Prep Talk

Who: Orchard Park Quakers (12-0) vs. IX-Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks (10-1).

When: Sunday, 6 p.m.

Where: Carrier Dome, Syracuse.

Tickets: $10 (includes all of Sunday's finals). Sunday's other finals: Class C, noon -- Southwestern (11-1) vs. I-Dobbs Ferry (10-1); Class B, 3 p.m. -- V-Hornell (12-0) vs. I-Croton-Harmon (11-0). Friday's finals: D, 11 a.m. -- V-Letchworth (10-1) vs. IX-Chester (11-0). A, 2 p.m. -- IV-Maine-Endwell (11-0) vs. II-Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake (11-1). Note: The finals are Friday and Sunday due to Syracuse University's home game Saturday vs. Cincinnati.

TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet (all games).

NYSPHSAA championship: The only state championship in New York is the one held by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, which consists of nine football-playing sections. Not included are New York City's Public Schools Athletic League or private schools from Western New York, greater New York City and Long Island). In addition, Section VIII (Nassau County) and Section XI (Suffolk) of Long Island do not participate in the NYSPHSAA football playoffs.

State rankings: 1. St. Anthony's (L.I.) (10-0) (last week: 1); 2. Orchard Park (LW: 2); 3. Newburgh (LW: 16).

Orchard Park state playoff history: This is OP's second championship game. It is 1-0 after its 21-17 victory in 2008 over I-Monroe-Woodbury in which MVP Kyle Hoppy ran for two TDs and Jeff Tundo one in a 21-0 second half for OP. OP has 12 Section VI titles, three Far West Regional wins in 10 games; and two state semifinal wins in three appearances (07, 08, 11).

Orchard Park's road to the final: Section VI final … beat Jamestown, 30-10. Far West Regional … beat V-Rush-Henrietta, 42-35. State semifinal … beat IV-Binghamton, 35-6.

Orchard Park coach: Gene Tundo (18th season, 149-36).

Orchard Park key players: sr. QB David Crowley (5-11, 175; 95-145, 1,688 yards, 18 TDs), sr. RB/LB Okoya Anderson (5-10, 225; 193-1,719 yards, 31 TDs rushing; 29 tackles), sr. WR Ben Johnson (6-3, 200; 46-793, 10 TDs receiving; 16 tackles, five interceptions), jr. WR Ben Holmes (6-0, 177; 18-338, three TDs receiving; 21-249, four TDs rushing); jr. WR Austin Goltz (5-10, 165; 15-288, four TDs receiving); LB/QB James Fitzgerald (6-2, 225; 107.5 tackles; 20-157, three TDs rushing); sr. LB Richie Moore (5-11, 212; 55.5 tackles, INT); sr. DL Chase Smith (6-4, 230; 43.5 tackles); sr. DB Luke Hoppy (5-10, 168; 31 tackles, three INTs); sr. SS Kole Robinson (5-11, 175; 29 tackles, two INTs); sr. OL Devon Leach (6-3, 300); sr. Chris Eisenhut (6-4, 290); jr. OL Michael Senn (6-3, 270); sr. P/K Austin Reese (6-1, 205; 58-65 PATs, 4-5 FGs, 34.8 punt avg.).

Newburgh state playoff history: First state championship appearance after winning sixth title in Section IX (Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Ulster Counties). First state playoff appearance since 2003 (quarterfinal loss).

Previous state playoffs: 2002 (semifinal loss), 2001 (quarterfinal loss), 1999 (semifinal loss), 1997 (quarterfinal loss).

Newburgh's road to the final: Section IX final … beat Warwick, 55-0. State semifinal … beat II-Shenendehowa, 19-6. Only loss was to Kingston, 3-0, in regular season finale. Its regular season win over state power Monroe-Woodbury ended M-W's 63-game win streak against local competition.

Newburgh coach: Bill Bianco (third season, 21-8). Newburgh key players: sr. QB Mark Risio (5-8, 170); fr. RB Anthony Dubose (6-0, 175); sr. OL/DL Mikal Myers (6-0, 305; 85 tackles, 11 sacks); sr. DL/TE Mike Esposito (11 sacks); sr. K Jeremy Stinson (35 touchbacks, 40-yard FG to earn MVP honors of state semi).

