Saturday's Class D semifinal game between Perry and Notre Dame was originally scheduled to be played in Waterloo.
Section 5 did the right thing and moved the game closer, and to a great facility.
The game between No. 7 Perry (4-3) and No. 3 Notre Dame (5-2) will be at East Rochester High School at 3 p.m. Saturday.
I will be there and encourage as many GR football fans to attend the game and give our local team support as they look to make the finals.
If you're like me, you wanted to watch the big game today between the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers (though, you're probably not like me in rooting fo the Chargers).
The game started on schedule at 1:05 p.m., but then went off air about 1:15.
WIVB reports that a mylar balloon hit a powerline, tripping a transformer.
Sources say the balloon hit power lines, which caused a transformer to trip off.
Lights and non essential power were affected.
CBS has delayed the game due to technical difficulties at the stadium.
CBS just reported that game has resumed, but no broadcast power yet. This is disappointing personally because my dad and I haven't been able to watch a Chargers game together in a couple of years, and who knows when we will get another chance.
UPDATE (1:50 p.m.): Kind of confusing report on NFL.com about how the power went out a half hour before game time, and suspending the game for five minutes was planned, but no word on the broadcast. CBS just said the game is 7-3 Chargers.
UPDATE (2:01 p.m.): Game back on. Still 7-3. Bills driving after Charger turnover. No graphics on screen to say what game time is. And while I wrote this, the Bills scored.
UPDATE (2:19 p.m.): Game off air again. Lost broadcast during two-minute timeout.
UPDATE: In comments, Russ provides a link to online play-by-play.
UPDATE (2:50 p.m.) Game back on, 8:58 left in 3rd quarter.
UPDATE (3:58 p.m.): Congratulations Bills fans. 23-14.
I am one of the few sports guys that will call cheerleading a sport, but I love hearing about these girls competing in what is a difficult, and dangerous sporting event.
One of the best sectional championships - that I never get to attend - happended this past weekend as the Section 5 cheerleading competition took place.
I heard Batavia took first in Class B, which is awesome. This Democrat and Chronicle story says they did in the photo, but that Geneva did in the story.
Hopefully the BHS girls took home the title and we will get to see them on the sidelines for a while longer during football season.
UPDATE:
The D&C updated the story with results and Batavia did win. Holley's Heather Kelly also won Coach of the Year for Class C.
Congrats to all the girls on the BHS squad!
The game counts as a non-leaguer because the Class D playoffs are underway, but Genesee Region League powers Attica and Pembroke still put on a show Saturday.
Both squads had big games moving the football, but it was the Dragons that defended their home turf, 38-15, and wrapped up the No. 3 seed in the Class C playoffs next weekend.
Pembroke started the game with an 80-yard drive, but missed a field goal. The Blue Devils had a long drive of their own and were able to capitalize when Andy Ruddock finished off an 80-yard drive with a 5-yard TD run.
Pembroke drove again and this time got points as Andrew Wright had a 2-yard scoring run early in the second quarter.
After a stop, the Dragons added seven more points when David Kleckler tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Ken Babcock.
Attica had a golden chance to score to start the third quarter when the team marched all the way down to Pembroke's 3-yard line, but then fumbled the ball away. Pembroke drove 98 yards and Kleckler scored on an 8-yard keeper.
Kleckler had officially taken over at this point.
He intercepted a pass and returned it 31-yards for a score on Attica's next drive and then put an end to the following Blue Devil possession with another pick.
Wright took the ball 71 yards for a touchdown to wrap up Pembroke's scoring.
Attica had a late touchdown run.
Wright finished the game with 14 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns and Mike Dibble added 90 yards on 17 attempts.
Kleckler completed 5-of-6 attempts for 51 yards and also rushed for 52 yards on nine carries.
J.P. Phillips had 48 yards on seven rushes.
The Blue Devils fall to 4-3 and will be at East Rochester/Gananda (not Bath) in the opening round of the Class B tournament next weekend while Pembroke improves to 6-1 and will host Bishop Kearney.
Young teams make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes hurt really bad.
