D
Section 6 Randolph 10-2 (350-140) #1, MP 11/908, 8-2, D- 2005, 2009
At
Section 1 Tuckahoe 8-2-1 (284-138) #3, MP 142/5456, 15-7, D- 2006, 2010
It’s so rare to a see a defensive battle in the state playoffs these days. One virtue of a low-scoring game is that it’s inevitably close. Randolph won a 7-6 game to get here and Tuckahoe a 14-12 thriller. Expect something similar in the finals.
