Leading off today: Section 6 football fans are getting their dream football matchup today.

   Well, sort of.

   As I mentioned in a recent blog, USA Today is conducting a fantasy high school football playoff series featuring 64 squads from across the country. The week-long "tournament" conducted via computer simulations commenced yesterday, and all three New York representatives scored victories.

   East Region No. 5 seed Freeport defeated No. 12 Nashua (N.H.) Bishop Guertin (12-0) 18-14; No. 6 North Tonawanda eliminated West Haven (Conn.) Notre Dame 31-30; and No. 14 Sweet Home shocked No. 3 Ijamsville (Md.) Linganore 47-21.

   Freeport advances to the regional quarterfinals vs. fourth-seeded Wyndmoor (Pa.) LaSalle, a 42-8 winner over Turner (Maine) Leavitt, but the intriguing matchup will be North Tonawanda vs. Sweet Home, teams that in real life won NYSPHSAA Class AA and A championships, respectively, by capping perfect seasons with wins at the Carrier Dome.

   In the South Region, No. 13 Matthews (N.C.) Butler scored a 28-21 win vs. No. 4 Hoover (Ala.). If Hoover had advanced, it would have played No. 5 Kingsland (Ga.) Camden County, an opponent it actually beat on the field in the fall.

   Harriers honored: Cornwall sensation Aisling Cuffe is the girls cross country runner of the year, the New York State Sportswriters Association announced today.

   Cuffe is coming off victories at the NYSPHSAA and Federation meets as well as a fourth-place finish in the FootLocker Nationals last month in San Diego. Her FootLocker showing was the best by a New York runner since 2005.

   Joining Cuffe as class athletes of the year are Fayetteville-Manlius senior Molly Malone, Shenendehowa sophomore Lizzie Predmore, F-M freshman Jillian Fanning and West Genesee eighth-grader Laura Leff.

   Malone and Fanning are among seven Fayetteville-

Manlius girls to make the all-state team. F-M stormed to its fourth consecutive Nike Cross Nationals championship last month in Portland, Ore.

   Albany CBA hires Burke: In Section 2 football news, Christian Brothers Academy named Joe Burke to replace Matt Gormley as coach. Burke was offensive coordinator at Bishop Maginn last fall and previously was a head coach for five years at Albany High, where his 5-4 seasons in 2004-05 were the last winning records for that program.

   CBA was 1-8 in 2009 and 5-22 in three seasons under Gormley.

   Another honor for Johns: Racquet Sports Industry magazine has selected Saratoga's Rich Johns as its 2009 coach of the year. Johns was also selected the recipient of the USTA Starfish Award before the recent fall season in recognition of his no-cut policy for the tennis program.

   Johns' teams have won nine Section 2 and 17 league championships.

   "Rich is widely recognized for many contributions on and off the court,” USTA School Tennis Manager Jason Jamison told the magazine. "He’s kept tennis in the forefront in his local community and has made a significant impact on the lives of students."

   Said Johns: "I’m fortunate to be here in Saratoga Springs. The community, school district, parents and players are all so supportive of what we try to do."

   Wrestling rankings: Fresh off its sweep of four opponents at the Union-Endicott Duals, John Glenn has ascended to No. 1 among the large schools in the latest NYSSWA wrestling rankings.

   Chenango Forks and Spencerport, who were co-No.1s before losing to John Glenn in the U-E semifinals and finals, respectively, slipped to fifth and sixth.

   Shenendehowa, fresh off a victory in Spencerport's tournament over the holiday break, moved up to No. 2.