Westchester Schools Have Football Fever

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. - OK, we're officially past the halfway point of the varsity high school football season, but with a fleeting seven-game regular season to play before the Section 1 postseason playoffs, Westchester teams are vying for precious postseason berths.

New Rochelle scores with 30 seconds remaining to defeat Shaker and advance to the 2012 State Class AA football title game. Can the Huguenots make another playoff run this fall.

Photo Credit: Danny LoPriore

by Danny LoPriore

10/03/2013 11:30 a.m.

Section 1 football pits Hudson Valley high school teams from Rockland, Putnam and Westchester counties in Class AA, A, B, C and D classifications determined by school enrollment. But each city, town and village begins each fall with its chance to send the local team to the state playoffs.

Just six of Westchester's 47 varsity teams remain unbeaten at 4-0, including White Plains in Class AA, Rye, Sleepy Hollow and John Jay (Katonah) in Class A, none in Class; and Dobbs Ferry and Rye Neck in Class C.

New Rochelle, the defending Class AA Section 1 and State Champion, is struggling a bit at 2-2 but gets a shot at unbeaten White Plains Saturday under the lights at home.

John Jay (Katonah) is tops in Class A at 4-0 with Harrison. Panas and a revived Horace Greeley all 3-1 and good bets to finish strong.

Defending Section 1 Class A champion Somers sits at 3-1 but is a playoff contender. Ossining lurks with rival Sleepy Hollow in its sights and Harrison looking to upset Rye in their annual Big Game. Both rivalry matchup are set for October 19.

In Class B, Irvington and Pleasanville are each 3-1, a step behind Lourdes (Poughkeepsie-Putnam County), a perfect 4-0.

Are the Eagles of Dobbs Ferry the best in Class C or is this Rye Neck's year? What about the defending Section 1 Class C Woodlands Falcons?

Dobbs and Woodlands meet Saturday at Woodlands in a key Class C battle. Bronxville is also in the Class C picture at 3-1 after losing a tough one to Dobbs last week and Hastings is revived this year at 3-1 and looking at a strong playoff run.

Class D's Tuckahoe, despite being 1-3 playing an all-Class C schedule, will be a playoff team because, well, all Class D teams make the postseason. Section 1 is allowed to offer a local representative and each year either Haldane (Cold Spring-Putnam) or Tuckahoe gets that bid.

Which of these teams should be considered the best in Westchester and the best bet to win a class sectional or even a state title?

914 Sports likes Dobbs Ferry, Rye, White Plains and Pleasantville.

About 914 Sports Blog: 914 Sports is a blog for the Daily Voice sites in Westchester County. We will be taking the sports pulse on a week-to-week basis to bring readers some of the more interesting storylines in Westchester amateur, high school and youth sports. If you have a story you want to see covered, email Danny LoPriore at dlopriore@dailyvoice.com.

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