The Alexander football team had almost as many penalty yards in one game as they had all season long and were not able to advance out of the first round of the Section 5 Class DD playoffs, coming out on the wrong end of a 28-14 decision against Canisteo-Greenwood.
Alexander was the No. 3 seed and the Redskins were the sixth-seed, but the two squads were evenly matched and the penalties wound up being the difference. A team with just five seniors on the roster will go into the offseason looking to learn from these mistakes with hopes of competing for a league and sectional title next year.
But Saturday's game was a true learning experience for the Trojans, who came into the game on a three-game win streak.
Canisteo-Greenwood marched right down the field on the opening possession and tailback Brett Mariatt punched it in from 3-yards out.
Alexander responded and drove right down the field with a heavy dose of Jay Schafer running the ball. The Trojans got all the way down to the C-G 9, but were stuck with a fourth-and-5. The usually solid special teams unit missed the field goal attempt.
The Redskins had an opportunity to score early on the in the second quarter, but Alexander's defense made a stop on a fourth-and-goal. The Trojans then caught a pair of breaks with fumble recoveries as the period went on, but penalties and the Canisteo-Greenwood defense kept the score 7-0 at the half.
The coaching staff made all the right adjustments and a 37-yard kickoff to start the second half by Steve Schaffer put Alexander into the end zone early.
Schafer had a 15-yard run and then eventually scored from 10 yards out. After a bad snap on the extra point attempt, the Trojans trailed 7-6.
Canisteo-Greenwood took hold on the next drive because of the penalties.
There was a personal foul called when Mariatt was hit out of bounds, then a roughing the quarterback and pass interference called on the same play, all moving the Redskins down to the Alexander 9. Matt Mills finished off the penalty-filled drive with a 1-yard touchdown dive.
After starting a drive, a false start penalty put Alexander into a third-and-long, where an incomplete pass led to a punt.
C-G scored early in the third quarter when Mariatt scored on an 8-yard run. The Redskins recovered the onside kick and that was the emotional end to the game.
Trent Ahern had a touchdown run with 1 1/2 minutes left in the game to put C-G up 28-6, but Alexander never quit.
Quarterback Zach Burke marched his squad down the field with some impressive passing. He finally ended up throwing a 46-yard touchdown pass to Schaffer with under a minute remaining for the final tally.
C-G (3-4) moves on to face No. 2 Clyde-Savannah in the semifinals next week. Alexander falls to 3-4, but the young squad will be taking the experiences of this season into an offseason that will be big.
The team has potential with all but five players returning for 2009.
No. 6 DeSales didn't give Notre Dame much of a game in the Section 5 Class D opener.
The third seeded Fighting Irish dominated from the start and rolled to a 55-6 victory and will be moving on to the semifinals next weekend against the winner of tonight's game between C.G. Finney and Perry.
Notre Dame started off the scoring with a big play when Kevin Francis returned a punt 50 yards for a score. He followed that up with a 13-yard touchdown reception from Nick Bochicchio.
Bochicchio then found Mike Pratt on a 10-yard touchdown pass and Pratt added a 5-yard touchdown run to give ND a quick 28-0 lead.
DeSales finally got on the scoreboard as Brendan Costello tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Don Derenzo, but it was all Notre Dame after that.
Kevin Schildwaster had a 17-yard touchdown run, Beau Richter scored from nine yards out with Greg Barr and Jon Corona adding late touchdown runs.
The Fighting Irish had a 313-103 yard rushing advantage in the game as Schildwaster finished the day with 12 carries for 131 yards. Pratt had 66 yards and picked off a pass and Barr finished with 61 yards on just four attempts.
Rick Lair and Craig Houseknecht both had fumble recoveries, with Houseknecht getting a sack as well.
Costello only completed 7-of-22 attempts for 80 yards as DeSales ends the year 3-4.
Notre Dame is now 5-2 and awaits the winner of tonight's game between Finney and Perry.
Travis Fenstermaker, Andrew Alexander, Mike Humphrey and the rest of the Le Roy football team is definitely prepared for the sectional playoffs.
The Oatkan Knights thumped Class B powerhouse Hornell 41-19 Friday night and extended the Hartwood Park win streak to 42 games.