In Saturday's paper: A preview look at Southwestern and the Class C final.

On the web: Prep Talk Live will have photos, video and a live blog with play-by-play for Sunday's games.

---Keith McShea

Who: Southwestern Trojans (11-1) vs. I-Dobbs Ferry Eagles (10-1).

When: Sunday, noon. Where: Carrier Dome, Syracuse. Tickets: $10 (includes all of Sunday's finals).

Sunday's other finals: Class B, 3 p.m. -- V-Hornell (12-0) vs. I-Croton-Harmon (11-0); AA, 6 p.m. -- Orchard Park (12-0) vs. IX-Newburgh (10-1). Friday's finals: D: V-Letchworth 27, IX-Chester 0. A: IV-Maine-Endwell 27, II-Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake 20. Note: This year's finals were scheduled for Friday and Sunday due to Syracuse University's home game today versus Cincinnati.

TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet (all games).

NYSPHSAA championship: The only state championship in New York is the one held by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, which consists of nine football-playing sections. Not included are New York City's Public Schools Athletic League or private schools from Western New York, greater New York City and Long Island. In addition, Section VIII (Nassau County) and Section XI (Suffolk) of Long Island do not participate in the NYSPHSAA football playoffs.

State rankings: 1. Dobbs Ferry (last week: 2); 2. Southwestern (LW: 4).

Southwestern state playoff history: This is Southwestern's third championship game. It is 2-0 after wins in 2008 and 2009, both against schools from Section I (Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties). The Trojans beat Croton-Harmon, 35-7, in 2008 and beat Bronxville, 40-14, the next year. Southwestern has four Section VI championships, three Far West Regional wins in four games and is 3-0 in state semifinals.

Southwestern's road to the final: Section VI final … beat Cleveland Hill, 10-0. Far West Regional … beat V-Wellsville, 23-6. State semifinal … beat IV-Waverly, 19-13. The Trojans' only loss was in Week Four to Salamanca, which won Class C South but lost to Akron in the sectional quarterfinals.

Southwestern coach: Jay Sirianni (ninth season, 87-12).

Southwestern key players: Sr. WR/DB/P/KR Jake Swan (5-11, 160; 50 receptions, 719 yards, nine TDs; 103 rushes, 543 yards, six TDs; 34.9 yards/punt; 47 tackles; 10 INTs; two INT returns for TDs); jr. QB Jake Pilling (5-10, 200; 70-136, 969 yards, 11 TDs, five INTs); jr. LB/OL Peter Trathen (6-2, 210; 104 tackles, four sacks); sr. LB/RB Tyler Uber (6-0, 215; 100 tackles); sr. OL/DL Dan Austin (5-9, 205); sr. LB/RB Dan Petruccello (5-11, 190); so. RB/WR/DB Kevin Bellardo (5-10, 165); jr. WR/DB Ryan Schutte (5-7, 155); sr. WR/DL Jake Snow (6-0, 210); so. K Tanner Hoose (5-11, 165; WNY single-season record-tying nine FGs, 23-27 PATs).

Dobbs Ferry state playoff history: State-high seven finals appearances with three championships (2002, 2004, 2006). It lost finals in 2001, 2005 and 2007 and also made the semifinals in 2003 as part of a seven-year run as Section I Class C champions. The 2004 title came after a 24-0 victory over Falconer. This is the Eagles' first trip since 2007. Bronxville won the state title last year.

Dobbs Ferry's road to the final: Section I final … beat Bronxville, 38-14 (avenging its only loss of the season, a 15-14 home loss in its season opener). State quarterfinal … beat IX-James O'Neill, 47-13. State semifinal … beat No.‚1-ranked Hoosick Falls, 13-12. Dobbs Ferry coach: Jim Moran, first season (10-1).

