Leading off today: The way Moriah's 28-22 win over Warrensburg/North Warren in the NYSPHSAA Class D football quarterfinals ended Saturday would not have made my list of 25 likely ways a game could end.
And yet it happened.
With the score tied and Warrensburg looking to pre-empt overtime with a pass on the final play of regulation, junior Matt Diehl timed his jump perfectly for the interception, dodged two potential tackles and raced down the sideline for an 85-yard, walk-off touchdown at Shenendehowa High School.
"It's just a great finish to a great football game," Moriah coach Don Tesar said. "The play before I was a little upset -- he batted it instead of picking it, but I'll take it for the last play."
Moriah (7-3) will play Tuckahoe in the semifinals Friday as it continues its bid for a return trip to the Carrier Dome.
"It's amazing, but the main goal in mind is to get back to the Dome," said Braden Swan, who scored Moriah's three offensive touchdowns.
Moriah's final possession ended with a punt backing Warrensburg to its own 15-yard line with 2:02 left. Jesse Griffin gained 40 yards on a run on the first play, and the Burghers had a second-and-4 at the Moriah 24 with :26 to play.
Diehl batted away the first pass attempt, and the second ended up out of bounds. Diehl nabbed the third and was off to the races.
Special efforts: Players on offense get the glory in newspaper and TV coverage (and blogs, like this one) with the occasional bone thrown to defenders. Well, a couple of special teams efforts from Saturday absolutely need to be acknowledged.
Cornwall senior defensive lineman Noah Chaudhry blocked not one but two extra points, which provided crucial in the defending NYSPHSAA champions' 22nd straight victory, a 28-27 win over Queensbury.
The second blocked kick prevented Queensbury from tying the game with 5:06 left.
"I knew if we didn't block that second one, we weren't going to win," said Chaudhry, who ended Queensbury kicker Alex Roca's 71 consecutive extra-point streak in the first quarter. "That's a great offense on the other side.
"I fit right through (the gap) and I just put my hands up and blocked it. I was scared that it was going in."
Teammate Amin Woods finished with 26 carries for 182 yards and four touchdowns.
• Andrew Osier picked an opportune time to kick his first career field goal. The Cicero-North Syracuse senior kicker converted a 19-yard attempt as time expired to give the Northstars a 24-22 victory over Corning in a Class AA quarterfinal.
"All I knew was I had to make that kick to make my team go to the next round," Osier said. "I'm just very appreciative
