Section Nine Football

ROSCOE - Fullback Alan Coombes and quarterback Joe Garigliano each scored twice as visiting Tri-Valley beat Roscoe, 28-7, Friday night. Coombe, a junior fullback, scored in the first quarter on on a 10-yard run and then kicked the PAT to give the Bears a 7-0 lead. In the second quarter soph Garigliano tallied on a one-yard run. The point after failed as the lead went to 13-0. Roscoe then put together its scoring drive, finished off by a two-yard Justin Bowers-to-Troy Kirchner TD pass. The PAT made it 13-7. The Bears roared back before the intermission, however, as Coombe, a converted lineman, rumbled in from five yards out. A Garigliano-to-Adam Whiteman pass was good for two PATs to make the score 21-7 at the half. Early in the fourth quarter Roscoe put together a scoring threat. But T-V's Ryan Lazier made his second interception of the night to stymie the Blue Devil effort. Tri-Valley then engineered a 19-play, 92-yard scoring drive. Garigliano ran it in from the one, and Coombe converted. 28-7. Tri-Valley's defense recorded five takeaways. In addition to Lazier's two picks, Ted DeGraw also had an interception while defensive tackle Tommy Byrne had an interception and a fumble recovery. Meanwhile Josh Smith recovered a kickoff that serendipitously went a short distance when kicker Coombes' leg had cramped up. "We decided to use our size advantage," said T-V coach Dave Viglione. "We wanted to control the game with our line and run straight at them." Viglione credited his big front offensive five for the push. That line included Brendan Conklin (LT), Andy Garigliano (LG), Chris Poley (C), Chris Mickelson (RG) and Byrne (RT). Coombe finished with 138 yards rushing on 27 carries. Joe Garigliano was six-for-44, Danny Know seven-for-37 and Josh Smith six-for-23. Garigliano completed four-of-10 passes for 34 yards. "I give Roscoe all the credit in the world for not folding," Viglione said. "They're a young team but very scrappy and tough. Hats off to (Roscoe coach) Fred (Ahart)!" Tri-Valley boosted its record to 3-1. Roscoe is now 0-4. Next Saturday the Bears travel to Ellenville while Roscoe goes to Livingston Manor for a Class D encounter and a rematch of last year's title game.

PORT DOMINATES SECOND HALF TO OVERCOME GOSHEN GOSHEN - Earlier in the week Port Jervis Coach Bob Corvino promised his players that he was not going to yell at them any more. It must have been hard for Corvino not to make the paint peel off the lockerroom wall at halftime as Goshen dominated the first half and led, 21-13. "I didn't yell. I just told them that Goshen had just given them a physical beating in that first half," Corvino said. "We made a few adjustments and the kids came out to play in the second half." One PJ adjustment was on defense after the Gladiators had chewed up 241 net yards of the Oscar W. Gustafson Field turf in the first half. In the second half Goshen netted but 46 yards as Port completely shut down the talented Goshen running backs while sacking QB Nick Turi four times. The other adjustment came on offense as Port shifted to its "I" formation and stuck to the ground. After throwing 23 first half passes, the Raiders limited their air assault to but two tosses from scrimmage in the second. Rejuvenated Port Jervis outscored Goshen, 22-0, in the third quarter. "We didn't even practice our I set this week," Corvino said, "but we decided to bring it out in the second half." The switch ignited as big a swing in momentum as you're likely to see on the gridiron. Oh, yes, and it was old-fashioned smashmouth football, too. The game started well enough for Port Jervis. On the third play from scrimmage QB Matt Semerano connected with Chris Smith on a 66-yard pass and run TD. Kevin Butler converted, and it was 7-0 PJ with just one minute and 25 seconds of playing time elapsed. But Goshen then got the ball and scored in just three plays. Oscar Wdowiak swept left end for 54 yards. Amaan Siddeeq swept right for 24 yards. Joe Dembeck burst the final six yards for a TD at the 9:57 mark. Kieran Payne, replacing star kicker Bobby Collett who was playing for the Goshen soccer team, booted the conversion. 