Dobbs Ferry key players: Sr. QB/DB Spencer Avalos (5-9, 175; 550 rush yards, 450 pass yards, 14 TDs, 60 tackles); so. FB/DL Tim Soave (6-0, 225; 1,067 yards rushing, 16 TDs, 63 tackles); Eddie Ritch (5-10, 165; 870 rushing, 16 TDs, 44 tackles in nine games); sr. HB/DE John Yozzo-Scaperrotta (6-2, 200; 620 rushing, eight TDs, 40 tackles); sr. G/MLB Darien Bica (5-11, 180; 70 tackles); sr. TE/DB Thomas Fleming (6-4, 190; seven receptions, 155 yards, two TDs, 21 tackles).

On the Web: Read the Class AA preview and information, published in Friday's News, about Orchard Park's matchup with Newburgh.

Prep Talk Live: Check out photos, video and a live blog with play-by-play for Sunday's games.

---Keith McShea

Today's state semifinals could mark the last two games of the 2011 football season -- or we could see two Section VI teams move on to the state championships. You can follow the action at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Prep Talk Live.

Fans have done an outstanding job helping us keep track of all the action across Western New York this year at Prep Talk Live. Fans can still monitor games and comment on the games on the live blog on the Prep Talk Live page or through a smartphone.

We'll keep the Twitter hashtag #preptalkscores open as we have all season -- so if you're tweeting about football, we can get a conversation going (and the tweets will appear in the live chat as well). You can also certainly tweet to @bufnewspreptalk and @KeithMcSheaBN. 

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

buffalonews.com/high-schools     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

It's almost time for one of the very biggest games of the 2012 season -- the Monsignor Martin Association championship -- tonight at 6 p.m. at Prep Talk Live.

Fans have done an outstanding job helping us keep track of all the action across Western New York this year at Prep Talk Live. Fans can still monitor games and comment on the action on the live blog on the Prep Talk Live page or through a smartphone.

We'll keep the Twitter hashtag #preptalkscores open as we have all season -- so if you're tweeting about football, we can get a conversation going (and the tweets will appear in the live chat as well). You can also certainly tweet to @bufnewspreptalk and @KeithMcSheaBN. 

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

buffalonews.com/high-schools     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

The top 10 finalists have been announced for the Riverside Athletic Club's Connolly Cup, awarded to the most outstanding high school football player in Western New York. This is the 40th year the Connolly Cup will be awarded. 

The top 10:

Okoya Anderson, Orchard Park 
Martin Bailey, Kenmore West
Spencer DeCinque, Jamestown
Trent Ferguson, Williamsville South
Javon Fogan, Bennett
Alex Grace, Maple Grove
Ben Johnson, Orchard Park
Jordan Johnson, Sweet Home
Chad Kelly , St. Joe’s
Akeel Lynch, St. Francis

The winner will be announced Saturday, Dec. 3 at Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant in Blasdell.

Let us know why you voted the way you did in our comments section.

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

buffalonews.com/high-schools     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

In Week Nine, trips to Ralph Wilson Stadium were on the line. Here's our latest PrepTalkTV episode:

Here are our previous episodes: Week Eight, Week Seven, Week Six, Week Five, Week Four, Week Three, Week Two and Week One.

You can watch additional videos from Friday night at Prep Talk Live. 

More sports and seasons are documented in PrepTalkTV episodes are on our video page -- click "PrepTalkTV" there for the archive.

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

buffalonews.com/high-schools     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Here is the Section VI semifinal lineup for Week Nine (Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29). 

When times and dates are official the games will be added to our main scoreboard pages.

Class AA

2N-Niagara Falls at 1S-Orchard Park (Fri. 7 p.m.) 
2S-Jamestown at 1N-Kenmore West (Sat. 2 p.m.)

Class A

2S-Bennett at 1N-Sweet Home (Sat. 1:30 p.m.)
2N-North Tonawanda at 1S-Williamsville South (Fri. 7 p.m.)

Class B 

4-Depew at 1-Cheektowaga (Fri. 7 p.m.)
3-Pioneer at 2-Alden (Fri. 7 p.m.)

