Spartans, Blue Devils get shot at Title

While Section IV Teams went 0-2 in Semifinal games Friday night, Saturday was much better for the Southern Tier.  The Chenango Forks Blue Devils blanked Cleveland Hill 22-0 in the opening game of the day.  The Maine-Endwell Spartans followed up with a 35-13 victory over Depew.

For the Blue Devils, it's the first trip to the Carrier Dome since 2007, having made six State Finals since 2001, and winning it all in '03 and '04.  Since the opening of training camp, the Blue Devils have been working towards a return to the semis, to secure a better outcome than last year's loss to Hornell.  While that goal is complete, the larger goal, a state title, will have to wait one more week.  Chenango Forks faces off against Rye Neck, who beat Hoosick Falls 14-0 in the East Semis, at the Dome on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 12:00.

The Maine-Endwell Spartans also battled the whiteout conditions in Rochester and bested Depew.  It was the 37th straight win for the Spartans and secures a third straight State Title berth.  M-E goes for back-to-back titles in Class B, and a third straight state title overall (having won Class A honors in 2011).  M-E draws the 3:00 game on Sunday, against Schalmont.  Schalmont blanked Marlboro Central 66-0 in their semifinal game.

VIDEO COURTESY OF TIME WARNER CABLE SPORTS CHANNEL

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Both Tigers fall in bad night for Section IV

ROCHESTER -- It was a bad night to be a Tiger on the gridiron.  In the first of two matchups at Sahlen's Stadium, Tioga fell to Randolph 35-6.  In the nightcap, Union-Endicott fell to Williamsville North 27-14.

For Tioga, all roads led to this game.  Last year, the Randolph Cardinals put an end to the Tigers season 7-6 in the State Semis.  Since then, the Tigers have been waiting, hoping that the Cardinals would find their way back to the Semifinals for a bit of revenge.  Unfortunately for #2 ranked Tioga, #1 ranked Randolph came out with a sense of urgency.  The Cardinals scored on their first two drives of the game, and led the Tigers 21-0 at the half.  Tioga eventually trailed 28-0 after three, before Brad Jump found his way into the endzone, but it was too little too late as Tioga's season once again ended at the hands of Randolph, 35-6.

Union-Endicott also saw it's season end in the Semis last year, but at the hands of Sweet Home.  With Sweet Home out of the way, the Tigers had their eyes on the Dome, but like their striped counterparts, U-E's Tigers were caught flat footed out of the gate.  The Spartans put up 20 unanswered points in the first half and took a 27-0 lead at the start of the 4th quarter.  U-E made a run late in the 4th, scoring twice, but it was also too late.  U-E's six game win streak ends with the 27-14 loss, the Tigers finish the season 8-4.

VIDEO COURTESY OF TIME WARNER CABLE SPORTS CHANNEL

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Spartans stand tall with back to wall

As the Maine-Endwell Spartans prepare for Saturday's semi-final against Depew, everyone is still talking about the one point win over Cazenovia in the quarterfinals.

With 1:12 left to play in regulation, the Lakers scored to make it a 35-34 game.  Rather than playing it safe and kicking the extra point to, hopefully, force overtime, Head Coach Tom Neidl opted to let QB Kevin Hopsicker go for two and the win.  The call on the field was no-good, but no one, including myself, is sure if the ball did or did not cross the plane of the goal line.

The Spartans certainly agree with the officials and look to carry that momentum and that heart into Saturday's semi-final matchup.

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Forks not taking Semis for granted

Since training camp, the Chenango Forks Blue Devils have had their eye on this weekend - the State Semifinals.  It's the same game that brought an end to their season a year ago in a loss to Hornell.  In past years, the Blue Devils seem to be at home in the semis, making appearances in all but three seasons since 2001.  They've also advanced to the State Finals in six of those years, including state titles in 2003 and 2004.  Forks, however, has not made it past the semifinal round since 2007, leaving this year's team hungry for the spotlight.  To get past Cleveland Hill on Saturday, the Blue Devils know it's going to take a little extra effort than previous weeks, and that begins with an emphasis on keeping up the stellar job on blocking.

Chenango Forks plays Cleveland Hill at noon on Saturday, at Rochester's Sahlen's Stadium.