Le Roy ends the regular season a perfect 7-0 and heads into the Class C playoffs with the top seed.
Fenstermaker connected on 11-of-15 pass attempts for 223 yards and four touchdowns, including one to Mike Humphrey, who caught five passes for 77 yards. The two have hooked up on 10 touchdown passes this year.
Humphrey also had an interception.
Alexander gained 64 yards on the ground and 61 in the air and scored a touchdown.
Quentin Humphrey caught three balls for 75 yards and a TD, while making eight tackles to lead the defense.
The Oatkan Knights held Hornell's Austin Dwyer to 111 yards with one touchdown on 14 carries as the Raiders were forced to pass during the second half.
Hornell ends the regular season with a 5-2 record.
The Oakfield-Alabama football team wrapped up an undefeated season Friday with a 45-6 drubbing of Holley.
It is the first time the Hornets have gone 7-0 since 1986 and the 10th seeded team in the state for Class C will enter the Section 5 Class C playoffs with a No. 2 seed.
Brad Riner had a great final regular season game, gaining 134 yards with three touchdowns on just six carries. His TDs came from 9, 40 and 52 yards.
A.J. Kehlenbeck had a touchdown run and threw a 15-yard TD pass to tight end Noah Seward and Joe Natalizia scored on a 5-yard run.
Jon Fisher kicked a 38-yard field goal.
Josh Athoe had 10 tackles.
Guy Hills threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Sean Baylor for the Hawks, who end the regular season with an 0-7 record and are heading to Pool Play.
The Batavia football team will try to mimic what Geneva does all week in practice, in preparation for the Section 5 Class B Tournament next week.
But they got better looks than they will get all week Friday night in a 40-12 loss. The blowout spoiled the Batavia homecoming, but will hopefully give the team some ideas how to pull the upset next week as the Blue Devils will be the No. 8 seed, going up against No. 1 Geneva for the second straight week.
The Panthers are the No. 4 ranked team in the state and looked like it right off the bat, taking control of the game in the first quarter.
Quarterback Bobby Martin hooked up with DeAnze Williams and Junior Collins on passes before finding Derrious Thomas in the end zone on a 25-yard pass.
Batavia went three-and-out and Martin went right back to work.
There was a 21-yard strike to Collins before Martin scored on a 15-yard keeper, making the score 13-0 after a period of play.
The Blue Devils came out in the second quarter and Rob Williams entered the game at tailback. Williams injured his hip last week and was not expected to play, but was looked at by doctors just hours before the game and allowed to play, with limited duties.
He moved the ball five yards on that carry, but Batavia was pushed back on the next play and wound up in a fourth-and-6 situation.
QB Joe Canzoneri found a receiver, but he was two yards short of getting the first down.
The Blue Devils finally made a stop on defense, but a pass interference call helped prolong the Geneva drive. Martin found Collins after that and moved his squad down to the 15-yard line.
A short run and two incomplete passes set up a fourth-and-9. The Panthers knew where to go with the ball as Martin lofted a ball up into the end zone and Thomas skied above the defender and pulled down his second score of the game, giving Geneva a 21-0 advantage.
Thomas then made a play on defense, intercepting a Canzoneri pass and returning it deep into Batavia territory. But a personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Geneva pushed the ball all the way back to midfield.
Williams had a 38-yard touchdown run shortly after that.
Batavia had a shot to score late in the first half when Vinny Pedro ripped off a 25-yard run and Canzoneri found a receiver on an 11-yard pass with one second left. But the final pass of the half fell incomplete.
The Batavia coaching staff found something at the half and made some good adjustments, allowing the home squad to finally start moving the football.
Anthony D'Aurizio broke off a 31-yard run and eventually scored on a 3-yarder. Geneva did answer right back with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Williams.
D'Aurizio and the Batavia offense again marched the football down the field, but a fumble gave the Panthers the ball back and killed all momentum.
Williams scored the final Geneva points in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard run. D'Aurizio scored another touchdown in the closing seconds on a 4-yard run.
Geneva improves to 6-1 while Batavia falls to 3-4. The two squads will play again next Friday night in the opening round of the playoffs, in Geneva.
