Section Nine Football

SECTION NINE FOOTBALL FINAL 2023 TOP FIVE RANKINGS

CLASS AA/A:
1. CORNWALL – Without super Tyler Vanderpool and banged up QB Jaiden Laureano, the Dragons didn’t have enough football wattage to handle a great Section Two Niskayuna team. For those who don’t follow the entirety of Section Nine sports, Cornwall performed magnificently in athletics, winning five team Section Nine titles (football, volleyball, boys soccer, boys and girls cross country). The Somers-Niskayuna bout this Friday at Faller should make for a great show.

2. MIDDLETOWN – Albany Christian Brothers Academy managed to break free from the Middie Bear grasp but Middletown will retain lots of fine memories after this 2023 season. Coach Tim Strenfel has the program pointing in a very good direction and team admirers will anxiously await the 2024 schedule release.

3. NEWBURGH

4. OUR LADY OF LOURDES

5. MINISINK

CLASS B/C/D:
1. PORT JERVIS – The Raiders stayed within striking distance until Rye scored in the third quarter en route to their 28-14 win. Sophomore Dylan Fox took over the QB job and his tremendous capability should make Port fans comfortable with the upcoming future. As for now, the Raiders control Section Nine Class B with the five straight championships. We’ll see if the competition gets any tougher in 2024.

2. O’NEILL – These Raiders climb up to our second position in these rankings after posting our only regional victory, 17-7 over Section One Bronxville. Senior Marek Arbogast accounted for all 17 points with a catch-and-run TD, a wildcat snap rush for six points, a first-half field goal, and two extra-point kicks. Arbogast has had a legendary career at James I. O’Neill, breaking the state receiving yards record (3,719 career yards), and Section Nine records for most TD receptions with 42, and most all-time pass receptions (192). Don’t forget he also added 142 kicking points (115 PAT/9 FG). Check out our ‘Record Book’ page for more of Marek’s accomplishments from his stellar years – which haven’t finished yet! This week O’Neill takes on Section Two Fonda-Fultonville in the eastern regional Class C championship on Saturday at Middletown in a 12PM kickoff.

3. MARLBORO

4. BURKE – Liam Benzinger had a terrific season, rushing for over 1,000 yards, and the Eagles sported a nine-game winning streak before losing to Section One Haldane, 37-19, in the state quarterfinal. Burke did not particularly play top-notch football (maybe two weeks off could have had something to do with that) but give most of the credit to an inspired Haldane team. Those Blue Devils take on Section Two Stillwater in the eastern regional final this Friday at Middletown. As for the Eagles, the team can now look forward to another promising year with excellent coaching from Aaron Hasbrouck and company in 2024.

5. CHESTER

8-MAN:
1. SULLIVAN WEST – Believe it or not, in losing to Section Four Moravia by a 44-0 score, the Bulldogs defense did better as far as points allowed against Moravia than any other opponent this season. Rondout lost 45-0 to them in week zero, making the Ganders the second-best. Moravia averages over 60 points per game, yet they will still play the underdog role versus Section Five Pembroke, a 107-64 winner over Frankfort-Schuyler in the other 8-man regional. Tyler Totten of Pembroke went 30 × 626 × 10 touchdowns in this wild game. Yes – you read that stat right!! We must still send out our congratulations to coach Ron Bauer and his SW Bulldogs on a fine, championship-winning season, the program’s first title in 17 years.

2. PAWLING

3. FALLSBURG

4. ELLENVILLE

5. RONDOUT