Class AA championship No. 1B North Rockland (8-1) vs. No. 1A John Jay-East Fishkill (8-1) When: Sunday, 1 p.m. Key players: North Rockland Tom Ginty (5-8, 170), Sr., RB; John Dapolito (6-0, 210), Jr., FB/LB; Devin Bovino (5-9, 170), Sr., QB. John Jay-East Fishkill Dan Bogucki (6-1, 190), Sr., QB/LB; Bobby Henderson (6-0, 215), Sr., RB/DE; Nick Langford (5-11, 158), Sr., RB/DB. Matchup to watch: Bogucki and his receivers vs. North Rockland secondary. The low down: The teams met during the regular season and North Rockland dominated the mistake-prone Patriots 28-8 behind 150 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Ginty. The Red Raiders can expect a better effort from John Jay, which has outscored the rest of its opponents 228-54 and had more success against New Rochelle, the team North Rockland beat in Wednesdays thrilling semifinal. The Patriots are a power running team but they will likely test the defense with the pass after New Rochelles Khalil Edney totaled more than 300 yards of offense Wednesday. Still, championship game experience favors the Red Raiders. They last won in 2005 but they are also the only team outside of New Rochelle to win Class AA since 1998. John Jay has not won or played for a Section 1 championship since the state playoffs were implemented in 1998. My take: Its tough to see a 20-point victory turned around, especially against North Rockland. All the Red Raiders have done is get better and better. Prediction: North Rockland 17-7. MVPs: Tom Ginty (back), Eric Rizzi (lineman).
Class A championship No. 1B Poughkeepsie (9-0) vs. No. 1A John Jay (8-1) When: Sunday, 4:30 p.m. Key players: Poughkeepsie Josh Oliver (5-6, 157), Sr., QB/DB; Brandon Weir (6-3, 220), Jr., OL/DL; Robert Johnson (6-0, 295), Sr., NG. John Jay Danny Caiola (5-9, 170), Sr., RB/LB; Jack Lambert (6-2, 180), Jr., QB/WR; Declan Myer (5-10, 175), Sr., RB/SS. Matchup to watch: John Jay offensive line vs. Poughkeepsie defensive front. The low down: Neither team has ever won a Section 1 championship since the state playoffs were implemented but they have come awfully close. Poughkeepsie has knocked on the door persistently the last few years, including a runner-up finish in 2009. John Jay was the Class AA runner-up in 2002, 2005 and 2006. If the Indians hope to break their streak as bridesmaids, they will have to beat one of the sections most dynamic teams. Poughkeepsie produced consecutive 40-point wins over Harrison and Ossining in its two playoff games. John Jay lost to Ossining and rallied to beat Harrison by three points in overtime. But the Indians have won their last eight games, including convincing victories over Somers and Rye. In fact, John Jay enjoyed more success against Somers than Poughkeepsie did, but it will have to produce with a spread running game led by Caiola and Lambert against a big, fast defense. The defense has played better than at any point in Jimmy Clarks 10 seasons, according to the coach, but Oliver, a 1,000-yard rusher and passer, could prove its toughest challenge yet. My take: Every Class A coach I talk to says John Jay can win. Some think John Jay will win. I agree with the first part, but not the last. Most common opponents favor Poughkeepsie. John Jay has improved immensely, however, and will play the Pioneers til the end. Prediction: Poughkeepsie 27, John Jay 24. MVPs: Josh Oliver (back), Brandon Weir (lineman).
Class B championship No. 1 Croton-Harmon (8-0) vs. No. 2 Our Lady of Lourdes (6-2) When: Saturday, 5 p.m. Key players: Croton-Harmon Jesse Mainiero (6-0, 190), Sr., QB/S; Nick Grous (5-10, 170), Jr., HB/LB; Kyle Ricciardi (6-2, 210), Sr., OL/LB. Our Lady of Lourdes Sebestian DeGuisto (5-11, 170), Sr., RB/DB; Ethan Bledsoe (6-3, 240), Sr., OL/DL; Devlin Brennan (6-4, 275), Jr., OL/DL . Matchup to watch: Croton-Harmons speed vs. Lourdes size. The low down: The teams met in the slop at Croton during the regular season and the defending Class B champ won 7-6. It was a stunningly close game for the presumptive favorite, but it also announced that Lourdes planned on making the repeat difficult to achieve. The Warriors have never won a championship since the state playoffs were implemented, but their coach has. Brian Walsh won Class B championships in 1996 and 1997 and a Class A title in 1999 while at Brewster. Walshs team is bigger in the trenches than Croton, but the Tigers have more speed. Theyre led by Mainiero, a passing and running threat who has accounted for a whopping 12 touchdowns in his last two games. He and Croton could prove tougher to stop on the turf, especially on a field they are intimately familiar with. Lourdes will rely primarily on a power game and the running DeGuisto to help deliver the upset. My take: I think the surface will benefit Croton a great deal. It will make this a higher-scoring game than last time, and that benefits the Tigers. Prediction: Croton-Harmon 28, Lourdes 14. MVP: Jesse Mainiero (back), John Brennan (lineman).
