NYSSWA blog: Previewing the state football finals

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Here's a look at Sunday's championship games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse:

Class AA: Orchard Park vs. Monroe-Woodbury, Sunday, 1 p.m.

The big picture: A young Orchard Park team misfired in the 2007 semifinals and lost by a field goal to the West Genesee team that downed Monroe-Woodbury in the final, 42-21. The Dome atmosphere won't overwhelm M-W, which won the 2005 championship there and played finals in Syracuse the last two years in front of hostile crowds.

About Orchard Park (Section 6, 12-0): The offense is led by RB Jeff Tundo and QB Kyle Hoppy, both seniors. Tundo ran for 2,253 yards and scored 29 TDs a year ago en route to winning the Connolly Cup, symbolic of the best football player in Western New York, and has comparable numbers this fall. His two-game total for the quarterfinals and semifinals: 57 carries, 358 yards, seven TDs . . . Senior LB Cameron Hicks blocked three punts in the 37-21 victory against Binghamton in the semifinals . . . The Quakers have outscored their opponents by 437-96.

About Monroe-Woodbury (Section 9, 11-0): QB Dan Scalo has rushed 192 times for 1,322 yards and 16 TDs. He's 43-for-91 throwing the ball for 918 yards, eight TDs and two INTs . . . Andrew Tolosi has 114 carries for 589 yards and five TDs. Trevor Officer has rushed 41 times for 330 yards and four TDs . . . M-W has outscored its opponents by 369-145.

Picking a winner: Orchard Park feasts on defenses by spreading them out and then using the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Tundo as a battering ram. That won't be as easy to do against the Crusaders, who've brought good across-the-board speed to the Dome the last three years. But Hoppy poses a problem, even if his numbers are not out of this world. He throws well-placed bullets, and Monroe-Woodbury's backs will not be able to cheat toward run support as much as they might be used to doing . . . Orchard Park gets the nod, 28-21.

Class B: Oneida vs. Rye, Sunday, 4 p.m.

The big picture: Don't confuse this for "small-school" football. Oneida was in Class A until this season, and Rye's enrollment is only a few students smaller. Rye is also big when it comes to tradition and consistency, having

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played four finals (winning two) against Chenango Forks in the last five years and falling one game short of the Dome in 2005.

About Oneida (Section 3, 11-1): Quarterback Ryan Kramer is 80-for-133 for 1,634 yards and 19 TDs. He's been picked off seven times. He's also run 85 times for 608 yards and scored 14 TDs. . . . Senior running back Rick Rossi has carried 155 times for 898 yards and 10 TDs but has been limited recently by a foot injury. Senior Joe McCormick is also over 300 yards for the season . . . Kramer's favorite target is Brandon Miles, who has 35 catches for 631 yards and 10 TDs . . . Miles leads the defense with five sacks, and 6-2 senior LB Wade Kline has picked off four passes . . . The Indians have outscored their opponents by 392-114.

About Rye (Section I, 12-0): QB Connor Eck has been the model of efficiency, going 61-for-94 for 1,104 yards and 12 TDs with only 3 INTs . . . The defending state champion's double-barrel rushing attack consists of Kyle Ramalho (148 carries for 761 yards and 19 TDs) and Cole McCormack (85-810-6) . . . Donald Keough is the top receiver with 24 catches for 444 yards and five TDs . . . The Garnets have outscored opponents by 417-105. Though the Garnets failed to post a shutout, they held seven opponents to a single score . . . Topher Triano leads the defense with seven sacks and a fumble recovery.

Picking a winner: Oneida's 14-9, midseason loss to Norwich, which wasn't quite as good as its 6-3 record might indicate, has bothered me, and I'm not sure why since multiple-loss teams have won championships in the past. On the other hand, Rye's body of work -- including two wins against Pleasantville and two against Nanuet -- has been more impressive across the board. . . . Barring unexpected surprises, call it Rye 28, Oneida 14.

ALSO: Saturday's predictions