Ron Moshier: Week 7's marquee football matchups

Section III’s high school football playoffs kick off next weekend – quarterfinal pairings will be determined on Sunday -- but there are still some league championships yet to be decided, and Saturday’s Dolgeville-at-Notre Dame, Class D East rematch isn’t the only regular-season finale matching two unbeaten and state-ranked teams.

 

The Class C South title will be on the line when coach Tim Gates and his state-ranked No. 20 Westmoreland Bulldogs (4-0, 6-0) host No. 3 Cazenovia (4-0, 6-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday.

 

The Lakers, coached by Rome native Tom Neidl, were Section III’s Class B champions last season. Their closest call at the Class C level this year was last week’s 27-6 win at Clinton.

 

Westmoreland, entering this year’s state rankings for the first time this week, is led by leading rusher Justin Becker, sophomore quarterback Dan Smith, leading receiver T.J. Losowski and two-way lineman Neal Baron.

 

Here’s a look at some of the other Week 7 matchups in the area:

 

Rome Free Academy (3-1, 5-1) already has secured a 30th consecutive playoff berth – the only school to do so since football playoffs began in 1979 – but RFA can grab a share of the Class AA-2 title Friday when it hosts Henninger (4-0, 5-1) at 7:30. RFA junior Kyle Kimball has rushed for 942 yards and nine touchdowns, but Henninger has won five straight since opening the season with a loss to state-ranked Christian Brothers Academy. Thomas R. Proctor High School’s Raiders (0-4, 0-6), meanwhile, will try to end a 10-game losing streak Friday night when they host CBA’s 16th-ranked Brothers (3-1, 5-1) at D’Alessandro Stadium.

 

Defending section champ Carthage, Whitesboro and Camden are all 3-1 in Class A National Division play, and Whitesboro (3-3) travels to Camden (3-3) Friday night with a share of first place and a home playoff game at stake. Led by quarterback D.J. Forbragd, Camden has won three straight since a 27-13 loss to state-ranked No. 9 Canandaigua (6-0). Quarterback Junior Woodard has rushed for 673 yards for the Warriors, who will try to rebound from last week’s 28-21 home loss to Carthage. New Hartford (3-2, 4-2) has clinched a playoff spot, and the Spartans meet Mexico in a nonleague game Friday at Sauquoit Valley.

 

State-ranked No. 3 Oneida (4-0, 6-0) already has clinched the Class B East title. Holland Patent (2-1, 3-3) has won two straight and hosts Vernon-Verona-Sherrill (0-3, 1-5) on Saturday.

 

Herkimer (4-1, 4-2) and Frankfort-Schuyler (4-1, 5-1) share the Class C East lead, and the Magicians host Sauquoit Valley (0-5, 0-6) on Friday while the Maroon Knights travel to Adirondack on Saturday to face the streaking Wildcats (3-2, 4-2), who need a fifth straight win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Adirondack’s Scott Dunlap has rushed for 988 yards, and Frankfort is led by running back Jordan Lints (670 yards rushing) and quarterback Ron Gatto (44-for-77, 690 yards, 7 TDs). Two other playoff contenders also meet Saturday in Cooperstown, where the Redskins (3-2, 4-2) host Little Falls (3-2, 4-2).

 

South Lewis (3-2, 4-2) hosts Class C North rival Lowville (4-1, 5-1) on Friday night. Falcons running back Dylan Peebles has rushed for 749 yards, and Red Raiders quarterback Joshua Jones is 57-for-92 – he’s been intercepted just once – for 844 yards and 12 touchdowns.

 

Class D East co-leaders Dolgeville and Notre Dame are in the playoffs, no matter what happens Saturday. The league’s other two playoff berths are up for grabs, with Oriskany (4-2), Mohawk (3-3) and Waterville (3-3) the top contenders. Oriskany plays at Waterville on Friday night, and Mohawk travels to New York Mills (2-4) on Saturday.

 

Morrisville-Eaton (3-3) needs an upset win over state-ranked No. 3 Immaculate Heart Central (6-0) of Watertown on Friday night to qualify from the Class D West.