Over the last few weeks, some players and coaches have been asking me what the criteria is for Section 9′s exceptional senior game, which will be played next month. Below is how the selection process will work, courtesy of our friends at Section 9 athletics:

 Section 9 Exceptional Senior Game:

 Criteria for selecting players:

 -Each Section 9 school is guaranteed one selection.

-Schools also receive one additional selection for each divisional win they have.

-Divisional champions each receive one additional selection.

So, for instance, if Monroe-Woodbury defeats Newburgh on Friday: The Crusaders would have six representatives (one guaranteed, four for each division win and another for winning the division). However, with all due respect, Monroe-Woodbury would probably prefer to take a pass on what should be a great game. The five champions in classes AA, A, B, C, and D, will not participate as they could still be competing in the state playoffs, according to Chester coach Ron Stover, the president of the Section 9 Coaches’ Association.

The game is set for 1 p.m. on Nov. 18 at Newburgh Free Academy, Stover said. Possible venues for the game are Middletown’s Faller Field, Dietz Stadium in Kingston and Academy Field at Newburgh Free Academy. The two all-star teams will be picked in October with nominations coming from coaches. Two teams, representing all classes, will be split up with Section 9 Class AA coaches teaming up to lead them this fall. Section 4 (Binghamton area) and Section 1 (Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties) hold similar showcases.

The Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association previously held an exceptional senior game from 1977-82.

I hit Monroe-Woodbury after practice on Monday to talk about, of course, Friday’s game at Newburgh Free Academy. It’s a big-time game with plenty of drama surrounding it.

A Monroe-Woodbury win gives the Crusaders the Section 9 Class AA Division I title and eliminates Newburgh from the playoffs. Stay tuned for more on the game all week. I hope to get to Newburgh practice this week as well.

After consecutive tough losses to Monroe-Woodbury and Minisink Valley, Warwick coach James Sciarra decided to insert the ‘Wildcat” into the offense.

Sciarra had tinkered with the idea before, thinking it would be a good idea to get WR Brad Garcia the ball more. However, after M-W and M-V, a change had to be made. Warwick, who will play Washingtonville next week with a berth in the Class AA playoffs on the line, are 2-0 since the Wildcats went with “The Wildcat”.

The formation is used to capitalize on mismatches created by the shifting of skill players. The quarterback is replaced in the backfield by a running back who takes a direct snap from the center. Warwick’s new QB, sophomore Brendan Bauer, Garcia and Warwick’s OL have made the wildcat go.

Check back for more on Warwick and the wildcat next week.

OK, so Friday night didn’t go down how Monroe-Woodbury would have liked. The Crusaders lost to rival Newburgh Free Academy 16-10 for the second year in a row in a marquee Section 9 Class AA Division I match-up.

Still, Monroe-Woodbury clinched the Division I regular-season title, despite the loss. Newburgh, coming off a 41-0 loss to Pine Bush last week, is eliminated. Great effort by the Goldbacks after last week’s blowout loss.

As for Monroe-Woodbury, the Crusaders are still good, in position to regain the Class AA championship for the eighth time in nine years.  This is where Monroe-Woodbury belongs: The playoffs.

It was Newburgh Free Academy’s biggest win of the season, 16-10 over rival Monroe-Woodbury on the toughest night of the year. Despite NFA’s second straight win over the Crusaders, the Goldbacks were eliminated from Class AA playoff contention.

Newburgh won the Section 9 Class AA championship last year and rolled all the way to the state championship game, before losing to Orchard Park. Being bounced from the playoffs hurts, but even if it’s only a consolation, Newburgh played incredible. Only a week agon, Newburgh lost to Pine Bush 41-0.

Donovan Fields, who among other Goldbacks turned it up against M-W, talked to me after the game as you can see in the video above.

One Class AA playoff spot remains left to be claimed. Monroe-Woodbury, Pine Bush and Minisink Valley are all in. That leaves Warwick at Washingtonville. Friday night. 7 p.m. In “The Ville”. The winner claims second-place in Division II behind Minisink Valley and qualified for the Class AA semifinal playoffs.

Monroe-Woodbury awaits the winner. Washingtonville defeated Warwick on the last day of the regular-season last year to clinch the Division II regular-season in 2011. Both teams still qualified for the Class AA playoffs.

However, this fall, there is only room for one team.

Sanfordville Elementary School in Warwick was jumping on Monday. Why? Five words: Warwick athletic director Greg Sirico.