7-7. Two series later the Gladiators marched 59 yards on 10 plays. Rolling to his right, Turi found SE Brett Smith open in the back of the endzone for a 15-yard TD pass on the third play of the second quarter. Payne made it 14-7. On that drive, Port lost the services of DT Bryan Shauger and LB Butler who would not return to action. Jerrell Lucas later picked off a halfback pass by Port's Steven Stellato at the Gladiator 5. Port's defense held, and on fourth down the Raiders blocked Payne's punt in the endzone. Ryan Cunningham recovered it for a PJ TD. But Cunningham, kicking in Butler's place, missed the PAT. 14-13 Goshen. Port kicked off. Siddeeq returned to the 39. On second down Dembeck burst into the secondary and raced down the left sideline for a 57-yard TD run. Payne made it 21-13 with 7:04 left in the half. After the ensuing kickoff, Port drove from its 28 to the Goshen 20 but sputtered. A Smith interception gave the Raiders another chance, but their half ending drive fizzled at the Gladiator 33. Then came a third quarter that Port fans aren't likely to forget. Goshen got the kickoff, but its offense was stuffed by a suddenly dominating Port defense. Payne's 38 yard punt was returned 44 yards by Smith to the Goshen 21. Out of the "I" Stellato ran for nine yards and then scored on a 12 yard dash up the middle. Suddenly the Port line was opening some big holes. A pass for two points after, however, failed as Goshen's lead was reduced to 21-19. On Goshen's next series it netted minus 8 yards as all-state lineman Chuck Buck along with soph Ryan Grosso (who took Shauger's spot), Chris Conklin and Cunningham dominated the line of scrimmage. One of the blitzing linebackers, Ricky Crown, recorded the first of his two solo sacks on the day as he nailed Turi on third down. The Gladiators got the ball back three plays later as Semerano fumbled a snap at the Goshen 26. But Port didn't come apart at the seams. Instead junior LB John Foley made a big tackle of Wdowiak, tossing him for a five yard third down loss. On Port's next series the Raiders were forced to punt. Semerano boomed a beautiful 48-yarder that was downed by a diving Mike Ascraft at the Glad one yard line. On the next play Dembeck got stuffed for a safety, and the score was tied at 21. Goshen was reeling. Stellato returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to the Goshen 39. On first down he ran for 17 yards but had to leave the game with a stinger. He was quickly replaced at tailback by Foley, and Port didn't miss a beat. Running through a big hole off the right side, Foley burst to the five and then fought his way to paydirt. The TD run covered 22 yards. A bad snap from center foiled the PAT. 27-21 with 3:04 left in the third. Goshen was falling apart, the two-way players tiring and the whole squad bewildered. After being stufffed again by the Port defense for minus eight yards on three plays, Payne went back to punt. The snap sailed way over the 6-5 punter's head, and Port had a first down at the Goshen 26. Foley bolted 25 yards to the one and scored from there two plays later on the third quarter's final play. Semerano completed a pass to Cunningham for two points after. 35-21. A starting linebacker, Foley came off the Port bench to score two TDs and rush for 74 yards. Goshen tried valiantly on two fourth quarter drives but got no closer to paydirt than the Port 30. Sacks by Cunningham, Crown and a shared sack by Grosso and Conklin made life miserable for QB Turi who took a beating. Brad Ropke's interception on the game's next to last play was the clincher. Stellato rushed for 113 yards on 19 carries. For Goshen, Dembeck, who rushed for 110 yards in the first half, finished with 120 on 19 carries. The win was critical for Port which came into the game with a league loss already on its record. The Raiders are now 2-1 in Class A and 3-1 overall. The loss was Goshen's first. The Glads are