Three from Section 4 brace for state football semifinals at Cicero-North Syracuse
Three Section 4 representatives – not surprisingly, in Classes B, C and D - have achieved final four status in New York’s 30thhigh school football tournament.
Semifinals will be spread across two days in what ordinarily promises to be digit-numbing conditions at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.
Two of three matchups involving Section 4 pit unbeaten squads against one another. One will bring together the top-ranked and second-ranked teams in their enrollment classification.
Have a look at the breakdown (section precedes school):
Class B
Matchup: 5-Monroe (11-0) vs. 4-Maine-Endwell (11-0).
When: 3 p.m. Nov. 25.
Next for winner: 1-Rye (10-2) or 2-Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (12-0), noon Dec. 3 at JMA Wireless Dome.
Quarterfinal results: Monroe def. Buffalo Health Sciences/Global Concepts, 14-6; Maine-Endwell def. Indian River, 41-14.
State rankings: Monroe No. 4; Maine-Endwell No. 1.
Most recent state semifinal appearance: Monroe none; M-E 2022.
Breakdown: Maine-Endwell comes into this one seeking the program’s 34th consecutive win. … The Spartans’ state-playoff record is a fairly astounding 24-3, with victories in their last seven. … Monroe running back Tahjmir Mullins, a junior at the school in the Rochester City School District, rushed for 179 yards on 23 carries in the quarterfinal. … Linebacker Nazhier Wilson intercepted two passes and was credited with 15 tackles, including a sack.
More: Maine-Endwell streaks into Class B state football semi with 41-14 win against Indian River.
Class C
Matchup: 6-Salamanca (10-2) vs. 4-Waverly (11-1).
When: Noon Nov. 25.
Next for winner: 9-James I. O’Neill (7-5) or 2-Fonda-Fultonville (11-1), 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at JMA Wireless Dome.
Quarterfinal results: Salamanca def. LeRoy, 21-13; Waverly def. Adirondack, 49-8.
State rankings: Salamanca No. 3; Waverly No. 2.
Most recent state semifinal appearance: Salamanca 2001; Waverly 2011.
Breakdown: Salamanca returns to state playoffs for the first time since that 2001 semifinal. … The Warriors pulled out their quarterfinal win thanks to a touchdown pass and 2-point conversion with six seconds remaining. … One of Salamanca’s losses came against Section 6 Class D champion Clymer/Sherman/Panama, 37-6 on Oct. 7. … Waverly’s loss was dealt by Tioga, 23-17 in overtime in both teams’ second game. … One opponent has eclipsed a 12-point output against the Wolverines in their most recent seven games, and four have been limited to eight or fewer.
More: Waverly football dominates Adirondack, rolls into Class C semifinals
Class D
Matchup: 6-Clymer/Sherman/Panama (11-0) vs. 4-Tioga (12-0).
When: 3 p.m. Nov. 24.
Next for winner: 2-Stillwater (10-1) or 1-Haldane (8-2), noon Dec. 2 at JMA Wireless Dome.
Quarterfinal results: C/S/P def. Canisteo-Greenwood, 50-16; Tioga def. Dolgeville, 56-12.
State rankings: C/S/P No. 2; Tioga No. 1.
Most recent state semifinal appearance: C/S/P 2019; Tioga 2022.
More: Dominant Tioga takes step toward third straight state football title, beats Dolgeville
Breakdown: C/S/P’s quarterfinal win came against a first-time Section 5 champion. … C/S/P quarterback Tate Catanese passed for 164 yards and three touchdowns on 9-for-12 accuracy. … The Wolfpack led by 29-0 in the first minute of the second quarter. … “If you noticed, they don't have a lot of kids going both ways. That is the exact opposite of what happens in Class D football in Section 5. They are fresh, they are good," Canisteo-Greenwood coach Steve Donlon said of C/S/P. … The quarterfinal victory was Tioga’s 39th in succession, surpassing Chenango Forks’ 38 (2003-05) for second-best all-time in Section 4 back of Maine-Endwell’s 62 in a row (2011-15). … Tioga was beaten by C/S/P in 2018 and 2019 semifinals.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Three Section 4 high school football teams to play in state semifinals