Last Friday, according to Sirico, Warwick Superintendent Raymond Bryant informed him by email that his athletic director position would be reduced to part-time. In a new role, Sirico would have a full-time job with the district, but his duties would be split between athletic director and assistant principal in the high school.

On Monday night, the Warwick wasn’t having any of it, coming out strong and outspoken for Sirico.

Monroe-Woodbury hosts Minisink Valley Friday. Sure, it’s a non-league game, but it’s a meeting of Class AA players. It could be a rematch of the Class AA championship game. Of course, Pine Bush and Warwick or Washingtonville will have something to say about this.

Still, MV vs. M-W is must-see. Monroe-Woodbury needs to come back strong after losing to Newburgh last week. Minisink Valley is on an impressive four-game win streak and wants to make it five.

Warwick clinched a spot in the Class AA playoffs in a must-win situation, defeating host Washingtonville 20-7 on Saturday. Next up for Warwick? The Wildcats take on Monroe-Woodbury in the Class AA playoff semifinals at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Faller Field in Middletown.

Stay tuned for more on the semifinals in all classes this week.

Class AA
Saturday
Monroe-Woodbury (6-2) vs. Warwick (6-2) , 7 p.m. Faller Field, Middletown
Minisink Valley (6-2) vs. Pine Bush (7-1), 7 p.m. Dietz Stadium, Kingston

Class A
Friday
Cornwall (8-0) vs. Goshen (3-5), 8 p.m. Faller Field
Wallkill (5-3) vs. Port Jervis (3-4), 8 p.m. Dietz Stadium

Class B
Saturday
Marlboro (8-0) vs. Ellenville (3-5), 3 p.m. Faller Field
Spackenkill (6-2) vs. New Paltz (6-2), 3 p.m. Dietz Stadium

Class C
Friday
James I. O’Neill (6-1) vs. Sullivan West (6-2), 4 p.m. Faller Field
Liberty (6-2) vs. Millbrook (6-2) , 4 p.m. Dietz Stadium

*Chester and Eldred will play for the Section 9 Class D title at 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 at Faller.

Could Minisink Valley vs. Pine Bush be the best game in an action-packed weekend? I think so. It will be my game of the week.

Minisink Valley and Pine Bush line up on Saturday at Dietz Stadium in Kingston. Stay tuned for more on the semifinal showdown and many other games.

Rightfully so, the players have received most of the pub during the Section 9 football season. But what about the coaches? They deserve some credit, too.

Well, now is there time to shine. Here is a list of the top five coaching jobs in Section 9 this season.

 1. Kevin Gallagher, Minisink Valley (6-2): Coming off a 4-5 season, some were ready to write off Minisink Valley after a 1-2 start this fall, which included a blowout loss to Newburgh.

Not so fast. Minisink Valley has responded with five straight wins, including convincing victories over Warwick and Washingtonville. For the coup de grace, Gallagher helped his charges to a 27-25 win over Monroe-Woodbury last Saturday. I’ve talked to Gallagher twice since the win and, each time, he’s told me last Saturday wasn’t so much about an M-W downfall.

It was about a Warrior uprising. Coach Gallagher is right. He always knew his team was good. Gallagher’s theory is that his team just need to fit into a new offense, overcome some early injuries and gain confidence.

2. Jim Wright, Pine Bush (7-1): Wright and the Bushmen faced the same, seemingly, impossible task this season. Knocking off one of the big three in Class AA – Kingston, Monroe-Woodbury and Newburgh.

Sure, had plenty of talent returning from a 4-5 team, but would it be the same old story: Pine Bush going three up and three down, losing to the big three. This year, the Bushmen weren’t going out like that.

Pine Bush manhandled Kingston 49-14, blowing the Tigers off the ball. The Bushmen did lose to Monroe-Woodbury 24-7, but only trailed 10-7 at halftime. If Pine Bush was impressive against Kingston, they kicked up a notch against Newburgh to the tune of 41-0.

Wright has his team in the Class AA playoffs for the first time in school history. Pine Bush faces Minisink Valley in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday at Dietz Stadium in Kingston.

3. Ed Van Curen, John S. Burke Catholic (4-4): Keep in mind, Burke Catholic finished 3-1 in Class C Division I, scoring a 26-21 win over defending Class C champion James I. O’Neill.

