Friday, October 24, 2014

The Magic Conch: Section 3 Football, Quarterfinal Style



It’s about that time! Quarterfinals this week, let’s break it down.

AA
West Genesee @ Henninger – WG comes in on a 2 game losing streak to CBA and Liverpool, Henninger was up 40 in the 3rd on Auburn last week. Henninger beat Baldwinsville & CBA; WG got cracked by both. Typical 1/8 matchup. Too much Collier, Scott, Everson, everyone. Henninger will move on, 42-7.

Auburn @ Corcoran – The Cougars are 2 points away from being undefeated – their only loss was a 7-6 Week 1 L to undefeated Liverpool. They’ve made some statements since then, including cracking CBA by 27 a few weeks ago. They’ve only given up 57 points this season and have shut out their last 2 opponents. Auburn is an exciting squad to watch, high octane offense and have clearly been in the 2nd tier of good teams all year. However, I think Corcoran is right on that top tier, plus they’re at home. 28-15 Corcoran.

CBA @ Baldwinsville – This one’s beautiful. The Bees held their opponents to single digits in the first 4 games, but they’ve given up 20+ in each of their last 2 outings – including their lone loss to Henninger. CBA has been all over the place, going from ‘they can win the section’ to ‘wait, this is varsity?’. They lost a close one to Henninger, had Liverpool on the ropes before giving it away, but they had to make a comeback to get by Central Square along with getting torched by Corcoran. Right when you think they have it figured out, they fall back. A lot of these guys have tasted the sectional championship before though and the staff has certainly been there enough – there’s something to be said for that. In what might be the game of the week, I’ll take CBA in a mild upset, 27-21.

C-NS @ Liverpool – Ahh, the rivalry game. I’m sure Liverpool will be packed to the rafters for this one! The Northstars are banged up, but only lost to B’ville by 1 last week. They’re figuring some things out. One thing they won’t be able to figure out is how to beat Liverpool, who trashed them earlier in the season. The strongest defense in Section III will come through again, and Liverpool will go 2/2 – 34-7.


A
Oswego @ Indian River – Indian River keeps on impressing. They’ve broken just about every game open against A competition in their undefeated run, and they beat F-M in a way that most AAs couldn’t do. Oswego’s won 2 of their last 3 to get in, but the Buc stops here. (ha, I’m so punny) 48-7 Indian River.

Carthage @ Fulton – Congrats, Fulton! You get a home game. You get to play a team that beat you by 38. That’s what happened when these two met at Carthage, but that was the beginning of the season. Things have turned around for Fulton (obviously) since then, and they’ll be able to get the Comets on their home field instead of making the bus ride. Carthage is coming in angry after getting whalloped by Whitesboro, but I think that game was an anomaly, so expect the Comets to go home with a rematch against Indian River on their minds. Comets win, 34-19.

Jamesville-Dewitt @ Whitesboro – Talk about riding high for the Warriors, beating Carthage down 31-0 last week. These two played each other early in the season at J-D. Whitesboro scored the first 21, then gave up 21 straight and needed a 32 yard FG in the waning moments to escape with a win. They’re at Chiz Frye Field now and haven’t given up a point in the last couple weeks, so I’m expecting a game that lacks the need for heroics. Home team advances 35-20.

New Hartford @ ES-M – New Hartford is 4-3 with a couple of non-league wins over B schools. ES-M, the 2 seed, is also 4-3. They won the (by consensus) weaker of the A divisions, for what it’s worth. They’ve turned up the offense in the last couple weeks, scoring a combined 95 points in 2 wins. Considering they’re also the only team to really give Indian River a 4 quarter push so far, you’ve gotta favor them in this one. ES-M 28-13.


B
Skaneateles @ Cazenovia – Another battle of the Lakers. Caz’s girls soccer team just handled Skaneateles yesterday. Skaneateles likes to air it out from time to time, and that’s fine and dandy, but not sure how conducive this weather is to throwing the ball. Cazenovia dominates teams by winning the trenches, and this is the sort of game that winning the trenches means winning big. While the parents argue over who has more money and who has the better lake, Cazenovia will win 42-7.