The previews for Week 7 are now up in Sports and I've done special playoff previews for both Alexander and Notre Dame.
As always, readers are encouraged to comment on the games and make predictions.
Here is the list:
Elba/Byron-Bergen at Bishop Walsh
Attica (4-2) at Pembroke (5-1)
1:30 p.m. Saturday
Even though this game counts as a non-league contest, it is a big game between two top Genesee Region League squads that are still playing for a lot.
Pembroke lost out on the GR title with a loss to Oakfield-Alabama last week, but is playing for the No. 3 seed in the Class C playoffs. The Dragons would get the third seed with a victory and could drop to as far as No. 5, which would mean they lose that first round home game.
Attica suffered two losses during the earlier part of the season and is going to be using this game to prepare for the Class B playoffs. The Blue Devils typically do not do well in sectionals but want momentum heading into the tournament.
Attica is coming off a 50-15 drubbing of Holley and is firing on all cylinders offensively.
Andy Ruddock leads the squad in rushing, picking up 847 yards with nine touchdowns on 87 carries. Nate Berry follows with 20 attempts for 225 yards and four scores. Luke Pariso has 143 yards and four TDs.
The passing game has really come into its own.
Brandon Rollins had his best week of the year last week and threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns. He has completed 45-of-70 attempts for 675 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions this year.
His big target is Shawn Dupuis, who caught seven passes for 137 yards and two TDs last week. Dupuis now has 23 receptions for 485 yards and six scores.
Pembroke's defense will have its hands full with this crew. But the Blue Devils also have a big challenge.
Andrew Wright and the Pembroke offense has been amazing this season. Even last week when Oakfield-Alabama was able to hold Wright in check, quarterback David Kleckler stepped up and nearly delivered his team a win with some amazing passes.
Kleckler now has completed 25-of-50 passes for 600 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He has 259 yards rushing, with a pair of scores as well.
Wright has huge numbers. He has ran the ball 51 times for 623 yards and eight touchdowns, has caught 13 passes for 340 yards and three scores and has returned two kicks for TDs.
Mike Dibble has rushed for 433 yards and eight touchdowns on 77 carries and J.P. Phillips has added 271 yards and six scores.
Ken Babcock has 11 receptions for 230 yards and four TDs.
Both teams will kick off the playoffs next weekend.
Holley (0-6) at Oakfield-Alabama (6-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Hornets won the Genesee Region League title last week with a thrilling 25-24 victory over Pembroke as the two undefeated squads went blow-for-blow in front of about 2,500 fans.
With the playoffs just a week away, the Hornets just need to avoid a major let-down to clinch the No. 2 seed. O-A can still get the top seed in Class C if they win and Hornell beats Le Roy Friday night.
Oakfield-Alabama is the 10th ranked team in the state.
Tim Smith and Brad Riner had huge games for the Hornets in the title-clinching win and will look to wrap up the regular season by adding to their impressive rushing totals.
Smith has 771 yards and 11 touchdowns on 95 carries and Riner has pitched in a solid 505 yards and seven touchdowns on 89 attempts. Riner also had the big 2-point conversion run to give the Hornets the win last week.
Jason Stanley has picked up 260 yards and Josh Athoe has 105 and will likely each get some carries.
With such a mismatch, O-A might try to work on some things before the playoffs start, and that could lead to some passing by A.J. Kehlenbeck.
The senior QB has had a very good year - going 13-of-26 for 145 yards and four TDs - and may get a chance to open things up a bit before the second team gets in the game.
Oakfield-Alabama's defense is as good as the offense as the team has scored 241 points and given up just 91. That unit is led by a big, physical defensive line.
Chris Williams leads the way with 32 tackles with Riner and Noah Seward each pitching in 27.
These guys will have the job of shutting down the Holley rushers.
The Hawks have not had a lot of luck moving the ball this season and are looking to get through this game and attempt to contend in Pool Play.
Kyle Steadman has emerged as the top rusher for Holley and scored twice in a 50-15 loss to Attica last week. Guy Hills can also make plays for the Hawks.
