By Jaquan Mack, NYSPHSAA Fall Intern

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) wraps up its six-week run of fall state championships this weekend with its Football State Finals at the Carrier Dome on the campus of Syracuse University. Games will kick off at Noon on Friday, December 3rd and finish at 3 pm on Saturday, December 4th (see schedule below). 

NYSPHSAA’s celebrates its 28th Football State Championships, presented by the American Dairy Association North East, the finals been played in the Carrier Dome every year since the tournaments inception in 1993. This year marks the latest the finals have ever been played due to the fall sports season being pushed back by one week.  Tickets are $10 per day and can be purchased by visiting https://am.ticketmaster.com/syracuse/nysphsaa. All games will be streamed on the NFHS Network which can be located on www.nfhsnetwork.com. 

Here's a preview of the five NYSPHSAA title games this weekend:

Class D – Moriah (VII) vs. Tioga (IV), Friday, December 3rd at 12pm
Moriah faced off against Greenwich early in their semifinal in which they came out victorious by a 24-14 score. Its extended Moriah’s winning streak to 11 games this season and is seeking its first state tile. Tioga is also coming into championship weekend undefeated (11-0) as they beat Oakfield Alabama/Elba in a semifinal blowout win 49-6.  Tioga last won the state championship in 2015. 

Class A – Somers (I) vs. Christian Brothers Academy-Syracuse (III), Friday, December 3rd at 3pm
Somers semifinal game with Rye was a rematch of two weeks prior when Somers beat Rye in Sectionals, 26-23. Fast forward to this past weekend and Somers won 14-7 in a competitive semifinal which came down allowed them to stay undefeated at 13-0. CBA comes off a dramatic semifinal comeback win, 20-18, against Jamestown to keep their season going with an 8-3 record. 

Class C – Schuylerville (2) vs. Chenango Forks (IV), Friday, December 3rd at 6 pm
Schuylerville looks forward keep their 13-0 season going as they play a 2019 championship rematch vs Chenango Forks. Schuylerville routed Dobbs Ferry 52-14 with Luke Sherman rushing for 143 yard and added three touchdowns on 15 carries to lead his team. Forks comes into the season as the defending champs and holds an 11-1 record. They handled East Rochester/Gananda 39-18 in their semifinal game. 

Class B – Pleasantville (I) vs. Maine-Endwell (IV), Saturday, December 4th at 12 pm 
Maine-Endwell advances to the championship after beating WNY Maritime/Health Sciences Charter 41-8. Quarterback Michael Mancini dominated with three touchdowns running and passing for two touchdowns which improved Maine-Endwell to 11-1. M-E is aiming for its sixth state championship since 2004. Pleasantville won a state title in 2017 and enters the game with a 12-0 record after defeating Ravena Coeymans Selkirk, 15-7 in the East Semifinal. 

Class AA – Carmel (I) vs. Bennett (VI), Saturday, December 4th at 3 pm
Carmel comes off a 47-13 semifinal win over Newburgh Free Academy and is seeking its first state title.  They are 12-0 heading into the finals. Bennett advances to the state championship game by blanking Cicero- North Syracuse 38-0 in their semifinal action this past weekend. It will be Bennett’s first appearance in the football state finals. They currently sport an 11-1 record.