O’Neill, Burke Catholic and Liberty all finished 3-1 in the division, but the Eagles were eliminated in a tiebreaker. This season, Burke Catholic, a perennial Class C contender rolled out Van Curen’s kids, a group comprised of mainly sophomores. Only two starters returned from last season, quarterback Bob Pezzullo and wide receiver Pat Joyner.

Expect Van Curen to have Burke Catholic in the playoff hunt next year.

4. James Sciarra, Warwick (6-2): Sure, Warwick started the year with a 28-27 win over Newburgh, but things went south from there. The Wildcats were quickly declawed, falling to 2-2 after blowout losses to Monroe-Woodbury (37-6) and Minisink Valley (29-0).

Warwick could have packed in right there. Instead, the Wildcats reeled off four straight wins, qualifying for the Class AA playoffs. Sciarra replaced his starting quarterback, Brendan Waters, in favor of sophomore Brendan Bauer. With his intrepid offensive coordinator Aaron “Norm Chow” Hasbrouck, Sciarra has installed the wildcat formation into the ‘Cat attack.

The moves have worked perfectly.

5. Marcus Hughes, Cornwall (8-0): Yeah, I know. Cornwall has the players and is loaded. I get it. But, keep in mind, Cornwall did graduate 17 starters from last year’s Class A state semifinalist team.

For most teams, losing 17 starters, means a one or two-win season. Cornwall has been, well, Cornwall. The program is in places, yes, but Hughes does deserve credit for making things go fairly seamlessly.

Minisink Valley coach Kevin Gallagher has confirmed that starting quarterback Sean Tirelli will miss Saturday’s Section 9 Class AA playoff game against Pine Bush with a broken right leg.

Gallagher said Tirelli sustained the injury during the second quarter of last Saturday’s 27-25 win over Monroe-Woodbury. He played the remainder of the game. Gallagher said the severity of Tirelli’s injury wasn’t learned until Tuesday night.

“I feel terrible for Sean. I’m heartbroken,” Gallagher said. “He’s just such a tough kid and a leader. Sean is an inspiration for all of us.”

Tirelli, a senior, has thrown for 828 yards and six touchdowns this year, adding 294 rushing yards and a score. He was especially effective running Minisink Valley’s new run-heavy flexbone offense mistake free.

Without Tirelli out, Gallagher said he will look at one of three players to start against Pine Bush: Back-up Corey Ventura, a senior, jayvee starter Matt Carosella, a sophomore, or junior Drew Pitt. Pitt also plays quarterback on the varsity. Gallagher hopes to make his decision on Thursday.

Minisink Valley (6-2) plays Pine Bush (7-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Dietz Stadium in Kingston.

MIDDLETOWN – Keegan West completed 8 of 9 passes for 317 yards and five touchdowns as James I. O’Neill beat Sullivan West in a Section 9 Class C semifinal at Faller Field, 39-14.

Check out the video above for interviews with West, linebacker Eric Wallace and receiver Malik Chambers, who had five catches for 197 yards. Four of those were touchdown grabs.

For the full story, check out Saturday’s edition of the Times Herald-Record and Varsity845.com

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Goshen and Cornwall begin a Class A semifinal here in a few minutes. I’ll be posting updates on Twitter here: @THR_Montgomery.
If you’ve got a score from a game tonight, send it there or to @justinrod845 and we’ll retweet it!

Malik Chambers (1) of James I. O'Neill sprints away from Sawyer Erlwein of Sullivan West to score a touchdown after catching a pass from Keegan West during a Section 9 Class C semifinal game at Middletown's Faller Field on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012. (Tom Bushey photo/Times Herald-Record)

MIDDLETOWN — Cornwall dominated Goshen in a Section 9 Class A semifinal at Faller Field, winning 62-0.

For the sixth straight season, it will be Cornwall and Wallkill in the Section 9 Class A final.

Check out the video above with postgame quotes from Mike White, Jeff Grygiel, Luke Zsido and Connor Staudle.

For the full story, check out Saturday’s edition of the Times Herald-Record and Varsity845.com

The Cornwall defense stops Goshen's Kioti Carter (9) during a Section 9 Class A semifinal game at Middletown's Faller Field on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012. (Tom Bushey photo/Times Herald-Record)

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Thanks for following along tonight, football tweeps. I’ll be bringing you some boys’ soccer updates over the next week, so check it out on Twitter: @THR_Montgomery.

At Monroe-Woodbury, they likely will always remember it as “The Drive.”