Class C championship No. 1 Bronxville (8-0) vs. No. 2 Dobbs Ferry (7-1) When: Saturday, 8 p.m. Key players: Bronxville Christian Conway (5-11, 202), Sr., RB/LB; Jackson Conway (5-11, 200), Sr., FB/LB; Luke Marrone (6-2, 188), Jr., WR/DB. Dobbs Ferry Spencer Avalos (5-9, 170), Sr., QB/DB; Darien Bica (5-11, 180), Sr., G/LB; Eddie Ritch (5-10, 165), Sr., HB/S. Matchup to watch: Dobbs Ferry front 7 vs. the Conways. The low down: Almost since the moment Bronxville escaped Gould Park with a 15-14 win to open the regular season, it has been a countdown to the rematch. The teams have been dominant ever since, winning all of their games by two touchdowns or more. Dobbs Ferry has won five of its last seven by shutout. Bronxville has scored 30 points or more in all but one game since Week 1. The Broncos, of course, are the defending state champion and two-time defending Section 1 champions. The Eagles won seven straight Section 1 titles and three state titles from 2001-07, but have not appeared in a championship game since. They are not as big as Bronxville but may be quicker, led by Avalos and Ritch. What could determine the game is if Dobbs Ferry can contain Christian Conway, Section 1s leading rusher (1,736 yards), and if it can withstand all the power in front of him, which includes his brother at fullback and a sizable offensive line. My take: This could very well be the best game all weekend. It could go a number of ways. Dobbs could win with its speed or execution. Bronxville could win thanks to its strength, experience or the diligence of the Conways. Just about anything and everything is in play. Thats how close this matchup is. Predicton: Dobbs Ferry 28, Bronxville 21 MVPs: Spencer Avalos (back), John Yozzo-Scaperrotta (lineman)
Class D championship No. 1 Haldane (7-1) vs. No. 2 Tuckahoe (6-2) When: Saturday, 2 p.m. Key players: Haldane Elias Lopez (6-0, 165), Sr. QB/S; Bryant Dain (5-10, 200), Sr., RB/DE; Henry Heintzman (6-3, 210), Sr., TE/DL. Tuckahoe Shyheim Nixon (5-10, 170), Jr., HB/SS/KR; Gary Moss (5-11, 215), Sr., TE/DE; Nick Neisman (6-1, 205), Jr., RB/LB. Matchup to watch: Nixon vs. Haldane defense and special teams. The Lo down: These teams seem to be annual adversaries, having played for a Section 1 title each of the last seven seasons (often by default). Tuckahoe has won all but one of those matchups, with Haldane earning the upset in 2007. This Tuckahoe team is young, much like its team four years ago, and Haldane is not, having returned 30 players from a year ago. But the defending state champion Tigers are better tested. In fact, has any other Class D team in the state played two of the top-ten ranked Class C teams in the state? That experience gives Tuckahoe the edge. So does the dynamic Nixon, who can score from anywhere on the field. His backfieldmate Reisman has developed into an every-down back to match Dain, Haldanes workhorse. Tuckahoe will also need to watch Lopez, a converted quarterback who has become a dual threat. My take: On a pound-for-pound basis, no team in Section 1 is tested quite like Tuckahoe, which has faced two of the top 10 Class C teams in the state, either of which may be good enough to play football through Thanksgiving. So yes, the Tigers may be young, but theyve earned plenty of experience the last eight games. Prediction: Tuckahoe 20, Haldane 14 MVPs: Nick Reisman (back), Gary Moss (lineman)
THE REST Friday Pawling 22, Hastings 13 Pleasantville 14, Edgemont 6 Putnam Valley 20, Westlake 14 Mamaroneck 28, Mahopac 21 Lakeland 28, Hen Hud 13 Nyack 22, Sleepy Hollow 18 Mount Vernon 16, Yorktown 14 Horace Greeley 42, Panas 14 Ramapo 22, Carmel 14 Pelham 27, Tappan Zee 20
Saturday Port Chester 20, Saunders 12 Eastchester 21, Fox Lane 13 Nanuet 20, Ardsley 13 Suffern 26, Ketcham 20 Byram Hills 35, Lincoln 8 Woodlands 35, Blind Brook 14 Irvington 27, Briarcliff 7 Spring Valley 26, Yonkers 7 Rye Country Day 41, King 7 St. Lukes 34, Hackley 14 Sacred Heart 27, New York Military Academy 12 Forman 17, Harvey 13
Sunday Iona Prep 28, Chaminade 20 Stepinac 35, Holy Cross 28
Similar Posts:
- Scouting report: Mount Vernon vs. CBA
- Elite League Playoff Report
- Wednesday notes: Clarke, Paschall set to return
- Class M Championship Halftime: Hillhouse 0, New London 0
- Section Finals at Mariucci Recap
