David Boisture   Cornwall QB   Junior
Totaled nearly 2,000 yards in offense, with 20 total touchdowns, for the Class A state finalists.

Matt Stranski   Warwick RB   Senior
Ran for 1,265 yards, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry, with 11 total touchdowns.

David Landesberg   Monroe-Woodbury RB   Senior
Speedy back contributed with his legs and hands, scoring 16 total touchdowns.

Will Loeb  Pine Bush RB   Senior
Heated up in the second half and finished with 1,003 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.

Nick Mason   Rondout Valley WR   Senior
A clutch slot receiver, he caught 38 passes for 550 yards and five touchdowns.

Jared Mayr  Saugerties WR  Senior
Averaged more than 20 yards for his 37 catches, finishing with 742 yards and five touchdowns.

Andrew Gonnella  Monroe-Woodbury OL  Senior
His size and strength played a huge role in his team's running success.

Joe Canevari  Warwick OL  Senior
Size and quickness helped team run for more than 2,000 yards, throw for more than 1,000.

Alan Ackermann  Sullivan West OL  Senior
A strong blocker who also was able to get downfield

Andrew Lok  Newburgh Free Academy OL  Senior
A third-team pick as a junior, he was a key part in what might have been the area's best line

Matt Geyer  Newburgh Free Academy C  Senior
Another in the growing line of strong Newburgh centers.

Bill Davidsonn  Delaware Valley (Pa.) K  Senior
Converted 53-of-56 extra-point attempts and made both field goals.

Previn Pearson  Newburgh Free Academy QB  Senior
Tremendous athlete who kept getting better, with 10 touchdown passes and five picks against tough competition.

Steve Ferrazzara  Burke Catholic RB  Junior
Ran for 1,054 yards, averaging nearly 8 yards per carry, with 15 touchdowns.

Eshawn Armstrong  Middletown RB  Senior
Consistent all year, he finished with 1,049 yards for rebuilding program.

Anthony Gerbino  Marlboro RB  Senior
Was a beast in the second half, and ended up with 12 total touchdowns.

Brian McNally  Cornwall WR  Senior
When healthy, he might be the area's best all-around end.

Justin Alsdorf  Sullivan West WR  Senior
A clutch receiver for the Section 9 Class C champs, he caught 27 passes for 522 yards.

Brendon Myer  Delaware Valley (Pa.) OL  Junior
Helped team have Lackawanna Football Conference's top-rated offense.

Mike Attanasio  Monroe-Woodbury OL  Senior
One of the team's few two-way players, athletic enough to pull it off.

Pat Sweeney  Warwick OL  Senior
A key component for the three-time defending Class AA Division II champs.

Anthony Losardo  Burke Catholic OL  Senior
A big reason Burke allowed just one sack over its final six games.

Matt Asaro  Burke Catholic C  Senior
Anchored line that produced first 1,000-yard rusher in school history.

Jaimie Boyle  Monroe-Woodbury K
Deep kickoffs all season gave opponents tough field position.

Nick Gillan  Monroe-Woodbury DL  Senior
Tremendous pass rusher came up with key stops all season.

Ron Robinson  Rondout Valley DL Senior
Had eight sacks for the Section 9 Class A finalists.

Sal Gigante  Cornwall DL  Senior
Had 79 tackles with three sacks, three fumbles recovered and an interception.

Chris Gonzalez  Newburgh Free Academy DL  Senior
A tough guy to block in his breakout season.

Nick Scarpulla  Minisink Valley LB  Senior
Had seven sacks among his 110 tackles, with four forced fumbles and three recovered.

Ian Sumner  Delaware Valley (Pa.) LB  Senior
A team-high 100 tackles for a playoff team.

Kevin Woerdemann  Cornwall LB  Senior
Had a breakout year with 101 tackles, six sacks, four forced fumbles and three recovered.

Will Loeb  Pine Bush DB  Senior
A second-team repeater, played last year at Burke Catholic.

Keith Coincon  Monroe-Woodbury DB  Senior
A team-leading five interceptions for the 12-1 Crusaders.

