Leading off today: Kyle Balmer threw three touchdown passes to Michael Palmer to lift host
Maine-Endwell to a 20-7 football victory over Chenango Forks before a crowd estimated at nearly 9,000 fans Friday.
The Spartans, ranked No. 1 in Class B by the New York State Sportswriters Association, ran their winning streak to 44 games. Chenango Forks, which saw its 16-game win streak broken, is ranked No. 1 in Class C. Both are defending NYSPHSAA champions.
The M-E touchdown passes covered 5, 28 and 12 yards, and the Spartans defense made them stand up by surrendering just six first downs in the second half.
M-E led 14-7 when it took over at Forks' 32 courtesy of an Adam Gallagher interception early in the fourth quarter. On third-and-22, rolled left and lofted a deep pass that Palmer pulled down at the 5, and two plays later Balmer reeled in a tipped ball for a 12-yard TD.
"Sometimes you have to have luck. We had some today," M-E coach Matt Gallagher, referring to the tipped touchdown pass, told the Press & Sun-Bulletin. "But I also think that we were able to do some of the things we always do."
Henninger reaches 6-0: Syracuse Henninger tailback Najee Everson, who sat out last season, rushed for 221 yards on 35 carries and QB Romero Collier threw for two scores as the state's seventh-ranked Class AA team handled No. 17 Baldwinsville 26-14.
Collier ran for a TD, and wideout Keisean Scott caught two touchdown passes and rushed for another out of the wildcat. Two of Henninger's four touchdowns came on fourth-down plays, the first on a fade from Collier to Scott into the corner of the end zone to get the Black Knights on the scoreboard.
"He didn't play last year," Collier told Syracuse.com in reference to Everson. "He was with us in JV and freshman year. Then he took a year off. Now he's back, showing what he could do. He told me before the game, he said, 'After this game, everybody's going to know who I am.'"
LeRoy wins showdown: Receiver Ryan McQuillen scored three touchdowns and LeRoy was able to grind out 335 yards to keep the ball away from the potent Bishop Kearney offense and beat the Kings 29-20 in their much-anticipated interclass contest.
LeRoy is ranked second in the state in Class C and Kearney fourth in Class D.
McMullen threw two touchdown passes to McQuillen, who tacked on a 3-yard scoring run with 8:00 remaining to put the game away. Kearney scored two touchdowns in the final 1:50.
"We just have so many weapons this year," McQuillen told the Democrat and Chronicle. "We're finally clicking on every cylinder."
LeRoy took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in 7:15 to McMullen's 16-yard TD pass to McQuillen. After Kearney turned the ball over on downs, he Oatkan Knights drove 70 yards, capped by a 2-yard run by junior Nick Egeling with 8:59 remaining in the second quarter.
Oatkan Knights coach Brian Moran will try for career win No. 200 in Week 7 vs. Perry.
Greece Athena on the move: Ta'Von Granison, moved from receiver to QB this week to replace the injured starter, rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and completed 7 of 12 passes for 90 yards and two TDs for Greece Athena in a 23-15 win over No. 20 Brockport in Class A.
Greece Athena improved to 5-1.
Section 3 scoring bonanza: Alec Bush posted Homer's first four touchdowns and had six scores overall as the Trojans, ranked seventh in Class B, rolled past No. 25 Marcellus 61-30.
