Leading off today: Quarterback Pat McMahon and two-way standout D.J. Nettles, stalwarts on the Sweet Home football team that defended its NYSPHSAA title this season, have been selected co-players of the year in Class A by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

   Class AA honors are shared by Holy Trinity running back Anthony Brunetti and Monroe-Woodbury quarterback Dan Scalo.

   The Class AA and A all-state teams were announced today. Players of the year and the all-state teams in Classes B, C and D were announced last week.

   McMahon threw for 297 yards and two TDs in the state final against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake to cap a 13-0 year as a first-year starter. He threw for 1,523 yards and 18 TDs as a senior.

   Nettles made 33 catches for 524 yards on offense and picked off eight passes (two for TDs) as a defensive back.

   Brunetti rolled up 2,451 yards and 28 touchdowns on 330 carries this season to push his career totals to 5,418 yards and 60 scores, both school records. He earned the Thorp Award as Nassau County's best football player.

   Scalo fought back from shoulder surgery the week after his junior season ended to guide Monroe-Woodbury to its sixth straight Section 9 Class AA title, accounting for 33 TDs and more than 2,700 yards of total offense.

   Urban leaves Schroeder: As was noted awhile ago in various online forums, Chris Urban has stepped down as coach after directing Webster Schroeder to its first Section 5 championship in six years. He was 25-14 in five seasons.

   "I feel like I've been around it since I entered high school since in 1983," Urban told the Democrat and Chronicle. "I'm only 40, but maybe it's time to do something else. I want to spend time with my dad and other family members, the people put on hold during the football season.

   Schroeder AD Gary Tirohn has not named a replacement yet.

   Meanwhile, former Oakfield-Alabama coach John Dowd has agreed to take on the challenge of trying to shape Spencerport into a competitor, and the school board approve his hiring last night.

   In six seasons at Oakfield-Alabama before stepping down last summer, his teams won 50 games; Spencerport was 1-7 last fall and has won just 36 games in 13 seasons since reviving the sport after 58 years. Dan Pincelli was 11-32 in five seasons.

   "I'm excited about it. I look at this as a positive challenge," said Dowd, who worked last fall as an assistant at Brockport State.

   Sodus fixture dies: Former Sodus coach and athletic director Ed LaRock died Saturday at the age of 69.

   LaRock, a 1958 Sodus graduate who earned his degrees at Brockport State, began his career at the Wayne County school in 1964 as a physical educated teacher and retired after 33 years. He coached basketball and baseball and also filled a number of other roles including Section 5 baseball coordinator.

   Kingston toppled: Center Stefanie Dolson scored 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting as Minisink Valley upset Class AA No. 1 Kingston 57-50 in girls basketball.

   The 6-foot-5 senior also pulled down 26 rebounds for Minisink Valley (8-2), which has lost to the Tigers in the last three Section 9 Class AA finals. Rachel Coffey had 18 points for Kingston (9-1).

   Minisink Valley broke to a 10-0 lead but Kingston ended the half on a 12-1 run. Minisink went on a 16-3 run at the end of the game to rally for the win.

   Niagara Falls, too: North Tonawanda pulled a 64-62 upset of No. 9 Niagara Falls in an overtime Class AA boys basketball game as Aaron Davis scored nine of his 24 points in the extra session.

   Davis also finished with 12 rebounds. Darrik Bloomfield put up 18 points and 11 boards.

   "It's the biggest win for North Tonawanda since I've been around and it's probably the biggest win for the school since 1969-70," Lumberjacks coach Erik O'Bryan told The Buffalo News.

   It was only the fifth time Niagara Falls lost to a Western New York opponent (and the first in the Niagara Frontier League) since the merger of Niagara Falls High and LaSalle High in 2000.