Joe Myhren  Minisink Valley DB  Senior
A tough kid who basically quarterbacked an improved Warriors defense.

Marc Jackson  Kingston DB  Senior
Athletic cover guy who also helped out with run-stopping defense.

Greg Sullivan  Monroe-Woodbury P  Senior
Yet another of the many hats worn by the player of the year.

Pat Sweeney  Warwick DL  Senior
Had six sacks among his 15 tackles for a loss.

Keenan Spiegel  Burke Catholic DL  Junior
Had a nose for the quarterback, registering 6.5 sacks and 24 hurries. Also recovered three fumbles.

Garrett Grey  Tri-Valley DL  Junior
Sixty tackles among his 94 for the Section 9 Class C finalist.

Joe Canevari  Warwick DL  Senior
Double-teamed much of the time, he still finished with 40 tackles and three sacks.

Anthony Van Curen  Burke Catholic LB  Junior
Had four sacks among his 90 tackles, forced two fumbles and had 11 quarterback hurries.

Brian Bolstad  Highland LB  Senior
Could hit and had good hands, finishing with 107 tackles and three interceptions.

Tim Dorsey  Monroe-Woodbury LB  Senior
Another big part of one of the state's top defenses this year.

John Flannery  Monroe-Woodbury DB  Senior
A good run-support guy who helped out in coverage. Recovered fumble against NFA for one of the team's biggest plays.

Gary North  Tri-Valley DB  Senior
Had five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

Johnny Hearon  Delaware Valley (Pa.) DB  Senior
All-Lackawanna FC player had 45 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Jon Pekar  Newburgh Free Academy DB  Sophomore
Picked off four passes for the Section 9 Class AA runner-up, so the future is bright.

Nick Iannuzzi  Minisink Valley P  Junior
Did a nice job giving his defense good starting points.

By Kevin Witt   Times Herald-Record    November 07, 2006

Pat D'Aliso sat in the stands at Mahopac High School on Sunday, looking the way he normally does on the football sideline — a hooded sweatshirt that also hides his identity.
"I like it that way," said Monroe-Woodbury's football coach . "That way I can just concentrate on football."
D'Aliso watched New Rochelle win a wild Section 1 championship game 31-28 over John Jay, setting up the Class AA state quarterfinal game.
Monroe-Woodbury (10-0), the defending Class AA state champion, will play New Rochelle (9-0) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Dietz Stadium in Kingston.
Monroe-Woodbury is riding an active state-best 22-game winning streak, with its last loss coming in the 2004 state semifinals — 41-0 to New Rochelle. Prior to that loss, Monroe-Woodbury beat Saratoga 42-7, becoming the first Section 9 Class AA team to win a state-tournament game.
It used to be local coaches didn't want their teams watching these other championship games, since they could intimidate the kids.
Times have changed, though, so D'Aliso was glad "a dozen or so" of his players went to the game.
"They have confidence that they can play with anybody in the state," D'Aliso said. "I'm not saying we think we're going to automatically win, but with last year's win, they know they're capable of playing with the best."
Monroe-Woodbury is one of five local teams competing this weekend in postseason play. Monroe-Woodbury, Cornwall, Sullivan West and Chester are in the state quarterfinals. Delaware Valley (Pa.) is in the opening round of the Pennsylvania state tournament.

The eyes of New York state football will be on Kingston tonight, as Monroe-Woodbury begins defense of its state Class AA championship.

On the other sideline at Dietz Stadium will be Westchester County power New Rochelle, the same program that ended recent seasons of two of the top teams this area has ever fielded. New Rochelle took out the great 2003 Newburgh Free Academy team 24-12, then knocked off the best Monroe-Woodbury team in school history 41-0 a year later.
New Rochelle and Monroe-Woodbury went in different directions after the 2004 game. New Rochelle lost in the 2004 state final, then went 7-3 in 2005.
Monroe-Woodbury hasn't lost since, having won 22 straight games.
The teams are meeting for the first time since 2004, in the state Class AA quarterfinals — two victories from a trip to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse for the championship game.