now 1-1 in Class A and 3-1 overall. Next week they must host league-leading Cornwall. Meanwhile Port will host Warwick in a less pressure-packed, non-league game. --- FEARLESS PHIL WARWICK WINS AA-2 OPENER AGAINST MINISINK The Warwick Wildcats defeated the Minisink Valley Warriors 15-6 at C. Ashley Morgan Field in the opening Division 2-AA game for both squads. Warwick scored on the first possession of the game on a Steve Prescod 41 yard touchdown run with Shawn Walsh converting the extra point. The Warriors used both starting QB Sr. Bryan Freeman and backup Jr. Sean Fitzpatrick on different offensive series early in the game, but Warwick's defense used great performances from Prescod, DL Bill Cutler, Ryan Wall, and Kevin Burns to hold off Ben Becker's running attack from doing any serious damage. The Wildcats got another Prescod TD, this time a 46 yard jaunt, to take a 13-0 lead at halftime. Prescod leads Warwick with 6 scores on the year. In the 3rd quarter Minisink Valley used over 10 minites of game clock on the first possession, only to have a Fitzpatrick 4th and goal from the Wildcat 10 fall incomplete. The Warriors had yet another chance at the beginning of the final stanza at nearly the same field position, but similarly gave up the ball on an off-target pass. Fitzpatrick finally ran one in from the 5 on the next possession late in the 4th to cut the deficit to 13-6. A big run by Jr. RB Alex Darcey brought Warwick deep into Minisink territory, where the Wildcats killed off some clock and finally gave up the ball on downs. Coach Bell's squad needed to go over 90 yards with only 8 seconds left and Cutler sacked Fitzpatrick in the endzone for a safety on the last play of the game. So, even though Greg Sirico's Wildcats dropped their first 3 non-league games, the team immediately grabs a share of first place with the Washingtonville- FDR winner in AA-2. Next week, Warwick visits Port Jervis in another out-of-division tune-up. The Warriors fall to 2-2 overall, 0-1 division, and play host to Washingtonville in a big league game next Friday night. --- RICH ARNOTT ROUNDOUT CAN'T STACK UP AGAINST MONROE-WOODBURY It had the makings of a blowout, and it was. Monroe Woodbury rolled over Rondout Valley 42-8 Thursday night in Central Valley. For Rondout Valley(1-3) it was more like a recipe for disaster as Monroe quarterback Matt Stack ran for 217 yards and 4 touchdowns. The 4 touchdowns, all runs, were of 66, 28, 1 and 32 Yards. Monroe built a 28-0 halftime lead. Already ahead 14-0 with 6:08 to go in the first quarter, the Crusaders recovered a fumble at the Rondout 29. Two plays later Stack burst 28 yards on a keeper making it 21-0 and sending Monroe(4-0) well on their way. Phil Mason scored on a 31 yard run with 4:37 to go in the game to give the Ganders their only score. John Carelli rushed 20 times for 79 yards to lead the Ganders shorthanded attack. Scoring Summary 1st Quarter: :18 (MW)Matt Stack 66 Yd. Run(Gerald Jones Kick) 7-0 4:36 (MW)Ray Graziano 4 Yd. Run(Jones Kick) 14-0 5:52 (MW)Matt Stack 28 Yd. Run(Jones Kick) 21-0 ---------------------------------------------------- 2nd Quarter 11:48 (MW)Matt Stack 1 Yd. Run(Jones Kick) 28-0 ---------------------------------------------------- 3rd Quarter 8:13(MW)Matt Stack 32 Yd. Run(Jones Kick) 35-0 ---------------------------------------------------- 4th Quarter 3:11(MW)Neil Ingenito 3 Yd. Run(Jones Kick) 42-0 7:23 (RV)Phil Mason 31 Yd. Run(Carelli 2 Pt) 42-8 ----TONY MORINO of T-W Cable Six NEW PALTZ DRUBS BURKE, 50-8 New Paltz had three quick scores in the first period and cruised from there. Burke definitely looked like a new team but they never quit playing hard. Travis Garcia had four TDs and Kevin Murphy 2 for New Paltz. Scoring summary 1st 9:45 NP Travis Garcia 18 run (Goldman kick) 7:10 NP Travis Garcia 44 run (kick wide) 5:45 NP Travis Garcia 38 yd punt return- 2pat (Marks to Dumas) 2nd 11:56 NP Kevin Murphy 1 run (Goldman kick) 2:07 NP Kevin Murphy 1 run (Garcia run for 2 pts) 3rd 10:41 NP Jon Coicou 11 run (Goldman kick 6:41 