Geneva (5-1) at Batavia (3-3)
7 p.m. Friday
Rob Williams is out, so the Blue Devils are going to have to change things up quite a bit.
Williams has been a monster this season but suffered a hip injury in last week's 34-14 loss to East Rochester/Gananda. But he was shut down, gaining only 26 yards on 15 carries, and left in the third quarter with the injury.
The senior with 904 yards rushing will be missing this week but should be back for the Class B playoffs the following week.
This means drastic changes in how Batavia will run its offense, takes away the biggest playmaker on special teams and means the defensive secondary will be severely limited.
But the Blue Devils have a plan; give the ball to Anthony D'Aurizio as much as possible, play the field position game and try to control the tempo of the game.
D'Aurizio has carried the ball 83 times for 826 yards and eight touchdowns and has been the thunder to Williams' lightning. An experienced athlete, D'Aurizio is going to have to put the team on his shoulders and carry them this week.
"He's going to have to have a monster game, no doubt about it," coach Dan Geiger said.
As good as D'Aurizio is, Geneva will be focusing on him and the Blue Devils are going to need to do other things.
Vinny Pedro has done some good work as the third back and would help his team a bunch if he could make a big play or two with the ball in his hands. Fullback Todd Logsdon could also see increased carries this week.
And it is time for quarterback Joe Canzoneri to step up.
The junior has not had to do much with his arm because of Batavia's strong running game, but expect him to be put in the position to make plays that could determine the outcome of the game.
Canzoneri is a skilled quarterback that will have to get the ball to receivers like Pedro, Devonte Rolle and Joe Schlossel.
Batavia has been on the road for the last three weeks and returns home for homecoming and a game with a Geneva squad that is the top seed in Class B. The Blue Devils have clinched a playoff berth and will probably end up at No. 7 or 8.
Geneva has a stud quarterback in Bobby Martin and has won two consecutive sectional championships. The Panthers are ranked fourth in the state in Class B.
Martin is surrounded by good athletes and is going to be hungry after a 14-13 loss to Canandaigua last week, in a battle of unbeaten squads.
Elba/Byron-Bergen (1-5) at Bishop Walsh (1-4).
7 p.m. Friday
Some games are close to a must-win, even if a team isn't going to make the playoffs.
This is one of them.
Elba/Byron-Bergen has that situation this weekend as Walsh is not a very good football team that could be the home underdog. The Eagles have only scored 66 points in five games, while giving up a whopping 187.
The Section 6 school is coming off a 43-12 beat-down at the hands of C.G. Finney last week and has only beaten Niagara Catholic this season in a 26-22 game.
The Lancers need a win in this game to quiet some of the many critics that are not happy with the way the program is going.
Last week's 48-14 loss to Notre Dame was rough to look at on the field, but the reason isn't because of the skill of the players. The Elba/Byron-Bergen penalty count - including personal fouls - is out of control and the fans have grown impatient with the losing and penalties; and they are becoming very vocal.
When the team doesn't turn the ball over or shoot itself in the foot with the penalties, they are competitive.
Zach Green is one of the more talented athletes in the Genesee Region League and people will remember him as the biggest bright spot for this team, this year.
He gained the majority of Elba/Byron-Bergen's 129 rushing yards last week and can break off a big run at any time. Brandon Spurling also has that breakaway ability and will get his share of carries.
The Lancers had been starting Eric Kowalik at quarterback for most of the season, but switched back to Cody Torpey last week. It is unclear at this point as to which one will get the start or the bulk of the plays behind center this week.
The Byron-Bergen players have improved throughout the season and have now gained enough varsity experience to play with a team like Walsh.
The Lancers are looking to win this game and try to turn some of the negative talk into positives heading into Pool Play.
Hornell (5-1) at Le Roy (6-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
This is the last tuneup before sectionals for the Oatkan Knights, and what a tuneup it is.
Le Roy is looking to keep the 41-game win streak at Hartwood Park alive with a game against a very solid Class B squad, that is coming off a 14-7 win over rival Bath last weekend. The Oatkan Knights are also coming off a win versus a rival, a 27-20 win over Caledonia-Mumford.