23 skidoo
Monroe-Woodbury has a 22-game winning streak, the longest active heading into the state tournament. Rye had a chance to extend its winning streak to 22 games with a victory over Red Hook in the state Class B quarterfinals last night at Dietz Stadium.
Since losing to New Rochelle in the 2004 state semifinals, Monroe-Woodbury has outscored its opponents by an average of about 35-6.

M-W the underdog?
The Crusaders are underdogs, if you believe the MaxPreps computer state poll, which ranks schools of all sizes together.
New Rochelle is No. 4. Monroe-Woodbury is back up to No. 9.
That's right, the team with the longest active winning streak in the state actually had dropped in the poll — nine places to No. 18. This after a 55-0 victory over Valley Central in the Section 9 Class AA semis. Monroe-Woodbury jumped back up after its 26-3 victory over Newburgh in the Section 9 final.
Monroe-Woodbury is ranked No. 7 in the MSG Network poll, which covers New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. New Rochelle is not ranked in that poll.

Battle tested
New Rochelle won three games in an 11-day span to get through the Section 1 playoffs. That includes a 41-34 triple-overtime quarterfinal victory over Poughkeepsie, followed by a 24-14 win over North Rockland in the semifinals. New Rochelle rallied to beat John Jay-Cross River 31-28 in the final on quarterback Justin McGhee's 1-yard run with 1:18 left.
"They've got a lot of character, they're resilient and that's why they're champions," Monroe-Woodbury coach Pat D'Aliso says. "And they're athletic."
Monroe-Woodbury won its two playoff games by a combined 81-3 score.

Been there, done that
Twenty-three Monroe-Woodbury players returned from the state championship team and will be playing in at least their third state playoff game. Quarterback Greg Sullivan, linebacker Keith Hale and running back David Landesberg played in two more in 2004, though Sullivan was a defensive back and Landesberg a reserve.
"The atmosphere is a lot different than the regular season," defensive back Ayoub Aouad says. "The games get bigger, the crowds get bigger, the pressure is more. Being there already has prepared us to come in and take care of business."

Who needs a Rolex?
Sullivan isn't about to bite the hand that feeds him, so he makes sure his offensive linemen are happy — and well fed.
They aren't hard to find, RG Andrew Gonnella says, because he, RT Chris McHale, C Eric Thorsen, LG Mike Attanasio and LT Marco Scalia are always together.
Sometimes during watching film, Gonnella says, Sullivan takes care of the guys who block for him by bringing them pizza.

Coach Sirico's 'birthday'
Most of the Monroe-Woodbury team gathered for chicken wings and mozzarella sticks at a Chester restaurant on the night before the Newburgh game in October. They all had so much fun, hanging out and laughing, that it became a weekly tradition.
"Every time we go there, it's (assistant) coach (Greg) Sirico's birthday," Hale says. "We tell them it's his birthday, so they always come out with cake. It all takes some of the stress factor off before the game."

Quick drops
Look for each team to use different defensive sets, especially Monroe-Woodbury. The Crusaders have done a good job with halftime adjustments this season. ... There will be plenty of beef up front, as each team's offensive line will average about 250 pounds. ... Both teams have good kickers. Monroe-Woodbury's Jaimie Boyle hasn't attempted a field goal this season, but is solid on extra points. New Rochelle's Ivan Franco has kicked three field goals in three attempts.