Class C

2S-Southwestern at 1N-Fredonia (Fri. 7:30 p.m. at Dunkirk)
4N-Akron at 2N-Cleveland Hill (Sat. 2 p.m. at Depew) 

Class D

3-Frewsburg at 2-Randolph (Fri. 7:30 p.m.)
5-Portville at 1-Maple Grove (Fri. 7:30 p.m.)

Class DD

No game this week.

DD final: Chautauqua Lake vs. Clymer, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at Ralph Wilson Stadium

Monsignor Martin

Regular season concludes in Week Nine:

Bishop Timon-St. Jude at St. Joe's, 2 p.m. Saturday
Canisius at St. Francis, 7 p.m. Saturday

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

buffalonews.com/high-schools     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Go to Prep Talk Live for all of Saturday's updates, observations and scores.

Below is a review of Friday night's running blog.

Welcome to the high school football postseason. 

The Section VI playoffs begin tonight. To get you ready, here's an overview from Mary Jo Monnin and a poll-based prognostication guide by me, and my observations in our PrepTalkTV video preview. 

When the ball gets kicked off, help us keep track of it all at our Prep Talk Live page.

On a night featuring several intriguing matchups, I'll be at the Class B quarterfinal of Lackawanna at Depew, which is a rematch from last year's playoffs (Lackwanna won). On Saturday, Mary Jo Monnin will be at the AA quarterfinal of Lancaster at Kenmore West at 2 p.m. while I'll be at the big Monsignor Martin matchup of Bishop Timon-St. Jude at Canisius at 1 -- perhaps I'll try to catch the end of another game.

The easiest way to get right in the action -- Friday or Saturday -- is to join the live blog on the Prep Talk Live page through your smartphone. 

Another method that has been very successful has been Twitter, where we encourage you to tweet updates along with the hashtag #preptalkscores -- that's the quickest way for us to share the information through the live blog (tweets with that hashtag will automatically show up). You can also certainly still tweet those updates to @bufnewspreptalk and @KeithMcSheaBN. 

You can also email to preptalk@buffnews.com or add updates to our Prep Talk blog Facebook page.

Our Prep Talk Live page includes a live chat, video, photos and scoreboards that will be updated throughout tonight and Saturday afternoon. Note: Typing in buffalonews.com/ptlive will also get you to Prep Talk Live. See you there.

---Keith McShea

(@KeithMcSheaBN on Twitter)

buffalonews.com/high-schools     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Sometimes you have a ton of notes and quotes after doing interviews that you can't possibly fit them all into a story. And sometimes you actually have time to gather them all up and throw them on the blog.

Here's today's feature story about the Bennett football program.

And here's a whole lot more from Bennett coaches and players:

First, here's the internet link for tonight's live radio broadcast, which will be done by the Intense Milks crew. The recording of the game can be heard at 2 p.m. Saturday on WJJL (1440 AM), which is broadcasting Niagara hockey tonight. 

Bennett assistant and former St. Joe's coach Bob O'Connor:

"I knew I'd be on a sideline somewhere. I've found a home here with these guys. I like these kids. They're fun to be around. Getting everybody to practice all the time -- that's what put us in the playoffs."

* * * 

O'Connor helped the Bennett program last season out by raising funds for helmets and other necessities through some former St. Joe's players.

"I tapped a couple of Joe's guys and we raised about $10,000 through former players. We bought helmets, and we got more from the city this year. We're trying to expand the programs to the point where we don't have to cut any kids, so no matter how many kids want to come out, we can suit everyone up.

"That was the problem the city always had in the past. They didn't have enough equipment for guys. You never want to turn away a freshman, you hate to cut young kids that want to play the game.

On the differences between St. Joe's and Bennett:

"One of the big thing certainly was there was more discipline at St. Joe's, private school kids are used to more discipline in the school itself. In the city, it's getting the kids to discipline themselves to show up at practice. The kids that didn't come last year are here every day and that's been the change this year.

On the similarities between St. Joe's and Bennett:

Continue reading "More cool notes & quotes from Bennett (& web radio link)" »