Leading off today: Friday's semifinals at SUNY Brockport nearly gave us one of the all-time amazing comebacks in Section 5 football playoff history, with Canandaigua nearly recovering from a 27-0 deficit before falling to Canandaigua 40-34 in Class A.
Saturday gave us a game in which Pittsford made it all the way back -- and them some -- from the same deficit on the same field. The Panthers, down 27-0 after three first-half turnovers gift-wrapped a pair of touchdowns, fought their way back for a 35-27 victory over McQuaid in the Class A semifinals.
"It felt like two different games," Pittsford senior Jared Petrichick told the Democrat and Chronicle. "Coming into the locker room at halftime, everyone is all, you know, upset."
Pittsford drove 11 plays and 72 yards to a Chris Cox TD on its last possession of the first half, and Cox would score twice more in the second half. The last, which cut the deficit to 27-21, was set up by an interception by Sam Santiago right after Pittsford turned over the ball at the McQuaid 8.
Matt LaRocca threw a 9-yard TD to tight end Kevin Ryan for the lead, and Petrichick tacked on a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:13 remaining.
• Pittsford's opponent in the final will be Aquinas, which avenged a season-opening loss to 2016 NYSPHSAA tournament finalist Victor with a 17-9 triumph. Shane Noble Jr., returned a first-quarter punt 72 yards for one score and rushed four yards for midway through the third quarter for another.
Downstate upsets: Junior QB Derek Robertson's TD pass to Sean Fleming with 1:16 remaining carried Iona Prep to a 38-34 win over No. 18 Archbishop Stepinac. Robertson, who attended Stepinac as a freshman, finished 25 of 36 for 309 yards and three touchdowns.
• Running back Jadon Munroe ran for 189 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns to propel No. 26 Newburgh past No. 17 Monroe-Woodbury 42-20. Newburgh will be seeking its fourth straight Section 9 title next weekend vs. Pine Bush.
• Quincy Barnes hit Brandon Thornton on an 8-yard slant for the go-ahead score with 1:39 remaining as No. 23 Curtis pulled out a 42-35 win over No. 22 Tottenville in PSAL action on Staten Island.
Barnes finished 9-for-14 for 102 yards and two TDs but also carried 14 times for 100 yards and two more scores. He rushed for 29 yards and threw for 20 on the winning drive.
Curtis finished with 464 yards of total offense and 30 first downs.
Class A: Mike Ciuffo's 27-yard TD pass to Michael Harding (five catches, 86 yards) with :01 remaining capped a seven-play, 70-yard drive that gave Plainedge a 17-14 victory over No. 13 Wantagh.
Dion Kuinlan rushed 20 times for 118 yards.
Class B: Hunter Babcock ran for 160 and two touchdowns in the final two quarters and No. 4 Hornell came from behind to beat No. 22 Batavia 26-7 in the Section 5 semifinals. Babcock finished with 181 yards on the ground.
The Red Raiders took the lead for good in the third quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run from Babcock, set up by a big return on the opening kickoff of the half from Spencer Weyand.
• Dylan Casey scored twice, including a 90-yard kick return touchdown to open the third quarter, as No. 12 Maryvale eliminated No. 19 Lackawanna 27-8 in the Section 6 semifinals.
Casey also caught a 39-yard touchdown pass and made two interceptions. Rashad Law rushed 18 times for 121 yards and a touchdown.
