Stillwater 35 Greenwich 21: In a game tied 21 all at the half, the Stillwater defense took center stage after the break, throwing a second half shutout, and a pair of third period touchdowns by the Warriors proved more than enough for the Stillwater victory in a Class C semifinal in Stillwater on Friday night.
Offense looked to be the theme of the night in the first period with the two teams combining for 27 points.
Greenwich needed just two plays to get on the board, a 50-yard run by sophomore quarterback Jesse Kuzmich, followed by a 14-yard touchdown run by Chris Albrecht gave the Witches a 6-0 lead while fans were still settling in.
Stillwater answered with scoring runs by running back Mason Seymour, and quarterback James Galarneau to jump in front at 14-6.
A Luke Pemrick touchdown run drew the Witches to within a point at 14-13 at the end of one.
Seymour opened the scoring in the second stanza with a 5-yard touchdown tote giving Stillwater a 21-13 lead, but before the break Kuzmich found Pemrick on a slant pass that went for a 62-yard touchdown and with a Kuzmich run for the two-point conversion the game was knotted at 21-21 with 1:57 remaining in the half.
In the third Galarneau scored on a pair of TD runs, the second coming at the end of an 11 play 71-yard scoring drive giving the Warriors a 35-21 advantage, and the Stillwater “D” closed things out sending the Warriors on to the championship game with Cambridge-Salem on Friday night in Lansingburgh.
Cambridge-Salem 41 Tamarac 21: In a one-score game at the halftime break, Cambridge-Salem used a pair of third quarter scores to take control, on their way to the Class C semifinal “W” in Cambridge on Saturday afternoon.
The Indians held a 7-0 lead after the first on a Kaedin Ogilivie touchdown run, leading to a second period with plenty of points.
A 5-yard TD run by Jonah Rescott pulled Tamarac even at 7-7 early in the quarter.
The Indians responded with scoring runs by Hunter Day and Gabe Scambettera to take a 21-7 lead, before the Bengals trimmed the cushion to 21-14 when Tristan Nemjo found Jack Mayes with an 18-yard scoring strike.
Cambridge-Salem scored the only points of the third period, those coming on touchdown runs by Ogilvie and Day giving the Indians a 35-14 advantage after three.
In the fourth Tamarac drew closer in a 13-yard scoring connection from Nemjo to Rescott, but an 84-yard kickoff return by Scambettera wrapped up the victory, punching the Indians ticket to the sectional final with Stillwater on Friday.
Crossover Games
Hoosic Valley 28 Canajoharie 18: Holding a slim 14-12 lead after three periods the Valley used a pair of Gavin Giordano touchdown runs in the final quarter to post the victory over Canajoharie.
Giordano finished with 131 yards rushing on 21 carries and Connor Wilson added a 40-yard touchdown romp as the Indians finish the season with two straight victories and a 2-7 overall mark.
Hoosick Falls 48 Taconic Hills 0: Panther quarterback Jake Sparks threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score as well in leading the Falls to the easy “W” over Taconic Hills.
The Panthers Max Kipp added a pair of rushing scores and a touchdown reception as Hoosick Falls ends it’s season with their third straight victory to finish at 3-6 on the year.
