The time has come, and it’s the final week of the Section 4 season. After this, Section 4 will not fight against each other, but join together and root for one another in a battle for state supremacy. But before all that can happen one more slate of games need to be complete; none more exciting than JC verse M-E - the sequel.

Here are three things you need to look for in this match-up:

1) New playing surface. Unlike the mud bowl two weeks ago this contest betweens rivals will take place on turf. This Section 4 title game is slated to take place at BHS’ Alumni Stadium, and many believe this will ultimately benefit Wildcats. While mostly this is true, did anyone see how the Spartans played on the turf last week in Vestal? The argument that JC will outplay M-E simply because of the playing surface is, what I think, null and void, but it will be something to keep an eye on.

2) The battle up the middle. In their last meeting M-E avoided running up the middle, at least toward DaQuan Jones, like the plague. It would be smart to do that again, but the Spartans like to pound people into submission. So, will M-E try to beat fire with fire? Or will they stick to a game plan that was enough to edge JC last time? My thought is that they change things up a bit.

3) Palmer is the key for JC. We all understand that Jake Spalik is going to get his. He is the straw that stirs the drink for the Wildcats, but for them to reach the next level they need their primary halfback to get going. When they’re running on all cylinders, with that one-two punch, JC is as tough as anyone to beat.

Prediction: While this game will be much more exciting than the Mud Bowl of two weeks ago, I believe that the result will be the same. The Spartans have just as many athletes as JC, but the key to this game is that they have been here before. They’ve played in the big game, and know how to handle the pressure. Spalik is great, but not great enough to win it himself, M-E 28 JC 14.

Class AA
Friday 7:00 PM: Binghamton vs Horseheads at Alumni Stadium
Saturday 7:00 PM: Union-Endicott vs Ithaca at Ty Cobb Stadium
Class B
Friday 7:00 PM: Johnson City at Norwich
Saturday Noon: Maine-Endwell vs Oneonta at Vestal
Class C
Saturday Noon: Walton vs Newark Valley at Ty Cobb Stadium
Saturday 3:00 PM: Chenango Forks vs Waverly at Ty Cobb Stadium
Class D
Saturday 1:00 PM: Tioga vs Delhi at Alumni Stadium
Saturday 4:00 PM: Bainbridge-Guilford vs Groton at Alumni Stadium

The wait is over. Playoff fever is setting in as the final 4 teams from each class in section 4 gear up for the semifinals. All year long we've featured the top 10 teams in our power poll and this week we wrap up with the final edition. If you're in the power poll now, you know it's been a successful season.
*=Divisional Champ

1.) Chenango Forks (8-0)*- Blue Devils haven't fallen off the top perch all season, no reason to bump them down now. Allowed less than 3 pts. a game this year.
2.) Binghamton (6-2)*- Chalk up 6 straight wins for the Pats who are looking like a playoff force once again. Highest scoring team in the section.
3.) Maine-Endwell (7-1)*- Spartans dispatched of JC Wildcats in mud bowl and look like a team on a mission.
4.) Delhi (8-0)*- Bulldogs are one of only two teams in the section to finish the regular season with a perfect record. Delhi D ranked 2nd in section's stingiest units.
5.) Johnson City (7-1)- Came up just short in bid for perfect season. Still have a shot at redemption against M-E if bracket breaks right.
6.) Waverly (7-1)- Wolverines are the last team to beat Forks and they'll have the chance to do it again in a semifinal rematch of '08 Section 4 Championship.
7.) Walton (6-2)- Walton's two losses this year are to the two unbeaten teams in Section 4 (Delhi/Forks).
8.) Newark Valley (7-1)*- Cardinals locked down division championship due in large part to all-purpose RB Travis French who tied for the most TDs in the section at 19 (tied with Waverly's Gorman and Tioga's Manuel).
9.) Corning West (6-2)*- Both losses this year came to Class AA foes (U-E and BHS), but in the end West showed it was the class of Corning by beating East for division title.
10.) Groton (7-1)*- Groton's saved its toughest battle for last. Indians took out Tioga for third straight divisional crown.


Honorable Mention: Corning East, U-E, Norwich*

Andy's Top 5

1.) Forks
2.) BHS
3.) M-E
4.) Delhi
5.) JC

Erik's Top 5

1.) Forks
2.) BHS
3.) M-E
4.) Delhi
5.) JC

Labels: Power Poll

Well here we are; the final week of the regular season, and man has this been a great year or what? With traditional powers Forks, and Binghamton still playing well, and teams coming back to prominence like Johnson City and Ithaca, Section 4 is on a high going into the playoffs.

But before the postseason begins here are two things to look for in this final week of the regular season:

1) THE best match-up of the SEASON! Johnson City vs Maine-Endwell; these two teams do not like each other, and now they have something to play for. The winner of this one will take home the Division Four Class B title, and most of all … bragging rights.

2) So you’re telling me there’s a chance. With a CV win over Norwich the Warriors can guarantee themselves a spot in the postseason. Also if they win, and Oneonta loses to Windsor, then CV also takes home the Division Three Class B crown. The Warriors have not won a Section 4 title since ’89, so you can bet that this year’s team is eager to end that streak.

2009 has been a great season for Section 4 football, and FOX 40 looks forward to seeing you guys in the postseason. We’ll see ya at game time.

It's the final week of the Section 4 football regular season. Every playoff spot is already locked up outside of Division III, but there are still a number of division titles that are up for grabs. Here's the breakdown.