NP Travis Garcia 71 yd punt return (Goldman kick) 4th 6:24 B Nick Rappa 82 yd k.o.return (David Racine run for 2pt) ---RICH MICHAELIS WIZARDS TOP FIRED-UP FDR, 19-14 The Washingtonville Wizards won a tight game Thursday night by the score of 19 - 14. The FDR Presidents had two big touchdown runs, and while they were the only really big gains they made tonight, they made them count. On the first play from scrimmage, Bobby Siniscalchi shot off tackle and blew untouched down the sidelines for a touchdown. If the Wizards were taking the 0-3 Presidents lightly, the play served notice that they were in a real football game, and that it was wake-up time. The Wizard defense took a while longer to get it in gear this evening, spotting FDR 14 first-half points, but they rose to the occasion in the second half and stifled the Presidents' offense. Give the visitors credit; FDR came here fired up, angry and ready to take it to the Wizards. However, the Wizards don't get rattled easily, and they kept a collective cool head and went about their game. Junior Eric Rosales especially played a great game last night, rushing for 247 yards on 23 carries with a touchdown, while Chris Castellano added 121 yards and two touchdowns. FDR's scores were by Bobby Siniscalchi and Sean Matthews, and this seemed to be a team that is better than its record --- PETE FLANAGAN NEWBURGH ROCKS PINE BUSH 46-21 The Newburgh Goldbacks led the Pine Bush Bushmen 20-0 at halftime en route to a 46-21 victory at Academy Field. After the Goldback defense forced Pine Bush to go three-and-out, Tim Shaw connected with Sean Bergin on their very first play from scrimmage for a 48-yard scoring strike. On their next drive, the Goldbacks got the ball on the Bushmen 25 and put another six points on the board with a three-yard touchdown. Jihad Morris crossed the goal line giving the Goldbacks a 14-0 lead with the two-point conversion. After forcing the Bushmen to punt again, Nate Holmes ran back a Keith Loures punt 52 yards for the touchdown and the Goldbacks had a 20-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Holmes scored his second touchdown of the day on a 10-yard run with 9:06 remaining in the second quarter to cap off a drive that started on the NFA 32-yardline, and the Goldbacks had a 26-point advantage. Jesse Callahan and Jihad Morris each scored touchdowns in the second quarter giving the Goldbacks a 40-0 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Newburgh head coach C.T. Chatham put in his backups and Pine Bush took advantage in an attempt to leave the river city with some pride. A Newburgh fumble led to a Devin Conroy touchdown and Newburgh's lead was cut to 40-6. Mike Morstatt scored Pine Bush's second touchdown of the game with 1:17 left in the third quarter with a 4-yard scoring run. Newburgh scored their final touchdown with 9:39 remaining in the game when Jovanta Williams broke through the Pine Bush defense for a 55-yard scoring run giving the Goldbacks as 46-14 lead. Pine Bush sophomore Lance Brookins threw his first touchdown pass of his varsity career when he found Pat Baldwin in the end zone for a 15-yard strike as Pine Bush cut the lead to 46-20. Loures' extra point gave the Bushmen 21 points. Pine Bush (0-4, 0-1 Class AA) returns home next week to play Middletown for its homecoming game while the Goldbacks (3-1, 0-1 Class AA) head to Monroe-Woodbury for a Class AA showdown. --- MIKE ZUMMO KINGSTON REMAINS UNBEATEN Albany 0 6 0 0 6 Kingston 7 21 0 6 34 Kingston boosted its record to 4-0 by whipping Albany in a non-league encounter at Dietz. Willis Freeman scored a pair of rushing TDs for the Tigers while QB Coleman Edmond tossed TD passes to Chris Ellsworth and Joe Kinard. The Tiger defense chalked up five takeaways and blocked a punt. SPACKENKILL WINS OVER PINE PLAINS, 28-21 By Dale Palmer & Jim Willoughby In the rain, under the lights, Spackenkill held onto a 28-21 victory against a determined Pine Plains squad. The Bombers came out strong with a fake punt that resulted in a 33 yard pass from Ed