Leading off today: What's apparently now an annual Section 4 football battle of the century is on deck for Saturday afternoon when Chenango Forks, 42-6 since the start of the 2011 season, hosts Maine-Endwell, 52-0 in that time.
For the second year in a row, they are meeting as defending NYSPHSAA champions. Last Oct. 10, host Maine-Endwell prevailed 20-7 before more than 8,000 fans.
With M-E in Class A this fall and Chenango Forks in C, there aren't significant implications to the game beyond bragging rights. But it's the game whose score everyone will be checking out Saturday.
"I think it's very big, I do," M-E coach Matt Gallagher told The Press & Sun-Bulletin. "But it's one of those things that, it's a game with no meaning that means a lot. No meaning based on standings and what happens down the road, but it still means a great deal because it's such a unique opportunity, playing a team like that."
By the way, Maine-Endwell's 52-game winning streak is the No. 2 active streak in the country following Greenville (S.C.) Christ Church having its run snapped at 55 games with a 55-14 loss to Abbeville.
The longest active streak belongs to Elmore (Ala.) Edgewood Academy at 61 games.
Saranac forfeits: Saranac will forfeit Friday's football game at Moriah and a decision on the future of the season will be made later, The Press-Republican reported.
"We don't have enough players to play Friday with Moriah, for sure," Saranac Superintendent Jon Parks said. "We are still looking into what to do for the rest of the season. We met with the parents of players and the coaches (Wednesday night) to get input. The decision on what to do going forward will come fairly soon."
The Chiefs started Saturday's 61-6 loss to Ticonderoga with 16 players, the minimum required, and were down to 12 by halftime.
Milestone: Corning's 25-11, 25-18, 25-18 sweep of Binghamton on Wednesday was coach Irene Furness' 300th victory. Furness began coaching at Corning West in 1986 and has coached in the district 28 years, winning a NYSPHSAA title in 1997.
More volleyball: Despite sitting nine players for an unspecified infraction, Panas was able to hang tough before losing to Fox Lane 18-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-10 to open its season Tuesday. Panthers coach Joe Felipe called up several junior varsity players to play alongside three varsity players.
Panas, one of Section 1's top Class A teams, is expected to be back at full strength for its next match on Sept. 17.
Border war: Parris Heath is playing offensive line for Paramus Catholic in New Jersey, and the athletic director in his former school district isn't happy about it.
Bill Pilla, the East Ramapo school district AD, believes Heath left Ramapo High for athletic advantage, which is why he refused to sign a transfer form. On Tuesday, he was informed by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association that Heath was cleared to play anyway even though it's not clear that there was an address change that would have allowed for waiver of the 30-day ineligibility
