Attica (4-3) at East Rochester/Gananda (6-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Blue Devils simply haven't had any success in the playoffs in any of the "big three" sports, ever.
This year's squad is looking to throw that trend to the curb and make a run. As a sixth-seed, they earn a game with No. 3 East Rochester/Gananda and the team is prepared, having played very well this season against a strong Genesee Region League.
While the Blue Devils have lost three games, this is a strong Attica team with as much potential as any in recent years.
GR all-star running back Andy Ruddock is the key.
The senior has had a tremendous season so far, and will need to slow down the pace of the game as ER/Gananda is the fourth ranked team in the state and has a high powered passing attack.
Rudy carried the ball 104 times during the regular season for 936 yards and 10 touchdowns. Attica cannot get into a shootout with the Bombers.
Neil Dotterer is simply awesome.
The gun-slinger is one of the best quarterbacks Section 5 has ever seen and he torched Batavia in Week 6, throwing for 253 yards and four touchdowns.
Attica has seen some solid passing teams in Pembroke and Notre Dame, but nothing like this. Dotterer does not have that one favorite receiver and likes to spread the ball around.
Linebacker Kevin Gallinger - also a GR all-star - leads the defense with 24 solo tackles and 30 assists and will have to make sure his teammates are in the right place on the field and execute coach Jeff Cusmano's gameplan to perfection.
While the Attica defense will have to focus on Dotterer, the offense will try to get Ruddock going. The Bombers have held opposing offenses to 45 points this season so long drives are going to have to result in points.
Quarterback Brandon Rollins and receiver Shawn Dupuis will have to make plays if Ruddock gets stopped.
An interesting side-note to this game is that these two teams were both knocked out in the first round of sectionals last season and tried to schedule a Pool Play game. For some reason, which was never made public, this game never wound up happening.