Casazza to Kyle Longest bringing the ball to the Spackenkill 10 yard line. However a fumble on the next play, recovered by Spackenkill’s John Zamierowski, ended the drive. Later in the first quarter Mike Naccarato had a 28 yard run to the 10 yard line for a first down. Next play, Spackenkill QB Ryan Willoughby pitched to Naccarato around the right side for a 5-yard touchdown. The extra point by Dave Gruberg was good. (7-0 Spack) Pine Plains responded quickly with a two play drive. James Davis connected first with John Cort for a 40 yard gain, and then again with Casazza for a 50 yard touchdown pass. The extra point tied the score 7-7. With 6 minutes left in the half, Spackenkill took the lead again with a pitch from Willoughby to Mike Tedesco who ran the ball 15 yards for the touchdown. The extra point put the Spartans ahead by 7. On the next possession, a 30 yard pass from Willoughby to Corcoran was tipped, but it was caught by Spackenkill’s Justin Wolfe. Willoughby’s 4 yard touchdown run and Gruberg’s extra point brought the score to 21-7 at halftime. The Bombers came out strong in the second half when Davis threw a 25 yard pass to Pat Hooks, but Spackenkill recovered a fumble on the next play to take possession. A third quarter Pine Plains score began with a 40 yard pass from Davis to Pat Hooks putting the Bombers to the 15 yard line. Davis connected with Casazza for a 15 yard TD pass. The extra point brought Pine Plains to within 7 of Spackenkill. (21-14) Spackenkill answered with a long 74 yard drive capped by a Willoughby one yard sneak.. The extra point was good bring the score to 28-14. Pine Plains refused to give up, responding with a long drive. Davis completed a series of passes including an 18 yard pass to Kyle Longest and a 35 yard pass to Casazza. An 8 yard run was followed by an 11 yard touchdown pass to Jayson Millius with 6:05 left in the game. The extra point brought Pine Plains back within 7 (28-21). A fumble with 4 minutes left gave Pine Plains one more chance, but Spackenkill held on fourth down to take possession. With the faithful Spartan crowd cheering loudly, they ran out the clock. THE REST OF THE STORY O'Neill's 19 straight second half points were not enough for the Raiders too remain unbeaten. Homestanding MARLBORO won the big B-1 contest as Jeff Beck returned a kickoff 89 yards with 1:45 left in the game to score the winning TD in the Dukes' 20-19 win. Beck's interception 40 seconds later put the game on ice. The Marlboro senior had also scored earlier on a one-yard run. O'Neill QB Kyle Harris threw a pair of TD passes... Workhorse George Thomas scored two TDs and rushed for 288 yards on 40 carries as LIVINGSTON MANOR edged visiting Chester, 16-14. The two-point margin of victory came on a safety chalked up by the Wildcats' Anthony Larry. Anthony Basile (54-yard run) and Ronayne Hamilton (77-yard kickoff return) scored for Chester in this Class D contest...VALLEY CENTRAL got its second win of the season by shutting out Middletown, 15-0, in a non-league game at VC. After a scoreless first half, Jim Drury scored a pair of second half TD runs of 24 and 49 yards. The Vikings started the scoring at the opening of the third quarter when Bishme Bradshaw sacked Middie QB Donald Roth in the endzone for a safety... RED HOOK whitewashed visiting Onteora, 40-0. Justin Conklin scored two TDs for the winners in the B-1 contest. Dave Coon was the leading rusher with 116 yards... HIGHLAND rolled over Ellenville, 34-6, in a B-2 game. QB Liam Fay threw for two TDs. Aaron Bennett was the leading rusher with 159 yards for the Huskies. He also scored a TD. Albert May scored for Ellenville.

SYRACUSE - Four of our teams have been given numerical rankings by the New York State Sportswriters Association this week. Monroe-Woodbury has moved up to the #18 AA team. In Class A Cornwall now stands at #10 while Wallkill has hopped onto the list at #19. In Class C Spackenkill is now at #11. Honorable mentions are Kingston and Newburgh in AA, Goshen in Class A and O'Neill in Class B.

