For the moment, anyway.

   Iona Prep, ranked sixth in Class AA by the New York State Sportswriters Association, handed No. 3 St. Anthony's a 41-21 loss yesterday to climb to the top of the CHSFL heap for the time being and perhaps longer.

   Senior running back Jeff Mack carried 27 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns, and Gregory Gadson and Nick Biagioni each had two sacks to send the Friars (6-2) to their first two-loss season since 1999. St. Anthony's, playing its fourth straight road game and third straight against a ranked opponent, is 88-8 since the start of the 2000 season and 150-21 since 1993.

   Iona Prep and St. Anthony's could meet again in the CHSFL playoffs, but the Gaels would at least feel like they belong if there's a rematch. Iona Preps' last three seasons have ended with losses to the Friars.

   "It means a lot," Mack told The Journal News. "We needed this win so much. It's such a confidence builder."

   Junior quarterback Tyrae Woodson-Samuels, questionable earlier in the week after suffering a head injury last week vs. Holy Trinity, finished with 164 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and 111 yards and another score through the air.

   "We definitely didn't have enough speed on the field and that's on us. We couldn't stop them all day," St. Anthony's coach Rich Reichert said. "They're certainly the best team we've played."

   Greece Athena advances: A week after turning the ball over five times in a loss to No. 1 Aquinas, No. 25 McQuaid saw its season end with two turnovers in its own half of the field (three overall) and a 35-7 loss at No. 23 Greece Athena in the Section 5 Class A quarterfinals.

   The Trojans (7-1), whose only loss was to No.8 Victor, next meet Aquinas. "Hey, I like it," senior tailback Dwayne Cunningham told the Democrat and Chronicle after picking up 134 yards on 19 carries and scoring on runs of 53 and 36 yards.

   Athena's Khyrie Jones added 13 carries for 49 yards and two short TDs.

   Another close call: Section 3 had three Class AA quarterfinals come down to late point-after attempts. In yesterday's game, Syracuse Henninger held on for a 24-22 victory over Cicero-North Syracuse, which failed on a two-point try -- Ryan Lacey's throw to Thomas Padula didn't connect -- that would have forced overtime.

   With No. 22 Henninger up by 24-16, C-NS blocked a Kihary Blue punt and drove to a four-yard TD pass from Lacey to Austin Hyde for a TD with 20 seconds to go.

   Henninger tailback Greg Spears ran 29 times for 158 yards and a TD to set up a rematch with Rome Free Academy. Henninger beat RFA in Week 7, 30-28.

   Saturday's rapid recap: Fonda senior Josh Nethaway threw for 288 yards and four touchdowns in leading the Braves to a 47-28 victory over Cambridge in Section 2 Class C action. The win was Fonda's first over Cambridge in seven tries dating to 1968 and sets up a semifinal against No. 6 Schuylerville. The teams combined for 861 yards of offense.

   Chester was leading Onteora, 22-0, when the game was called off late in the first half due to a bench-clearing brawl. "It was mayhem at first," Onteora AD Joe DiGiovanni said. "But the referees did a good job settling it down quickly. I made the call to stop the game and, when we talked about it later in the office, the referees agreed with me."

   A pair of 33-yard completions by Diashawn Miller set up the QB's two-yard sneak with :29 left to give Elmont an 18-13 triumph against Garden City. Elmont coach Jay Hegi said it's the first time the team has ever beaten Garden City.

   In Section 2, South Glens Falls senior Joe Collier rushed for 108 yards and blocked an extra-point kick with 1:22 left to preserve a 21-20 victory against Scotia.

   Class A No. 22 Troy overpowered Glens Falls, 42-14, as Fred Fitch gained 196 yards on 17 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. QB Zach Dolan galloped 79 yards for a score in the tuneup for Friday's game with No. 4 Burnt Hills-Ballstron Lake.

   Joe McMurry (35 carries, 246 yards) ran for two TDs and two two-point conversions as Hudson Falls beat Albany Academy, 36-6. Sophomore Dakota Drake, making his varsity debut, intercepted a pair of passes.

   Class B No. 13 Cohoes beat Broadalbin-Perth, 26-14, behind Steve Weaver's 197 yards and three TDs on 29 carries. Nathaniel Akey made seven catches for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

   Granville's Nick Dunbar (31 carries, 221 yards) scored 30 points on four TDs and three conversion runs to dominate Voorheesville, 44-19.

   In Section 3, Dan Fruscella led Holland Patent to a 49-7 victory over Homer with 17 carries for 302 yards and five trips to the end zone.

   Marshall's Eddie Jackson became Section 5's career leader in receiving yards (2,110), catching four balls for 126 yards as the No. 21 Jurists escaped Pittsford in Class AA, 18-15. Pittsford senior Chris Lopez rushed for 254 yards and one touchdown on 34 carries.

   Avon knocked No. 6 Caledonia-Mumford out of the Class D tournament, 41-26, as QB Max Barrett rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. He also went 4-for-7 for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

   In Class B, No. 10 Bath topped Palmyra-Macedon, 39-7, as senior Andre McCloud rushed for 205 yards and scored four touchdowns. Quarterback Jake Kuver had 116 yards on four carries.

   In consolation-bracket action, Rush-Henrietta junior Clay Harris ran 33 times for 290 yards and half a dozen TDs, tying a school record, to rout Franklin, 48-6.

   Alex Neutz brought back the second-half kickoff 78 yards for a TD to lift Grand Island, ranked 10th in Class A, past Cheektowaga, 22-6.

   Buffalo McKinley edged South Park, 18-8, behind Kevin Chillis' 22 carries for 277 yards. In another Harvard Cup game, Burgard beat Bennett, 32-0 by surrendering zero yards of net offense and picking up three interceptions from Amir Shanks.

   In a key Section 8 Class B game, No. 19 Roosevelt topped No. 16 Locust Valley, 20-7, behind James McClenic's 21 carries for 142 yards and a three touchdowns.

   Senior Kris Guy had ran 15 times for 232 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Clarke to a 34-24 win over Valley Stream North.

   Nick Barbuto rushed 33 times for 168 yards and three TDs for Seaford, 13th in Class A, in a 18-6 victory over Manhasset for its 17th straight conference victory.

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