Mexico @ Westhill – This one could be interesting, but there’s a reason Class B has been a four-headed monster. There’s 4 teams better than everyone else, and Westhill is one of them. Mexico can surprise teams with how well they run the ball sometimes, but it’s been inconsistent and I don’t expect it to be enough to handle Easterly & the Warriors on their home turf. Westhill takes this one 36-13.

Marcellus @ Oneida – This one may have the potential of being more interesting than the 4/5 game. Marcellus won their first 4 before dropping a pair of games – to Westhill and Homer – and sit at 5-2. Oneida is 6-1, but that includes a couple of squeakers past VVS and Mexico before getting drubbed by Cazenovia. The Mustangs are a team that could nip Oneida and normally I wouldn’t be surprised to see it, but today is different. I think Oneida comes in pissed off of that beatdown they took, and they’ll take it out on their quarterfinal opponent. Indians win, 28-7.

South Jefferson @ Homer – Homer will score more points in the 1st quarter than South Jefferson has players on their roster. They play hard, but barely have enough to field a team. Homer plays quick and kills you up front. Advantage, home team. 58-6.


C
Canastota @ Herkimer – Canastota had a chance for a home game, but lost to Jordan-Elbridge in Week 7. Bet they wish they had it now, sitting at the 8 and having to face an absolute red-hot Magicians squad. Herkimer has a history of starting games off slow, so the 1st quarter might not be indicative of what it turns into, but Herkimer will take control and win 47-13.

Thousand Islands @ Jordan-Elbridge – Ahh, this one already happened before. It was an ugly one opening night, with J-E winning 8-7 on their home field. A safety and TD in the 2nd half won it. Thousand Islands then beat Institute of Tech, J-E’s division winner, the following week. They have been up and down all year, and I think their season ends in another close one tonight. Jordan-Elbridge will get the liberty of playing Herkimer after a 20-14 win.

Notre Dame @ Institute of Tech – The Jugglers had this matchup last year – on the road again – and handled business. Despite their 6 seed (done because of seeding rules in Section III), ND is the 2nd best team in the section in Class C. I think Kev & the boys will show it again, going off in a big 35-13 win.

Sherburne-Earlville @ General Brown – Sherburne pounded General Brown earlier in the season, but it was in Sherburne. They now head to Dexter for Part Deux, with GB on a positive swing after pounding Thousand Islands to win the division and S-E on a negative one after getting flat-out busted by Herkimer. Much closer this time around, but I think S-E advances by a 28-27 score.


D
Onondaga @ Dolgeville – No one in Class D has challenged Dolgeville. Not Morrisville/Hamilton, who was smacking everyone coming into that game. Not Westmoreland, who nearly beat General Brown and did beat Canastota. The only loss for D-ville? 30-14 to top-seeded Class C Herkimer. I’ll take that loss. Too much Foster, Doerrer, everyone else that the Blue Devils utilize in a 49-0 decision.

Westmoreland @ Cato-Meridian – This hasn’t exactly been a Westmoreland-type season. You’re not used to seeing them lose to begin with, let alone take a beatdown unless it’s in regional play, and they took a smacking from Dolgeville. Cato-Meridian has had a great season to this point, but Westmoreland wants that rematch a little too badly to let it end this week. Bulldogs move on, 34-22.

Weedsport @ Morrisville-Eaton/Hamilton – Weedsport’s not had the type of season they wanted after their QB went down very early in the 2014 campaign. M-E/H has went through a magical run so far, turning around their fortune from last year and doing things that not many (except for me) expected from them. They seem to be back on the right trail after getting handled by Dolgeville, with last week being an easy W over Waterville. This will be one of the better games of the night, but I’ll take the home team to continue its run with a 28-21 W.

West Canada Valley @ Sandy Creek – This matchup happened last year, and Sandy Creek handled business on WCV’s home field. This matchup happened this year, and Sandy Creek handled business by more on their home field. 3rd team will not be a charm for the Indians. Sandy Creek rolls onto the semifinals, 34-14.

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