First up is our point man RICH MICHAELIS (37-20, 13-6 last week): NEW PALTZ over Burke-Hugies have to keep up concentration. MARLBORO over O'Neill-Dukes should be high for this one.First test for O'Neill. RED HOOK over Onteora. PORT JERVIS over Goshen-If Gladiators win then the Wallkill-Goshen game becomes big. Class A is great this year!! HIGHLAND over Ellenville-Shouldn't be any trouble for Huskies. LIVINGSTON MANOR over Chester-Should be a good one. KINGSTON over Albany-Albany is improved over past years but Tigers are home. MIDDLETOWN over Valley Central-Coin flip. MONROE WOOD over Rondout-Sections best team vs. a depleted banged up Gander squad. NEWBURGH over Pine Bush-'nough said. WASHINGTONVILLE over F.D.R.-Should be Wizards best showing to this point. MINISINK over Warwick-close game SPACKENKILL over Pine Plains-Back to reality for the Plains team. TRI VALLEY over Roscoe-Roscoe in for long season. MILLBROOK over Eldred-good game. CORNWALL over Mohonasen-Don't be surprised at an upset, especially with game being moved upstate. WALLKILL over Saugerties-another bloodbath. Now here's RRROCKIN' RICHIE ARNOTT, our top prophet from last week (38-19, 15-4): NEW PALTZ over Burke...The Huguenots 2nd class B victory will come with a little more breathing room than the first, with a delayed thanks to players Murphy and Garcia. MARLBORO over O'Neill...The Dukes have had a more difficult schedule which works to their advantage against stingy JIO. RED HOOK over Onteora...Justin Conklin's late score in week 3 may be the formula that propels the Raiders' struggling offense. GOSHEN over Port Jervis...The question here is how the Gladiators control Semerano's passing game. HIGHLAND over Ellenville...It's 3 straight for the Huskies against the NO-O Ellenvillers. LIVINGSTON MANOR over Chester...These Wildcats are due for a win and the Hambletonians have never seen a horse like Thomas. KINGSTON over Albany...The Falcons got their first victory since 2001 last week but the winning streak ends at one against the Tigers, who'll Freeman them to submission. VALLEY CENTRAL over Middletown...The Vikings take advantage of a down and out Middies squad to earn coach Introini another "W." MONROE-WOODBURY over Rondout Valley...The Crusaders would be the heavy favorite even if the Ganders had the services of QB Doug Mackenzie. NFA over Pine Bush...It's back to the candy store for Joe Williams and company who'll notch a 3rd consecutive triumph, and first AA-1 conquest. WASHINGTONVILLE over FDR... A tough Wizards team should overpower the Presidents with Castellano. WARWICK over Minisink Valley...The Wildcat defense finally shows up for work on time and just barely preserves a long sought after first win. SPACKENKILL over Pine Plains...The Willoughby to Corcoran combo is enough to bother Pine Plains so that other defensive lapses are created. TRI-VALLEY over Roscoe...Joe Garigliano leads his troops over a disappointing Roscoe squad. MILLBROOK over Eldred...This should be a game with plenty of offense and can go either way. WALLKILL over Saugerties...The Panther machine is well-oiled in this no doubter. CORNWALL over Mohonasen...I'll stay with Section 9's best story even in an intersectional game. The Z-Man, MIKE ZUMMO, leaves his mark (24-14, 11-8): NEW PALTZ over Burke Catholic: Last week's win over Marlboro proved that New Paltz is going to be one of the teams to beat in Class B. MARLBORO over O'Neill: The Iron Dukes have so many weapons that they won't be held in check for two straight weeks. RED HOOK over Onteora: Will the Indians score a point this week? PORT JERVIS over Goshen: It's gut-check time for the Red Raiders who need this win more than anything right now. But you still can't count out Goshen. HIGHLAND over Ellenville: sounds good. LIVINGSTON MANOR over Chester: Thomas is going to give the Hambletonians (some name) a very cold welcome to Section 9 football. KINGSTON over Albany: A solid section nine team against a Section 2 team that only won a game in the past two years? This should be a no-brainer. VALLEY CENTRAL over Middletown: The Vikings need a win here after last week's blowout loss at home. They'll take advantage of Middletown's problems this year as long as they don't shoot themselves in the foot. MONROE-WOODBURY over Rondout Valley: This game should be a nice warm up for the Crusaders before their showdown with Newburgh next week. NEWBURGH over Pine Bush: Newburgh coach C.T. Chatham said the Goldbacks played their best all-around game in last week's win over Warwick. That doesn't give the inexperienced Bushmen much hope. WASHINGTONVILLE over FDR: After hanging tough with Cornwall