Leading off today: Monroe-Woodbury quarterback
Ryan Spelman had a stunning season debut, but it wasn't the senior's arm that attracted attention. Rather, it was his feet as Spelman rushed 22 times for 415 yards Saturday in the Crusaders' 61-28 football victory over Warwick.
Spelman scored six touchdowns on runs covering 13, 22, 41, 60, 67 and 81 yards. He also completed 5 of 11 passes for 148 yards and a pair of TDs.
The 415 yards tied the No. 18 single-game rushing effort in New York high school football history. (See list.). Millbrook’s Nick Finger recorded 485 yards in a win over Tri-Valley in 2008 for the Section 9 record.
The magic touch: Brett Powers scored TDs of four of his first five rushing attempts during Fort Edward's 36-14 win over Warrensburg, and it's not as tough he's a fullback who specializes in goal-line dive plays.
Powers scored on carries of 45, 6, 64, and 52 yards in the first 17 minutes. The sophomore finished with 11 attempts for 198 yards in his first start as the feature back and replacement for the graduated Justin White.
Battle of stellar seniors: Senior running back Dominick DeLucia (29 carries, 229 yards) scored six touchdowns to carry Pittsford past Gates Chili 42-28 in Monroe County League action. DeLucia ran for five TDs and caught one scoring pass.
Spartans running back Marcus McGill scored all four of his team's TDs -- one on a 95-yard kickoff return -- and finished with 30 carries for 178 yards.
McGill has committed to play at UB next fall. A source familiar with the non-scholarship but uber-academic conference indicated to me last week that DeLucia is pretty much in a position to choose whichever Ivy League school he wants. Harvard was the most recent school to extend an offer.
The heat is on: When the New York State Public High School Athletic Association enacted heat safety rules two years ago, many of us perceived it as a rule that would mostly come into play in late May and June.
But heat and humidity were undeniable issues Saturday, which the starts of some games delayed and other contests interrupted. In Section 4, Watkins Glen was leading Newfield 28-14 at the half when play was suspended for the day because the heat index crossed beyond 96 and continued to climb.
Newfield AD Jeff Augustine measured the heat index at 98 at halftime and consulted with a Section 4 official before suspending the game. Section 4 officials will determine when or if the game will be completed.
Section 6 great finishes: Receiver Stephon Johnson, subbing for injured QB Jordan Johnson, scored on an 8-yard run with :27 left to rally Buffalo McKinley past North Tonawanda 34-29. The winning drive began with 2:20 to play.
"He said, 'I got it. Don't worry about it, I'll run the quarter,'" McKinley coach Edward Wilson told The Buffalo
