Section Nine Football

SECTION NINE FOOTBALL TOP FIVE RANKINGS AFTER WEEK TEN

CLASS AA/A:
1. CORNWALL – The Dragons get back atop Class A and will face Section Two Niskayuna in the regional this Friday. Star player Tyler Vanderpool has rushed for 1,816 yards along with 30 touchdowns (plus one TD reception). Yet, we do not know his status for this week’s game on account of the injury.

2. MIDDLETOWN – The Bears left little doubt after winning at Newburgh for the second time this season. The Class AA championship gives Middletown two since winning back in the spring of 2021. They also won a pair of Class A titles before the AA classification existed in NYSPHSAA football. Next up at Faller Field is Section Two champion Albany Christian Brothers Academy.

3. NEWBURGH – Although the Goldbacks looked solid in defeating Monroe-Woodbury two times, they just couldn’t get past the Middies. NFA will benefit from this year’s experience in moving forward.

4. OUR LADY OF LOURDES – The Warriors got in the way of the Cornwall juggernaut but did a great job in making the Class A final. We expect OLL to get back into the mix with another good team in 2024.

5. MINISINK – These Warriors can take pride in the fact that they came closer than anyone versus Cornwall in that 21-14 last minute loss during the regular season. Time for wrestling.

CLASS B/C/D:
1. PORT JERVIS – Port has now won 10 sectional titles (6 in Class B and 4 in Class A) to go with their 10 OCL crowns and another 10 DUSO titles. Only Newburgh can flaunt as many accolades going back 100 years. As for the upcoming week, Rye will provide a very challenging test at the Goshen Coliseum.

2. MARLBORO – The Dukes will have to keep trying to find a way to regain their former spot as Class B kings. Port Jervis has no plans of giving that up so soon. We’ll see what next year brings with adjustments and such.

3. BURKE – The Eagles have not played for two weeks due to a forfeit and a bye. They had the chance to watch opponent Haldane defeat Tuckahoe in the Section One Class D championship game. They must make sure not to come out flat early on in the regional.

4. O’NEILL – Great job by the Raiders in pitching a 14-0 shutout over a very good scoring Chester team. O’Neill has a tough prospect in Section One Bronxville, a team that blanked Chester 28-0 in week zero.

5. CHESTER – Still a very good season for the Hambletonians despite dropping the big game with O’Neill. They’ll have to keep working on finally getting past their major nemesis.

8-MAN:
1. SULLIVAN WEST – WOWZERS! The Bulldogs posted a big upset over Pawling in the championship game. After losing to the Tigers by 30 points during the regular season, SW found a way to make it to the regional against Section Four powerhouse Moravia. Yikes! Moravia beat Rondout 45-0 in week zero and they’ve never scored less than 56 points in one game since.

2. PAWLING – Every team is entitled to have an off week but unfortunately for the Tigers, it took place in the championship game. We still expect Pawling to get right back into the big picture of things next season in 8-man football.

3. FALLSBURG – The Comets had a very good year and made Sullivan West work hard in only losing to them by two points in the semifinal.

4. ELLENVILLE – After a good second half to the season, the Blue Devils should look forward to some conditioning in the weight room.

5. RONDOUT – The Ganders played much better as the campaign went on and hopefully they’ll get better numbers to upgrade the roster.