Kingston — Greg Sullivan posed for pictures with the Section 9 Class AA championship plaque, clutching yet another individual award for being the best offensive player in a football game.
The post-game stuff — the Monroe-Woodbury fans and parents on the Dietz Stadium field, the hugs and the smiles — was expected to happen. After all, few among the 3,000 or folks who watched last night, really expected Monroe-Woodbury to lose. And Monroe-Woodbury didn't, beating Newburgh Free Academy 26-3.
Yet in the players' minds, winning just wasn't enough. Extending the state's longest winning streak to 22 games wasn't enough.
They needed to win convincingly, so that everybody whom they felt weren't believers — around the state — got the message.
"This was a statement game," said Sullivan, Monroe-Woodbury's senior quarterback. "Not only was it winning three championships in a row, or 20-something games. You read on all these Web sites that they don't know if we're the best team in the state — that there's all these doubts. We had to come out and take care of business."
So begins the quest to successfully defend its Class AA state championship. Monroe-Woodbury (10-0) moves into the Class AA state quarterfinals, where it will face the New Rochelle-John Jay winner 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Dietz Stadium. Monroe-Woodbury enters that game as the state's top-ranked team.
"We just want to play hard," Monroe-Woodbury coach Pat D'Aliso said. "If somebody else sees that, and that's their perspective. ... I just want to play good football, mistake-free football. Play good defense. Control the football. That's what helped us last year get to the (Carrier)Dome, and that's what we need to do again."
Ironically, New Rochelle was the last team to beat Monroe-Woodbury — 41-0 in the state semifinals nearly two years ago.
Newburgh gave Monroe-Woodbury a scare on Oct. 6, jumping out to a 17-0 halftime lead. But Monroe-Woodbury scored the last 21 points and has been tremendous since.
"After that last game, we had to prove ourselves," Monroe-Woodbury linebacker Keith Hale said. "Last time, we came out flat and were missing tackles. We had to step out of the shadow of last year's team and make our own identity."
Sullivan remains a rock-solid presence from last year's team. He had 150 yards rushing and 158 yards receiving last night, with the highlight being a Class AA final record-setting 94-yard touchdown pass to David Landesberg.
"Greg Sullivan is a great player," Newburgh quarterback Previn Pearson said. "I wish them luck."
Sullivan's 4-yard touchdown run, his 17th of the season, helped give Monroe-Woodbury a 7-0 lead on its first possession. Landesberg's 4-yard run early in the second quarter made it 13-0, that touchdown pass on a screen play came about three minutes later. Landesberg, who missed nearly three full games with a sprained ankle, has 12 touchdowns.
Chris Boyce added 60 yards on 14 carries — mostly in the first half. He also closed out Monroe-Woodbury's scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run with three minutes left.
"He's kind of an unsung hero," D'Aliso said. "Anybody around Greg is an unsung hero. He's like the David Landesberg of last year."
Marc Corrado's 26-yard field goal for Newburgh (7-3) cut the lead to 19-3 with 2:55 remaining in the second quarter. Newburgh's only two Section 9 losses were to Monroe-Woodbury.
"We made big plays at points, but weren't able to get into the end zone," Pearson said. That's pretty much it."

Most Valuable Player of the championship game- MW quarterback Greg Sullivan.
By Kevin Witt  Times Herald Record  November 09, 2006

On Nov. 19, 2004, the best Monroe-Woodbury football season to that point ended with a 41-0 loss to New Rochelle in the state Class AA semifinals.
Monroe-Woodbury hasn't lost since and owns the longest active winning streak in the state at 22.
Monroe-Woodbury senior quarterback Matt Stack, a four-year starter, directed an option offense that won its first 11 games in 2004, including a 42-7 victory over Saratoga in the state tournament. It was the first time a Section 9 Class AA team had ever won a state-tournament game.
That New Rochelle squad, filled with future Division I college players, was regarded as one of the best Westchester County teams in the last 25 years. One was running back Ray Rice, now a Rutgers sophomore and among the top backs in the nation.
On Saturday, Monroe-Woodbury and New Rochelle will play for the first time since 2004 in a state quarterfinal at 7:30 p.m. at Kingston's Dietz Stadium.
Seven players who played in that semifinal game will be on the field Saturday. Three of them are from Monroe-Woodbury, including linebacker Keith Hale, who started then, and running back David Landesberg, who was a back-up. The third was a starting defensive back who would take on a much greater role over the next two years — quarterback Greg Sullivan.

