Leading off today: Jordan Forrest finally got the opportunity to fulfill the role of workhouse. He made the most of it Saturday.
After having carried just 41 times all season while New Rochelle mostly laughed its way though the season, the senior posted 29 carries for 253 yards and three scores as the Huguenots, ranked sixth in the state in Class AA, downed Carmel 54-34 in a Section 1 football semifinal.
"It's definitely been exciting getting the ball a lot more and showing people what I can do," he said. "Running behind the line we have, it's great. They always get the job done."
After Carmel pulled within one score of New Rochelle in the second half, Forrest ripped off a 68-yard touchdown run. Teammates Jessie Parson, Omari Walker and Halim Dixon-King each scored a touchdowns or 54 yards or more to complement Forrest's work.
Walker's 75-yard TD rush made it 48-34, and Dixon-King intercepted Carmel's Peyton Cayea, taking the ball 74 yards to the end zone for the three-time defending sectional champs.
Attica on a roll: There was a reason Attica entered the weekend 12th in the state in Class C despite two losses, and the Blue Devils put it on display with a 21-14 2 in over East Rochester/Gananda in the Section 5 semifinals.
Facing fourth-and-six from the ER/G 39, Edward Strzelec hit cousin Zachary Strzelec for a 36-yard completion, setting up Mason Compton's 3-yard TD run with :17 to go.
In the Week 8 quarterfinal vs. Wayland-Cohocton, the Strzelecs connected on scoring pass with :04.1 seconds left to pull out a 31-28 win.
"It's never over till it's over and the clock hits zero," said Edward Strzelec, who finished 4-for-9 for 79 yards operating Attica's run-heavy offense. "But that's our mentality: play until the whistle blows whether it's in practice or a game."
Attica's losses this season have been to Batavia and Livonia, a pair of top-notch Class B teams. The final will be against No. 17 Letchworth/Warsaw, a 28-0 winner over No. 14 Penn Yan.
Back from an 0-3 start: Hoosic Valley scored the final three touchdowns of the game and defeated Whitehall 22-7 in the Section 2 Class D semifinals to return to the title game.
The Indians opened the season with three straight losses for the second straight year. Unlike last year when it was routed by Greenwich in the semifinals, Hoosic Valley secured the program's second title-game berth since 2015.
The Indians avenged a 40-20 loss against Whitehall from Week 3.
"When we were 0-3, we didn't put our heads down," coach Pete Porcelli said. "We went back to the drawing board, made a few changes and the kids bought in. I am really proud of their effort tonight."
Football scoreboard: You can check out all of the Week 9 scores on our Road to Syracuse website.
Ketcham boys win again: Though it entered the tournament as a No. 6 seed, Roy C. Ketcham is the Section 1 boys Class AA soccer champion courtesy of a 2-1 win over Ossining.