Fifteen plays. Ninety-two yards. Fourth quarter. When it was completed, Monroe-Woodbury had scored a 14-13 come-from-behind win over Warwick in the Section 9 Class AA playoff semifinals at Faller Field on Middletown. Warwick was seeking its first win over Monroe-Woodbury since 1979.

Monroe-Woodbury quarterback Kevin Carr completed the drive, hitting Ken Fee on a 2-yard pass on a fourth-and-goal at Warwick’s 2-yard line with 1:35 remaining. Matt Valentini’s extra point sent the Crusaders to the Class AA title game against Pine Bush on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Dietz Stadium in Kingston.

Key plays on the drive included a 10-yard run by Justin Kaffenberger on a fourth-and-7 play from Warwick’s 46-yard line and a 30-yard completion from quarterback Kevin Carr to, old reliable, Kaffenberger.

Here are some other highlights and notes from the Section 9 semifinals this weekend:

– Pine Bush’s 27-0 win over Minisink Valley in the other Class AA semifinal. The Bushmen were led by Matt Geisler, who rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns, while playing lights out defense. The Bushmen have put up some of the most impressive blowout wins up this season – 49-14 over Kingston, 41-0 against Newburgh and the job on a confident Minisink Valley team – which played without starting quarterback Sean Tirelli.

– Pine Bush has allowed just seven points over the last four weeks for an average of 1.75 ppg. After its tango with Minisink Valley, a tough and physical outfit, it’s official. If it wasn’t already: Best OL in Section 9 belongs to Matt McCaffery and the rest of his crew up front.

– Pine Bush’s last Section 9 title came in 1995 as an A school when the Bushmen beat Kingston 20-0 in the final.

– I think Cornwall is still scoring on Goshen. It’s now 92-0. Of course, I’m kidding. But Cornwall’s 62-0 win over Goshen in the Class A semifinals was impressive – even if we all knew what the result would be. Good luck to Goshen, which should continue to improve next year.

– Earlier this week, I ranked – in order – who I felt have done the best coaching jobs in Section 9 in this order: Kevin Gallagher, Minisink Valley; Jim Wright, Pine Bush; Ed Van Curen, Burke Catholic; James Sciarra, Warwick; Marcus Hughes, Cornwall. I definitely think Liberty coach John Wilhelm needs a spot on this list. Wilhelm lost his best player, running back Kenny Jaycox, to a knee injury midseason. The Indians haven’t lost a game since and beat slightly favored Millbrook 35-18 in the Class C semifinals on Friday. Liberty has won six straight.

– Liberty’s last loss? The third week of the season, 21-0 to James I. O’Neill, who the Indians face in the Class C final. Jerry Nasi rushed for 257 yards in that game.

– Performance of the weekend? Easy. O’Neill quarterback Keegan West, who put up, perhaps, the game of his life in a 39-14 Class C semifinal win over Sullivan West. West, as in Keegan, completed 8-of-9 passes, throwing for 317 yards and five touchdowns.

– The game of the week next week? Hmmm. There is so much potential with Wallkill vs. Cornwall, Monroe-Woodbury vs. Pine Bush. However, I think the best game could be the B title game. In this corner, is the defending champ, Marlboro. In the other corner, is last year’s B runner-up, Spackenkill. Marlboro has beaten Spackenkill twice in a row by 14 points, including a 14-7 decision in last year’s Class B title game. It’s an even match-up. Both teams are deep, athletic, physical and fast.
My pick? Stay tuned for much more. Enjoy championship week!

(All games at Dietz Stadium, Kingston)

Saturday
Class D championship
Chester (6-3) vs. Eldred (4-5), 4 p.m.
Class C championship
James I. O’Neill (7-2) vs. Liberty (7-2), 8 p.m.

Sunday
Class B championship
Marlboro (9-0) vs. Spackenkill (7-2), 1 p.m.
Class A championship
Cornwall (9-0) vs. Wallkill (6-3), 4 p.m.
Class AA championship
Pine Bush (8-1) vs. Monroe-Woodbury (7-2), 7 p.m.

In what could be the best game of the weekend (of course, there are many candidates) – undefeated Marlboro vs. Spackenkill. It’s set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Kingston’s Dietz Stadium.

Marlboro defeated Spackenkill 14-7 in last year’s Class B championship and added a seven-point win over the Dutchess County school earlier this season. Stay tuned for more Section 9 championship video interviews this week.