Here is a look at how Monroe-Woodbury has built its impressive streak:
2005
Sept. 2 — M-W 42, Minisink Valley 0
Sept. 9 — M-W 34, Pine Bush 6
Sept. 16 — M-W 48, Mount Vernon 0
Sept. 23 — M-W 25, Kingston 19
Sept. 30 — M-W 35, Warwick 0
Oct. 7 — M-W 62, Middletown 6
Oct. 16 — M-W 28, Newburgh 3
Oct. 21 — M-W 34, Wallkill 6
Oct. 29 — M-W 28, Washingtonville 7   Section 9 Class AA semifinals
Nov. 4 — M-W 34, Kingston 0   Section 9 Class AA championship
Nov. 18 — M-W 28, North Rockland 0  State Class AA semifinals
Nov. 27 — M-W 32, Webster Thomas 10   State Class AA championship
2006
Sept. 1 — M-W 48, Valley Central 0
Sept. 8 — M-W 21, Fayetteville-Manlius 14
Sept. 15 — M-W 35, Washingtonville 0
Sept. 21 — M-W 20, Warwick 7
Sept. 29 — M-W 48, Middletown 12
Oct. 6 — M-W 21, Newburgh 17
Oct. 13 — M-W 35, Kingston 6
Oct. 21 — M-W 32, Pine Bush 13
Oct. 28 — M-W 55, Valley Central 0  Section 9 Class AA semifinals
Nov. 3 — M-W 26, Newburgh 3   Section 9 Class AA championship
The Defining moment
Sullivan gave up baseball as a sophomore in 2005, so he could spend his spring afternoons with football coach Pat D'Aliso learning the team's new spread offense. Sullivan was the scout-team quarterback as a sophomore, so D'Aliso knew he could throw and decided to scrap the run-based option.
After three blowouts to open the 2005 season, Monroe-Woodbury played at Class AA rival Kingston. Sullivan completed 10-of-17 passes for 200 yards, with touchdown passes to Landesberg and Chris Johnson. Sullivan also had 18 carries for 139 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run in a 25-19 victory.
Rematch for a title
Kingston's Coleman Edmond ran for nearly 400 yards in the two games heading into the Section 9 Class AA final in 2005 but was shut down cold by Monroe-Woodbury's defense.
Edmond was held to 22 yards rushing as Monroe-Woodbury won 34-0. The Crusaders allowed just 47 points in nine games against local competition on their way to their second straight sectional championship.
Giant killers
North Rockland came to Dietz Stadium for the 2005 state Class AA semifinals unbeaten and averaging nearly 38 points per game. Running back Riedrick Alceus had 1,475 yards and 27 touchdowns through 11 games, but didn't score in No. 12.
After a scoreless first half, Monroe-Woodbury scored four unanswered touchdowns and won 28-0. Sullivan threw a touchdown pass to Mike Septh and ran for a touchdown. Neil Ingenito and Landesberg also had rushing touchdowns.
Battling Dome nerves
Playing indoors. Huge video screens. Crowd noise that can be overwhelming. Those new elements and more at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, not to mention playing for a 2005 state Class AA championship, had Monroe-Woodbury nervous and lacking its usual confidence.
Monroe-Woodbury fell behind 7-0, then scored the next 25 points in barely one quarter and beat Rochester-area Webster Thomas 32-10 for the title.
The Class AA championship is for schools with the largest enrollments, so Monroe-Woodbury could lay claim to being the best public school team in the state.
The rich get richer
D'Aliso and long-time assistant Bernie Connolly, regarded as one of the state's best coaching duos, returned for the 2006 season. Then more help came from an unlikely source.
Greg Sirico joined the staff as an assistant. Sirico spent the previous 10 years as Warwick's head coach but quit to take the Nyack athletic director's job. He later returned to Warwick and joined D'Aliso's staff.
That gave Monroe-Woodbury three coaches — D'Aliso, Connolly and Sirico — with varsity head coaching experience.
 2006 version
Monroe-Woodbury returned seven starters on defense, then opened with a 48-0 victory over Valley Central. Monroe-Woodbury held Valley Central to 37 total yards and three first downs.
Sullivan, Landesberg and receiver John Flannery are the returning skill players. Center Eric Thorsen is the only returning starting offensive lineman.
Rolling to the state tournament
Monroe-Woodbury outscored Valley Central and Newburgh Free Academy by a combined 81-3 in the this season's Section 9 Class AA playoffs. Sullivan ran for four touchdowns against Valley Central, and had 308 yards of total offense against Newburgh.
By the numbers