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Regrouping following one point thriller

Saturday's 35-34 win over Cazenovia was unfamiliar territory for the 2013 M-E Spartans.  In the 10 games previous, the Spartans outscored their opponents by 401 points, with their smallest margin of victory coming in a 35-15 win over JC in the Section Title game.  To be tested the way they were Saturday night and still emerge victorious, Head Coach Matt Gallagher said his team showed a lot of heart and a lot of guts, especially playing without six of their teammates who were serving a one game suspension for breaking a team rule.

All 51 Spartans will make the trip to Rochester and be eligible to play in the team's third straight semifinal appearance.  Kick-off against Depew is at 3:00 Saturday.

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Road to the Dome: Regional Saturday

The Maine-Endwell Spartans cruised through the regular season and into the playoffs, with their smallest margin of victory coming just last week in the Section Finals, a 35-15 win over Johnson City.  Enter Cazenovia, the #3 ranked team in the State in Class B, and M-E's opponent last year.  It came down to the final minute, but the Spartans survived with a 35-34 win to advance to the state semis.

Aside from the first score of the game, which went to the Lakers, the Spartans never trailed.  They scored back-to-back to go up 14-7 and then both teams traded scores the rest of the way.  The toughest test for Maine-Endwell came with 0:08 on the clock in the 4th quarter.  The Lakers on 4th and goal from the 8, lining up to kick, QB Kevin Hopsicker the placeholder, from two knees, tries to run but is hit.  Referees throw a flag in the direction of a 15-yard facemask, Spartans Head Coach Matt Gallagher wanted Hopsicker ruled down.  Ball moves to the 4 yard line with 0:05 left.  Hopsicker goes back to pass, Spartans flagged for pass interference with no time left on the clock.  With one last play before the quarter, and 4th and goal from the 2, the Lakers go for it and fall just short to end the quarter.

After a Kyle Gallagher fumble on the 1 to start the 4th, the Lakers tie the game at 28 and plenty of football left.  But Kyle would get his redemption, finding little brother Adam from 5 yards out for the eventual game winning score.

But enter the drama, Andrew Vogl scores with 1:12 left to pull Cazenovia within one point.  After both teams call a timeout, the Lakers opt to go for two, and the win.  Hopsicker calls his own number and lunges for the goal line.  The ball comes lose, but the whistles already blew the play dead.  Both teams are celebrating before any official call was made.  Eventually, Hopsicker was ruled down before the ball crossed the plane and the Spartans maintain their one point lead.  Cazenovia with one last chance, goes for the onsides kick, but the Spartans recover and take a knee to secure their 36th straight win.

M-E advances to the State Semis for the 3rd straight year.  Next weekend they play Depew at Rochester's Sahlen Stadium.

In Class C, the Chenango Forks Blue Devils hold off a late surge from General Brown for the 35-18 win.  JC Sweeney and Andrew Ziegenfus connected for two touchdowns through the air.  LJ Watson and Isaiah Zimmer each added one score apiece on the ground.  Watson also found the endzone on a 65 yard punt return.  The Blue Devils advance to the State Semis for the 2nd straight year and they have plenty of unfinished business.

The Forks team has been talking about this next game (and beyond) since training camp.  After losing to Hornell in the State Semis, their entire season has been played with the goal of returning to the Carrier Dome where they have historically had plenty of success.  The Blue Devils, most recently, went back-to-back in 2003 and 2004.

The Blue Devils draw Cleveland Hill in Rochester next weekend.

Finally, in Class AA, possibly the upset of the year, the Elmira Express hold on to defeat Christian Brothers Academy 24-18.  The go-ahead touchdown was scored by Eli Thomas with 2:28 left on the clock.  Rasean Brooks then came up with an interception to tip the scales even more in Elmira's favor.  But CBA had the ball with 53 seconds left but could not convert on 4th down.  From there, it took just a few knees to run out the clock.

An impressive 5-0 weekend sweep for Section IV in the State Quaterfinals.

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The Road to the Dome: Friday Regionals

Scores and highlights from the State Quarterfinal games on Friday Night:

Class A:

Carthage 7 - Union-Endicott 43

UE vs. winner Eastridge/Williamsville North (at Sahlen's Stadium, Rochester)

Class D:

Herkimer 13 - Tioga 43

Tioga vs. Randolph @ Sahlen's Stadium, Rochester - Fri. 5:00

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