Class B

   The matchup: Nanuet (Sec. 1, 11-0) vs. Hornell (Sec. 5, 12-0).

   Date and time: Sunday, 4 p.m.

   State rankings: Hornell is No. 2 and Nanuet No. 3. Long Island championship finalist Seaford holds down the top spot, with the winner of the NYSPHSAA final assured at least a piece of the top ranking next week.

   Digging inside the schedules: Hornell has a 495-131 scoring advantage. The crucial win was a 43-22 decision over then-No. 1 Bath on Oct. 17, but two state tournament wins by a combined 97-19 have created the buzz. Here's the red flag: There were four Class C schools on the regular-season schedule.

   Nanuet's ledger shows 362 points scored and 62 allowed. Here's the red flag raising concerns about the Golden Knights: Every one of their last six opponents entered the game with two or more losses, calling into question the 195-27 scoring differential over that span.

   More about Nanuet: The Golden Knights limited run-demon QB Vincent Gallo to 85 yards and one TD while running behind 6-foot-7, 295-pound guard Shawn Schellenger to beat Schalmont 28-7 last week after he had rolled up 2,323 yards and 28 touchdowns in the first 11 games. Linebackers Lyle Birrittella, Gabe Ostrow, John Brezovsky and Greg Caneparo limited Gallo's ability to change gears and direction.

   Nanuet's strength on offense is the kind of balance exhibited last week as Ostrow carried 18 times for 118 yards, Bret Bonomolo 13 for 86 and QB Tom Hanney 13 for 95. The ground game has put up 1,344 yards and 17 TDs in five playoff games. . . . Hanney threw only one pass last week and is all of 10-for-17 for 164 yards and two scores in five postseason contests. He's 41-for-58 for 609 yards overall.

   Ostrow is the leading rusher for the season with 202 carries for 1,224 yards, followed by Hanney (146-799) and Bonomolo (82-523).

   None of Nanuet's starting linemen weigh in at more than 215 pounds, but Hornell isn't huge up front either.

   More about Hornell: Here's all you need to know: Austin Dwyer, a 5-foot-8 senior who wrestled in the 2009 state tourney, runs behind a solid line led by Isaac Spike -- and the stats show it. He has 139 carries for 1,242 yards and 11 TDs in five playoff games, raising his season totals to 2,667 yards and 36 TDs. His 399-yard effort last weekend including a pair of scoring runs of over 70 yards, and he missed a chunk of the fourth quarter.

   Sophomore QB Dominic Scavo (58-for-115) has thrown for 949 yards and 14 TDs. including 10 to junior Jordan Schwartz. . . . Junior Sam Stonerock has rushed for 462 yards on just 31 carries, Scavo has 355 on the ground. . . . The tailback position (Naval Academy student David Zapata held the job for three seasons) has given Hornell more than 10,000 yards on the ground during a 48-8 run sunce the start of the '05 season.

   Past championships: We'll have a first-time champion. Hornell's been to the state tournament seven times, but never a final. Nanuet, which was unbeaten and unscored upon in 1989 (pre-tournament era) made it as far as the semifinals in 1994.

   The coaches: Gene Mastin (Hornell) and Rich Conklin (Nanuet), a pair of 213-game winners.

   Making a pick: It wouldn't take much to change my mind because both their schedules leave me suspicious. But the Red Raiders can throw enough to keep opponents honest and then decide whether the rushing game needs to go vertical or horizontal. Nanuet is relying on 10 two-way starters. . . . Hornell 35, Nanuet 21.

Class C

   The matchup: Bronxville (Sec. 1, 11-0) vs. Southwestern (Sec. 6, 12-0).

   Date and time: Saurday, 3 p.m.

   State rankings: Southwestern is No. 1 and Bronxville is No. 2.

   Digging inside the schedules: Bronxville has put up a 347-100 scoring advantage, including a pair of bruisers vs. Croton-Harmon, a 2008 state finalist.

   Southwestern has rolled to a 406-75 margin in points. They've scored only 70 points in the last three weeks, but the Trojans shut down components of the attack once they got the jump on Letchworth, and the 21-0 win last week vs. Chenango Forks was a defensive masterpiece.

