Leading off today: Unbeaten Westhill's 90-0 mauling of LaFayette/Fabius-Pompey in a Section 3 football game on Saturday remains the hot topic for sports fans more than 48 hours later.
Westhill coach Gary Griffo and his players have been subjected to second-guessing on the Syracuse.com forums (a few comments are actually spelled correctly and contain punctuation, some of which is even in the correct spots) and other media, but supporters contend that the magnitude of the blowout was beyond the control of the state's fifth-ranked Class B program.
"Believe me, I spent most of the second half trying to find ways not to put more points on the board," Griffo told The Post-Standard. "With 11 minutes left in the game, I went and talked to the officials asking them to suggest ways to get the game over with. I also played all the kids I had with me Saturday. If I had wanted to run up the score, as some people are saying that we did, it could have been far worse."
The state record was set in 1916 when North Tonawanda beat Dunkirk, 126-0. The Section 3 record was Watertown's 119-0 win over Alexandria Bay in 1923.
LaFayette/F-P coach Bob Russell is not faulting Westhill for what happened.
"I could see in the second half that Westhill wasn't interested in scoring," he said. "During the last six minutes, they tried three field goals to end their last three drives, and missed all three."
LaFayette was previously a competitive Class D team but ended up in Class B when it absorbed players from Fabius-Pompey, which has not played football in recent years but could eventually launch a program. The team had the option of dropping down to Class C this fall -- costing it a chance at the playoffs -- but stayed put because a larger turnout of experienced players was expected.
Missing youths found dead: Four Steuben County youths missing since Saturday have been found dead in an overturned car near Canisteo.
Jasper-Troupsburg principal Christopher Parker said state police informed district officials this afternoon that a car had been found in Sugar Creek near Canisteo. The school will have counselors on site tomorrow to meet with students in small groups.
The youths included girls soccer captain Tiara O'Dell, 17. The others were identified as David Cady, 17; Jered Fry, 15; and 2005 graduate Joe Lubberts, 21.
Pass completed: Patsy Manganelli, JV football coach at Stepinac High School got a little help from his team as he proposed to girlfriend Chrissy Syron after a 26-10 loss to White Plains.
Syron often brings brownies for the team after home games. But instead of just looking for snacks this time, the players surrounded her as Manganelli moved in to pop
