Here's a look at Saturday's championship games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse:
Class D: Maple Grove vs. Moriah, Saturday, 11 a.m.
The big picture: It shapes up as a matchup of two teams that can and will attempt to run the ball all day long. Moriah senior Jim Carlson has piled up 1,630 yards of his team's 3,000-plus rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. Jake Larson is Maple Grove's top back with 137 carries for 1,451 yards (10.6 per attempt) and 28 TDs, with Adam Hover (682 yards and 10 TDs) in support of an offense that has rushed for over 2,800 yards.
About Maple Grove (Section 6, 12-0): Junior QB Chris Secky is 71-for-111 for 1,575 yards, 20 TDs and just one INT. His favorite targets are Joe Caporale (39 catches, 952 yards, 11 TDs) and Josh Micek (19-430-8) . . . Caporale has brought back three punts for TDs and well as two kickoffs . . . Matt Fox tops the defense with 121 tackles, four fumbles forced, three fumble recoveries and an interception . . . Micek has made 97 stops and three INTs . . . Maple Grove's 606-107 scoring margin includes a 209-6 advantage in the first quarter . . . The Red Dragons have a plus-29 turnover differential (42-13).
About Moriah (Section 7, 12-0): When senior QB Tyler Blaise throws, it's often off play-action. Leading receiver Ron Schofield has 221 yards on just six catches. . . . Schofield is also the team's second-best running back, rolling up 431 yards and five TDs . . . Jim Carlson has 152 yards and two TDs on 27 carries in a 21-6 win last weekend over Tuckahoe in Kingston. . . . Moriah has shut out four of its last seven opponents. The Vikings have outscored opponents by 323-79, posted six shutouts and allowed only 1,161 rushing yards.
Picking a winner: It's so dangerous to project an outcome based on previous results -- especially when one of those results is from last year -- but I'll do it here anyway. Last weekend, Maple Grove cruised to a 49-14 win against Walton, which wasn't as good as last year but still seemed to be exceptionally talented. Moriah played a schedule comparable to what 2007 state finalist Ticonderoga played and its results were better but not dramatically so. I can't can't the image of the 2007 Class D final -- Walton 64, Ticonderoga 6 -- out of my mind.
Moriah needs to play mistake-free football to stay close for three quarters -- after which anything can happen. But I look at Maple Grove's 209-6 scoring margin in the first quarter of games this fall and have to say it looks like it'll be . . . Maple Grove 42, Moriah 14.
Class C: Jamestown Southwestern vs. Croton-Harmon, Saturday, 2 p.m.
The big picture: Two multiple-threat quarterbacks take center stage. Southwestern junior Zack Sopak was 10-for-10 for 216 yards and two TDs in the quarterfinals vs. LeRoy, then dominated on the ground - 20 carries, 156 yards, two TDs - when miserable cold made throwing difficult on the semifinals last weekend vs. Elmira Notre Dame. Nick Mainiero of Croton-Harmon is 31-for-62 for 687 yards with 12 TDs and three INTs and also has 1,029 yards and 18 TDs in 120 carries.
About Southwestern (Section 6, 12-0): The Trojans have outscored opponents by 433-112. . . . Southwestern will likely enjoy additional fan support from Maple Grove followers who stick around after the opener . . . . The