Division I- All 4 teams will be in the playoffs and BHS has the #1 spot wrapped up. In Round 1, BHS will host Horseheads while U-E gets Ithaca at home.

Division II- Vestal will be the only team left out of the playoffs by virtue of their 0-4 divisional record. The Corning schools will duke it out for the divisional crown tonight.

Division III- This is the only division where playoff spots are still in the air. Norwich, Oneonta, and CV are fighting for 2 playoff spots. The Purple Tornado are in the drivers seat as the only team with a perfect record left in the division, but they have to travel to CV on Saturday. If Norwich wins, they're in along with Oneonta. If CV wins and Oneonta beats Windsor, the Warriors and Yellow Jackets are both in. If CV wins and Oneonta falls to Windsor, CV and Norwich grab the two playoff spots. If Windsor beats Oneonta and CV falls to Norwich, there would be a 3-way tie between CV, Windsor, and Oneonta for 2nd, but CV would get the playoff bid based on the tiebreaking points scale. It should be an exciting Saturday for Division III.

Division IV- Both post-season slots are already taken by JC and M-E. The Wildcats and Spartans are both 2-0 in the division and will settle their differences at M-E on Saturday. Whoever wins the division title and gets to take on the 2 seed from Division III in the first round of the playoffs.

Division V- The two playoff spots in this division have been won by Chenango Forks and Walton. Even if Greene beats SV and Walton falls to Unatego forcing a tie in the standings, the Warriors will still get the bid based on their head-to-head victory over the Trojans. Win or Lose, Forks has already locked up the division title. With a game against winless UV-E on the docket, the Blue Devils are in excellent shape to finish the regular season unbeaten.

Division VI- Newark Valley and Waverly will represent the division in the playoffs. Thanks to the Cardinals heads up win over the Wolverines, NV already has the division title won regardless of the outcome of tonight's games. In round 1 of the playoffs next week, Newark Valley will face Walton while Waverly will play Forks.

Division VII- Bainbridge-Guilford and Delhi trampled the competition this season en route to perfect records in the division so far. After Saturdays heads up contest though, one will leave with a blemish. The winner takes home the division title. The loser still gets the other playoff spot.

Division VIII- This division championship is also up for grabs, but the playoff spots have already been gobbled up Tioga and Groton. The Tigers and Indians are both 6-0 in the division, but tonight these two stellar squads face off in Tioga. To the winner goes the spoils, otherwise known as the division title.

Tonight, we're headed to a pair of great games.

Vestal vs. U-E (Game of the Week)
Tioga vs. Groton

Labels: Playoffs

The most exciting time of the year is almost here. The playoffs! Only one chance left for teams to sneak in...or play themselves out of a post-season berth. Week 8 should provide plenty of drama so don't blink. Take a look at the latest power poll.

1.) Chenango Forks (7-0)- Forks posted their fourth shutout of the year and will almost certainly finish the regular season unbeaten with winless UV-E on the docket.
2.) Binghamton (5-2)- Pats blast their fourth straight power poll foe (Corning West) and will have back to back easy match ups with last place Horseheads.
T-3.) Johnson City (7-0)- JC made it look easy in huge test vs. Corning East on Saturday. Wildcats are one win away from perfect regular season.
T-3.) Maine-Endwell (6-1)- M-E vs. JC should provide plenty of entertainment this Saturday in regular season finale.
5.) Delhi (7-0)- Bulldogs have risen all the way to #3 in Class D state rankings. Highly anticipated battle against B-G looms on Saturday.
6.) Waverly (6-1)- Wolverines putting it together at the right time for another playoff run.
7.) Walton (5-2)- Walton's early season struggles seem like a distant memory. Orange Crush happy to survive brutal Division 5 schedule.
8.) Corning East (6-1)- East came crashing back to earth vs. JC. Pivotal tilt with rival Corning West will decide Division 2 champ.
9.) Newark Valley (6-1)- Shocking loss to SV prevents undefeated season, but NV can still claim Div. 6 crown with win at Lansing.
10.) Tioga (6-1)- Tigers quietly crushing foes. Enormous Friday fight vs. Groton will determine Division 8 winner.

Honorable Mention: Bainbridge-Guilford, Greene, Groton, Union-Endicott

Labels: Week 8

This is the week that playoff dreams could be dashed! With everything on line; here are three can’t miss match-ups over the weekend:

1) Forks vs Greene. If the Greene Trojans want to return to the postseason they have to beat the unbeatable. What a sight it is to see; the high-powered offense of Greene going up against the shut-down defense of Forks. The Blue Devils could make things easier for all of Division V by simply defeating the Trojans, because that would avoid the dreaded 3-way tiebreaker altogether.


2) Ithaca vs U-E. Both of these squads are coming off a loss last week, and both of these squads have lost to Binghamton. That makes this game the most crucial game for these two teams this season. The Little Red have been a pleasant surprise this fall, while the Tigers have been a little inconsistent. It will be interesting to see which U-E team will show up on Saturday.

3) Seton vs Delhi. Last week the Saints were shocked by Bainbridge-Guilford. Even though SCC’s best player, quarterback James Hranek, returned to the line-up last week the Saints struggled on offense. Delhi’s “D” is tough, only giving up 46 points this season. So if the Saints have any hope of marching into the playoffs, they must beat Delhi or they’re out.

With the playoffs quickly approaching this is the time to send in pics and video showing off your school. You can email them to fox40erik@wicz.com.

See you at game time.