Rye's Dino Garr became the winningest high school football coach in state history when the Garnets downed Clarkstown North 42-28 on Friday.
Quarterback Jackson Kearns did a little bit of everything as Dobbs Ferry improved to 3-0 with a 61-34 victory over John Jay Cross River.
Kearns completed nine of 10 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 67 yards and three scores, and Kearns returned an interception for a TD to account for seven scores overall.
WEEK 4 FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD
Column: Bring on more public vs. private games in WNY
Clevis Murray, who covers high schools for The Buffalo News, knows the mindset that he's up against by writing about this in Western New York. Nevertheless, he went on the record over the weekend as saying he wants to see the region's public and private schools go head-to-head more often.
The public schools continue to resist the idea of bringing the Monsignor Martin Association members into Section 6, with concerns about recruiting always cited. Still, that doesn't have to stop regular-season games between the organizations. As an example, Jams town and St. Joe's have faced off in each of the past three seasons.
"I want to build positive relationships with everybody here because really good public schools that play us are just sharpening their sword for their sectionals to go to states," St. Joe's coach Mike Corona said. "I think it benefits everybody, but you have to be a good human being. McKinley, for example, took us on and we won. They were going to play us again this year, but the section couldn't fit it into their schedule. I hope to keep those relationships positive so we can keep doing this because I think it's good for them, good for us and good for the area."
One aspect that doesn't get enough consideration is that MMA schools don't have a lot of local options, which means picking up games in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Canada, or sometimes Section 5. Their situation should improve next year when Section 5 does away with federation scheduling. While some schools may be locked into full geography-based league schedules, others will have some openings.
Pennsylvania AD takes unusual step
A Pennsylvania football team with little hope of winning has put the school's athletic director in a no-win position. It's an instance of being realistic and upfront in the face of bad optics.
Baldwin High School in Pittsburgh has lost 24 straight games and been outscored 277-32 through five games this season. The reality of a lost season that could get even worse led AD Tony Cherico to email counterparts at Baldwin's final five opponents and ask them to show some mercy over the next month by agreeing to shorten the length of games and use JV players liberally.
"I am not sandbagging anyone for a win here," Cherico wrote, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "You will win with your JV getting significant time."
A running clock beginning after the opening kickoff seemingly is not a possibility. The mercy rule in Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League football is a running clock when a team goes ahead by 35 points in the second half.
Baldwin's problems begin with its short, inexperienced (only five seniors) roster. The situation is made worse by injuries and departures.
"Our football team is not in a good spot," Cherico's letter at ADs began. "We have around 30 kids, some not fully healthy, and we are surrounded with some parents that are causing issues. Our QB transferred last week, as well."
Cherico's pleas didn't sit well with Post-Gazette columnist Keith Barnes.
"Baldwin High School taught its football team a lesson on Wednesday -- one that players can be saddled with for a long time," he wrote. "It told its student-athletes and the rest of the sports community that its players weren't good enough to win."
Milestones
Catching up on a few recent accomplishments:
• Ella Mullin scored two goals, including the 100th of her career, as Mohonasen defeated Cohoes 5-0 in a Colonial Council soccer game.
• An 8-1 win over Spa Catholic on Friday extended Mechanicville's unbeaten streak in Wasaren League boys soccer to 100 games. The team is 98-0-2 since 2016.
• Westlake football coach John Castellano picked up his 250th victory last week.
• Following up on a Week 3 note, John Jay Cross River wideout James Tesi's 20 catches in a loss to Pleasantville added up to 307 yards, the fifth-highest performance in state history.
• Lancaster St. Mary's freshman Marley Skalski is up to 29 goals in her team's 13-0-1 start in soccer. That includes a school-record eight in a Sept. 22 win over Lancaster.
