Prep Talk

Some random thoughts after Friday's two championship games -- not that I have too many left over after live blogs from Maple Grove's Class D win and Orchard Park's AA victory.

The AA game was not the prettiest. North Tonawanda has to be shaking its collective head about the gaffes which led to two first-half scores for OP. Then they lose senior Brandon McClinsey to an injury in the second half. Just not their night. McClinsey's speed and slipperiness were a perfect part of NT's triple-option -- if it took you a split second to realize McClinsey had the ball, he'd be a few yards behind you.

OP's defense certainly did come up big. NT may have dominated time of possession, and may have driven inside OP's 20 three times, but the Quakers kept them well away from the end zone.

OP certainly had room for improvement. Call it nitpicking, but for a team ranked first in the state and earning national attention (ninth in USA Today's East regional rankings), there were too many mistakes. Twice Kyle Hoppy sent punts beautifully high in the air, perfectly set to come down inside the 5. Twice, OP players were there when the ball came down, and twice they somehow fell into the end zone with the ball and NT started their possession at the 20. OP was also penalized six times for 74 yards.

Maple Grove, as I noted in the blog, was at a completely different level than Clymer. Many fans and high school football onlookers have already put Maple Grove and Walton of Section IV in a state semifinal in two weeks at Paetec Park. The way the Red Dragons routed Clymer, I can see why.

Clarence boys soccer scored one of the most impressive wins in recent regional boys soccer history with a 3-1 victory over Webster Thomas and a berth in the state semifinals. It's a rare day that the local AA team beats the Section V champion. A pretty strong validation of its placement in the NSCAA polls.

Here's a view from the other side of the field.

Speaking of Section V and the D&C, here's some early scouting reports for the Far West Regionals.

* Class C champion Le Roy won its 14th Section V title.

* Old friend Aquinas -- which certainly knows the way to Buffalo after playing every large school in the Monsignor Martin Association -- beat Victor in the Class A final to keep alive hopes of defending its state championship.

In case you missed the regional schedule for the football games at the University at Buffalo next weekend here they are:

Friday, Nov. 14 -- Class D at 6 p.m.; Class A at 8:30.

Saturday, Nov. 15 -- Class C at 10 a.m.; Class B at 1 p.m.; Class AA at 4 p.m.

Saturday's slate is earlier than usual due to UB hosting a Distinguished Speakers event Saturday night at 8 featuring Jon Stewart of The Daily Show. UB Stadium and Alumni Arena share the same parking lots.

Best tackle of the night? A young male decided to try and celebrate OP's victory by jumping on to The Ralph turf, and security apparently doesn't differentiate between high school games and Bills games. John Madden would have been -- BAM! -- proud of the tackle.

---Keith McShea