Le Roy - the Livingston Conference Division II champion - is ranked fourth in the state in Class C while the Red Raiders jumped from not being ranked up to No. 8 in Class B.
This game means a lot to LR as the top seed in the Section 5 Class C playoffs is up for grabs. Oakfield-Alabama should run away with Holley and would move up to No. 1 if Hornell were to win this game.
That means Le Roy could end up with Pembroke in the semifinals and then O-A in the finals. This is no regular tune-up for the playoffs.
The Oatkan Knights will come out and try to take hold on this game early with some big scores. Don't be surprised if quarterback Travis Fenstermaker tries to get the ball to Mike Humphrey early in this game.
Humphrey had his quietest game of the season last week and it showed as LR fell behind 14-0 early. He did catch seven passes, but for only 40 yards and no touchdowns.
Humphrey has 28 receptions for 435 yards and nine scores and every time he makes an impact early in a game, Le Roy rolls.
Fenstermaker completed 11-of-15 attempts for 106 yards and a TD last week, and continues to be a great passing quarterback that can make a difference with his feet. He scrambled nine times for 34 yards against Cal-Mum.
Andrew Alexander is still having a tremendous season in the backfield. His 107 yards with a touchdown last week puts him at 888 yards with eight TDs for the season.
Le Roy's defense will have its hands full as Hornell has no problem moving the football.
Austin Dwyer has been one of the top rushers in all of Section 5 and currently has 155 carries for 1,103 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He will get the ball a lot.
If the Oatkan Knight defense can put the Red Raiders in third-and-longs, it is clear where the ball is going.
Quarterback Zach Harkenrider has completed 21-of-46 pass attempts for 375 yards with five touchdowns. Jordan Schwartz has caught 14 of those passes for 310 yards - with five touchdowns.
This is where Humphrey and Alexander can make their marks on defense. Both have solid interception numbers this year and Harkenrider has been picked off seven times.
Canisteo-Greenwood (2-4) at Alexander (3-3)
1:30 p.m. Saturday
You can call this Season 3 for the Alexander football team.
The first season was one in which the squad was pummeled by Oakfield-Alabama, Pembroke and Attica in the first three games of the season. The second was three straight wins over Holley, Elba/Byron-Bergen and Barker.
Now it is playoff time.
When Lucas Czechowski booted a field goal to give Alexander a 9-8 win over Holley in the fourth week of the season, it was just the start to a run that has earned the Trojans a home game in the Class DD playoffs.
His team now looks to make a run through the playoffs with Canisteo-Greenwood on tap in the opener and likely Caledonia-Mumford waiting in the finals.
The road ahead is a challenge as C-G has played some pretty stiff competition in teams like Le Roy and Cal-Mum during the regular season, probably Clyde-Savannah in the semifinals and the Red Raiders getting a bye week in the opening round.
Cal-Mum gets a rest during the opening week of the playoffs because Lyons had to cancel the rest of its season.
Alexander coach Dave Radley and his squad are not looking that far in the future just yet as the Redskins await in the opening round.
C-G has an offense that will keep the Alexander defenders on their feet on every play. The Redskins spend most of the game in a shotgun formation and run a lot of motion and option plays out of it.
Quarterback Mark Ahearn is a good runner and does a great job of drawing in linebackers before pitching the ball to running back Brett Marlatt.
The Trojans have seen a lot of different looks during Genesee Region League competition, but no team as diverse on the offensive side of the ball as Canisteo-Greenwood.
Ryan Piechoki, who is playing with a broken hand, leads the Alexander defense with 53 tackles and will get help from Ryan Wilson (26 tackles), A.J. Dybala (25) and Jordan Leitten (23).
Alexander will try to run the football and take advantage of scoring opportunities.
The offense has not put up any huge numbers this season but can move the ball and play the field position game as well as anybody.
Jay Schafer is the top rusher and has gained 514 yards with four touchdowns on 81 carries. Mike Woodrow has gotten more reps as the season goes on and finished the regular season with 210 yards and two scores on 39 attempts.
Piechoki has scored five times on 35 carries and will see carries in short yardage situations.