last week, the Wizards are going to get off their first 3-1 start for the first time in who knows how long. MINISINK VALLEY over Warwick: The Wildcats can't catch a break this season. This game is going to be another close battle. SPACKENKILL over Pine Plains: How good is Pine Plains? We'll find out Saturday. TRI-VALLEY over Roscoe: Roscoe's still playing? MILLBROOK over Eldred: Sure CORNWALL over Mohonasen: The Cornwall offense is clicking on all cylinders right now and that will continue on Saturday. WALLKILL over Saugerties: The Panthers have outscored their opponents 104-27 in the last two games. Does that scare anyone else as much as it does me? FEARLESS PHIL makes his attempt (36-21, 12-7): Last season I was in the 75-78% range. This 63% just ain't hackin' it! Let's give it another try. NEW PALTZ over Burke Catholic -- This week the Huguenots will add some offense to its defense. O'NEILL over Marlboro -- The Raiders get their toughest opponent to date. Marlboro needs a win here, but O'Neill has enough defense to handle the Dukes' 'O'. RED HOOK over Onteora -- Poor Onteora lost their last two by a combined score of 88-0. How much spirit do the Indians have left? PORT JERVIS over Goshen - But the Raiders had better get their offense going right from the opening whistle, or this Gladiator team will knock them from Class A contention before mid-season. HIGHLAND over Ellenville -- The well-rested Huskies will take a bite out of the Devil. LIVINGSTON MANOR over Chester -- The Wildcats paid the price last week for forfeiting week two away. Chester will show if it has true grit after last week's last second heart-breaking loss. Pumped up Manor in a mild upset at home. KINGSTON over Albany -- The Kardiac Kids from K-City didn't have to come from behind last week. They'll take rejuvenated Albany on the friendly Dietz turf. MIDDLETOWN over Valley Central -- Everyone has written off the athletic but misfocused Middies. If they can concentrate on playing football and not let penalties kill them, they'll trip up the Vikings. MONROE-WOODBURY over Rondout Valley -- Would have been a heck of a game - last year. The Ganders will lose big, but they will show up and play hard until the final whistle. NEWBURGH over Pine Bush -- The Goldbacks are ready to hit full stride. They'd better get into that groove. Next week they travel to M-W. WASHINGTONVILLE over FDR -- The Wizards are ready to open the AA-ll season in style. WARWICK over Minisink Valley -- I know. I'm going against my own rankings. But I think it's do-or-die time for the Wildcats who will be sky high. Minisink's a good ballclub. This mini-upset will be a classic. SPACKENKILL over Pine Plains -- A Dutchess Dandy until Willoughby gets warmed up. TRI-VALLEY over Roscoe -- After a forfeit and two out of section losses, Roscoe finally gets to play a familiar foe. The Bears should beat the Blue Devils. MILLBROOK over Eldred -- BIG BIG BIG game. The Blazers will be at full strength this week and look to beat a fellow D power. CORNWALL over Mohonasen -- This is the rubber match between these squads. Cornwall won two years ago and will take this one, too. WALLKILL over Saugerties -- The Sawyers have shown much improvement since their opening week disaster at Port Jervis. But beat Wallkill? The Panthers are on a tear and feasting big time on opponents like Saugerties.

By GIB TESPU (Editor's note: I hate to say it, but Tespu did it again last week, picking New Paltz to beat favored Marlboro. He is now 4-for-5.) I thought the flock of forecasters would have its act together by now. But no. So Gib has to step in and set the boys straight -- again. Talk about abandoning the ship! If my memory is correct, wasn't this the same gaggle of geese (apologies to Rondout Valley) that was using Chester as one of its prime landing pads. Didn't everybody just love the first-year Hambletonians' chances of "winning it all" in Class D? Wasn't Ron Stover one of the fresh new faces who was going to help put Section Nine on the football map? Yeah, forget that gaggle over in Monroe that decorates the Mill Pond Park lawn with its poop. This gaggle of goosies that litters this site has now turned its favorite pad into a fertilizer factory. Chester loses one game by only two points - and in the last nine seconds yet - and it's bye-bye birdies. Pack the bags and change your colors. Off they fly to nest in Livingston Manor. Get with it, fellas. Livingston Manor was last year. CHESTER will beat the not-so-Wild-as-last-year-cats. Write it down, close the books and eat humble blackbird pie. And despite the headline they put on this quackery, that ain't no upset!