   More about Bronxville: The season is winding down just in time for the Broncos, who are banged up after a 28-27 win vs. Hoosick Falls. Junior QB Jack Near was diagnosed with a bruised knee after initial fears that he may have aggravated a previous serious injury, center

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Blair Law (ankle) began the week on crutches and running back Brian Murray (1,528 yards, 20 of the club's 41 rushing TDs) played sparingly after a second-quarter groin pull last week but still put up 108 yards on 15 carries. If he can't play, Dillon Mitchell will have to step in despite having sprained both ankles this month.

   Mitchell was 5-0 at QB while Near recovered from his knee problems (torn MCL, partially torn meniscus and dislocated kneecap) sustained when hit while punting in Week 2. . . . Bronxville trailed 20-7 in the second quarter vs. Hoosick Falls, then converted five times on fourth downs oved the next four possessions and took the lead. . . . The Broncos have passed for 582 yards and run for 3,639.

   More about Southwestern: The Trojans' winning streak has reached 28 games as QB Zack Sopak, the state Class C player of the year last fall, leads a list of 14 returning starters. Sopak, an insulin-dependent diabetic, has thrown for 1,626 yards and 17 TDs plus run for 776 yards and 11 more scores. . . . Jasen Carlson, a 6-3,, 295 lineman, has committed to the University of Buffalo. Ryan Bruzzetto, a 6-foot, 225 linebacker is very mobile and active.

   The Trojans can pound away with 5-foot-8, 195-pound fullback John Mistretta (825 rushing yards, 13 TDs) or go wide and/or long with 6-2 Levi Bursch (830 rushing yards and 34 receptions for another 500-plus).

   Past championships: Southwestern beat Croton-Harnon 35-7 in the 2008 final. Bronxville is seeking its first title.

   The coaches: Jay Sirianni (Southwestern) and Jeff Napolitano (Bronxville).

   Making a pick: I was talking to Hornell coach Gene Mastin about his own team recently when he offered this: "You'd be hard pressed to find a better program than Southwestern anywhere in this state." Nothing I've seen in five games over two years dissuades me from that notion. . . . Southwestern 34, Bronxville 7.

Class D

   The matchup: Moriah (Sec. 7, 9-2) vs. Randolph (Sec. 6, 11-1).

   Date and time: Saturday, noon.

   State rankings: Randolph is No. 1 and Moriah No. 4.

   Digging inside the schedules: Randolph dropped its opener to Maple Grove 7-6 but has since run the table by a 347-115 margin over 11 games. Maple Grove clearly wasn't the same buzzsaw as the Red Dragons were a year ago, but holding the state's No. 2 team to a single TD was a telling moment.

   Moriah has put up a very similar scoring margin (353-136) and both losses came in OT to Class B schools (Beekmantown and Peru). Alas, Class B and C football in the North Country, which has a grand total of 17 football-playing schools, is a different animal.

   More about Randolph: The Cardinals have gone their last three full games without attempting a pass other than on a botched extra-point attempt. Would you pass if you could run 60 times for 601 yards, which is what Randolph did to beat Groton 61-8 last weekend? Senior Alan Lockwood finished with 223 yards on 17 carries and sored four TDs (1, 36, 72 and 55 yards). Classmate Matt Hettenbaugh tacked on 224 yards in 26 carries and acored twice. . . . Randolph is more fast than big on the lines.

   More about Moriah : The Vikings rely on the running of senior Ron Schofield (295 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries vs. Eldred in the semifinals) but they have also thrown for more than 500 yards. . . . The consensus is that Moriah is a bit better than last year's squad. The Vikings did beat Peru and Beekmantown a year ago, but they also posted more impressive wins this season than a year ago over most of the rest of the schedule.

   Nate Gilbo had more sacks on defense (two) than completed passes on offense (1-for-5, 31 yards) last week.

   Past championships: Randolph won Class D in 2005. Moriah is seeking its first state championship.

   The coaches: Pat Slater (Randolph) and Don Tesar (Moriah).

   Making a pick: Poor Moriah has gone from facing the irresistable force (Maple Grove won a 55-7 blowout) in last year's final to the immovable object (Randolph) this Thanksgiving weekend. The Vikes won't have to go up against outstanding linebacker Tyler Mendell, who suffered a season-ending knee injury vs. Moriah, but that won't tip the scale. . . . Randolph 35, Moriah 7.