There has not been much of a passing game, which could be something the team will need in the playoffs to make a run.
Zach Burke completed 24-of-59 pass attempts for 291 yards, but has six interceptions to go with just one touchdown. His top target has been Czechowski, who has eight receptions for 104 yards, but he will also look in the direction of Steven George and possibly Leitten, who has big-play ability.
This is the second first round home game Alexander has ever hosted.
No. 6 DeSales (3-3) at No. 3 Notre Dame (4-2)
1:30 p.m. Saturday
Anybody that was at Aquinas High School for the 2006 sectional finals game between Notre Dame and C.G. Finney will always remember the Fighting Irish players running towards the stands to celebrate a championship with their fans.
The players were holding the trophy high as they were on top of the world, just knocking off state ranked Finney, which came into the game undefeated.
Nick Bochicchio was a waterboy on that team and was as much there to support his older brother Christian, who was the quarterback on that squad.
Now, the younger Bochicchio is a junior and the starting QB that is looking to lead the Fighting Irish to a Class D championship. The playoffs kick off this weekend with a home game against DeSales.
Notre Dame has a lot to look forward to during this playoff run, including a possible matchup with Finney - which is always a good time - in the semifinals, but will not be overlooking DeSales in the opening round.
The Saints do not excel at any one thing, but do many things well. They will mix in the pass with a run offense that is led by running back Brandon Wright.
Senior Brendan Costello is a solid quarterback that will look to get the ball in the hands of sophomore playmaker Erin Edwards-Rhymes as much as possible.
DeSales plays in the tough Finger Lakes West and has scored 174 points while giving up 166.
Notre Dame has been playing some good football of late, with wins over Holley and Elba/Byron-Bergen in the last two weeks.
The running back duo of Kevin Schildwaster and Mike Pratt has proven to be a strong 1-2 punch.
Schildwaster leads the squad with 487 yards and seven touchdowns with Pratt not far behind with 440 yards and five scores. The backfield has plenty of depth with Gianni Zambito and Greg Barr emerging as solid backups in recent weeks.
Bochicchio is well over 600 yards passing and has it made with receiver Kevin Francis on the field. Every time Francis gets the ball in his hands, he is a threat to take it to the house.
The winner of this game will play either No. 2 C.G. Finney (4-1) or No. 7 Perry (3-3) next weekend.
As many area schools face issues with declining enrollment, there is a prime example of what we could see in the future happening at Lyons High School right now.
Lyons had to forfeit last weekend's game against Dundee and today announced it will not be fielding a team for the Class DD playoffs, which start this weekend. The reason is that the team does not have the minimum of 16 kids that must suit up to play a game.
The eighth-seeded Lions were scheduled to play No. 1 Caledonia-Mumford Friday night.
The only team in the bracket to be pushed into Pool Play is Warsaw, which one would assume would be given that final playoff position. But, it is Wednesday and Cal-Mum and Warsaw have already been working on preparations for the original teams on the schedule. So Warsaw will not be jumping into the playoffs.
This happened two years ago when Holley had to forfeit its final regular season game and opening round playoff game, both against Pembroke.
The Dragons went two weeks without a game and lost in the sectional semifinals because they were obviously rusty and had to play a very good Le Roy squad.
Now Cal-Mum might very well go into the playoffs with a week off and the possibility of facing a solid Avon team in the semifinals.
Elba felt the need to merge with Byron-Bergen because of the declining numbers, with hopes of avoiding this situation. Unfortunately, this is something that now appears to be a topic we are going to be discussing come playoff time every year or two now.
Just a reminder, high school football previews will be posted as I finish them tomorrow.
I will also be doing special playoff previews for Notre Dame and Alexander, which kick off their playoff runs on Saturday.
Attica senior linebacker Kevin Gallinger is the second player from his squad to earn a Player of the Week in Class B.
Running back Andy Ruddock won the Offensive Player of the Week in Week 3 and Gallinger earned the honor on the defensive side of the ball this week.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder had eight solo tackles and six assists in Attica's 50-15 win over Holley Friday night.
Attica is 4-2 and will be playing Pembroke (5-1) this Saturday.
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