Section Nine Football

SECTION NINE FOOTBALL TOP FIVE RANKINGS AFTER WEEK EIGHT

CLASS AA/A:
1. CORNWALL – The Dragons clinch the A-2 division and will get the home Class A semifinal versus Warwick. The Wildcats have improved lately, winning some close games. Cornwall, however, is the cream of the crop and has very lofty goals in mind before this season is over.

2.MIDDLETOWN – The Middies have won the AA division title and will get a semifinal visit from fourth seed Pine Bush. Middletown beat the Bushmen, 34-14, in the league matchup and will play the favorite this week at Faller Field.

3. NEWBURGH – The Goldbacks shut down the M-W attack in a 28-0 win on the road to earn the second seed in AA. Now NFA gets to play once again at Academy Field in front of the hometown fans. M-W gets the third seed and has to make the trip this time to Newburgh for the other semifinal.

4. MINISINK – The Warriors complete a 3-0 A-1 league record, and as champs will entertain Our Lady of Lourdes in a Class A semifinal contest. This may be a very good game and defending A champion Lourdes could pose quite a challenge.

5. MONROE-WOODBURY – The Crusaders will need to pick things up a bit more moving toward Newburgh in that AA semifinal. Maybe playing on the turf will generate more offense.

CLASS B/C/D:
1. PORT JERVIS – The Raiders had a chance to scout the Highland victory over Red Hook to prepare for this week’s Class B semifinal with the Huskies at Glennette Field. PJ should feel confident going into the game but must make sure to counteract the rust that sometimes comes after a week off.

2. MARLBORO – The Iron Dukes will host Saugerties in the semis and may also look back to their 21-14 win at Saugerties early in the season. Marlboro must take into effect the Sawyers’ passing game.

3. BURKE – The Class D Eagles beat Class A Roosevelt, a pretty nifty team, to win their 8th straight game after dropping a week zero challenge at powerhouse Tioga. Now coach Aaron Hasbrouck will keep the team at the ready for the pending state tournament game against the Section One representative.

4. O’NEILL – Congrats to Raiders super-catch Marek Arbogast on breaking the NYSPHSAA all-time receiving yards record in the 36-0 win at Liberty this past Thursday afternoon. O’Neill should have another SNF football game this week before taking on Chester in the Class C championship game in week ten.

5. SAUGERTIES – The Sawyers held serve by defeating Beacon in the Class B quarterfinal by three touchdowns. Now it’s a trip to Marlboro with a chance to avenge this season’s one touchdown defeat and also to make the Class B final.

8-MAN:
1. PAWLING – The Tigers hold a #4 ranking according to the NYSSWA and own the top seed in these SNF playoffs. Pawling has the home semifinal battle with Pine Plains/Rhinebeck, after the Bombers/Hawks edged Onteora in the quarterfinals.

2. SULLIVAN WEST – The Bulldogs watched Fallsburg defeat Tri-Valley in the other quarterfinal and now look for a second victory over the Comets this season to advance to the 8-man championship game.

3. ELLENVILLE – The Blue Devils won a second nail-biter this season over rival Rondout in week eight and picked up a fifth win in a row. Maybe the rest of the playoff teams are lucky that Ellenville lost out in that 3-way tiebreaker.

4. RONDOUT – The Ganders have still played well despite those two close defeats lately against Ellenville. Rondout should get another game in week nine to close the season.

5. FALLSBURG – The Comets have had a very good season and pulled out a tough 38-32 quarterfinal over T-V. We’ll see if Fallsburg can take the next step in the semifinal at SW.