Section Nine Football

SECTION NINE FOOTBALL TOP FIVE RANKINGS AFTER WEEK NINE

CLASS AA/A:
1. CORNWALL – Tyler Vanderpool adds to the Dragon record book with a magnificent season leading to another team appearance in the Class A title game with a semifinal win over Warwick. Next up is a chance to get even with Lourdes for last year’s defeat in the final.

2. MIDDLETOWN – The Middies held serve in knocking out Pine Bush in the AA semis. Now we get to watch a great championship game with Newburgh. As the top seed, Middletown still has to play NFA at Academy Field since Section Nine predetermines these sites. I prefer neutral sites.

3. NEWBURGH – In two straight games versus Monroe-Woodbury, the Goldbacks outscored the Crusaders 63-2. Newburgh gets its rematch with Middletown, after having dropped a 28-17 decision at home to the Bears in the league contest.

4. OUR LADY OF LOURDES – The Warriors get back into our rankings with the 14-12 mild upset semifinal victory at Minisink. Lourdes has lost some close games this season, yet championship game foe Cornwall scored 50 points in their A-2 meeting.

5. MINISINK – A missed two-point conversion try kept these Warriors from an overtime in the 14-12 semifinal loss to Lourdes. Minisink still had a successful season in winning the A-1 division championship.

CLASS B/C/D:
1. PORT JERVIS – The Raiders put 72 points on the scoreboard in a dominating Class B semifinal win over Highland. The championship tilt with Marlboro takes place Saturday at O’Neill in a 1PM kickoff.

2. MARLBORO – The Dukes shut down a very good Saugerties passing game en route to a 20-0 semifinal triumph. They’ll have to raise their game a little in taking on 4-time defending B champion Port Jervis.

3. BURKE – The Eagles did not get a game in week nine due to a Monticello forfeit and will get a week ten bye in waiting for the Section One Class D winner between Tuckahoe and Haldane. Those teams play Friday afternoon in a 3PM start at Arlington HS.

4. O’NEILL – The Raiders lost a close game to Class AA Valley Central to get ready for another Class C title showdown with Chester. According to our count, state record-holder in receiving yards, Marek Arbogast, now has 3,508 all-time yards in this category along with an SNF record 40 career touchdown receptions.

5. CHESTER – The Hambletonians defeated Class A Roosevelt in a good ballgame, 28-19, on the road. Chester has had difficulty getting past O’Neill the past few years. This season, they lost a tough 17-14 Class C league game to the Raiders. Their next chance comes in the championship game this Friday at Spackenkill in a 6PM kickoff.

8-MAN:
1. PAWLING – The Tigers dispatched a good Pine Plains/Rhinebeck squad in the semifinal, which sets up the final with Sullivan West at O’Neill in a Friday 6PM start.

2. SULLIVAN WEST – The Bulldogs narrowly got past Fallsburg, 22-20, in the other semifinal. They will play the role of underdog against Pawling, a team that handed SW its only regular season defeat.

3. FALLSBURG – The Comets have come a long way, nearly making it to the championship game this season. Either way, the folks involved with Fallsburg football can take pride in a very good year.

4. ELLENVILLE – The Blue Devils conclude the season with a forfeit win over Mllbrook/Webutuck for a sixth straight win. After getting off to an 0-3 start, Ellenville got together and played some tough football the rest of the way.

5. RONDOUT – The Ganders originally had a week nine game scheduled with Groton that never materialized. Rondout still hopes to get back to 11-man football next season. We’ll keep a lookout on their situation this offseason.