M-W football team captures third sectional title in a row
By Chris Mayone

KINGSTON - It’s official. Monroe-Woodbury can finally start its 2007 football.
     After playing the entire 2006 season with a big, red bull’s-eye right in the middle of their purple and black jerseys, the Crusaders captured their third consecutive Section 9 title after a 26-3 shellacking over Newburgh Friday night at a cold Dietz Stadium in Kingston.
     “Every team we played this year wanted to come out and beat Monroe,” said coach Pat D’Aliso. “A couple of teams gave us a scare but we made it through. This team is a great group of kids and they have done a lot for me.”
     The Crusaders have now won a state-best 22 football games in a row, including 10 this season. They are the state’s top-ranked football team and it showed Friday night right from the opening kick off.
     The reining state champs took the game’s opening drive and marched 74 yards on just seven plays en route to an early 7-0 advantage. Monroe-Woodbury quarterback Greg Sullivan capped off the drive with a four-yard run right up the middle of the Newburgh defense. Running back Chris Boyce had 26 yards on the ground to fuel the drive.

M-W VS. CBA

Monroe-Woodbury coach Pat D'Aliso on CBA

"They are, 'Here we come, stop us. We're going to play hard-nosed football.' They kind of remind me of North Rockland, but they do throw the ball a little more."

CBA coach James Smith on Monroe-Woodbury

"I tried to slow the tape down, so I would feel better about playing them."

Three things you need to know about Christian Brothers Academy:

1. This is CBA's first trip to the state tournament, with 1991 being the last time the school played for — and lost — its sectional championship.

2. It runs an I-formation offense, with a quarterback, fullback and running back.

3. Senior quarterback Jim O'Brien has 12 touchdown passes, eight to senior Lucas Weaver. The two hooked up in the 18-0 victory over Colonie in the Section 2 final. Senior running back Joe Zappone, who also scored, has 925 yards.

Kevin Witt

     Being the top Class AA state team for almost two years running brings its distractions.
     Throw in talk of a 23-game winning streak and the pressure mounts.
     What keeps Monroe-Woodbury players loose? Guys like Keith Hale, Andrew Gonnella, James Cappola and Tim Staiano. Character guys and characters. Hale and Gonnella are starters. Cappola and Staiano are role players.
     The seniors share one goal — keeping football fun at Monroe-Woodbury. Here's how they do it:
     Keith "Dog Bone" Hale — Some of Hale's teammates eat pizza before games. Not the senior linebacker. Hale's pregame meal of choice is a Milk-Bone dog biscuit.
     It all started back when Hale was a freshman. He earned the nickname "Dog Bone" on the jayvee team. Current Monroe-Woodbury quarterback Greg Sullivan dared Hale to eat a dog biscuit before each game. It's stuck.
     "You have to eat them with water or Gatorade," Hale said. "They taste like a really dry graham cracker."
     "I buy one box at the start of the season; it has to be Milk-Bone. The cheerleaders bought me an extra box this season."
     Monroe-Woodbury ballboy Jamie Franco wraps Hale's halftime "bone" in his sweatbands and puts it in his pocket so it doesn't break.
     "Sometimes, I'll pack an extra for the ballboy," Hale said.
     Andrew "OCD" Gonnella — It's unusual for a 6-foot-5, 280-pound offensive lineman to be singing. Let alone on a team bus. Let alone wimpy Brit pop, like James Blunt.
     But there's Gonnella belting out, "You're Beautiful," after every game. And he's not alone. Gonnella hands one of his headphones to Sullivan and they share a duet. Soon, the whole bus is chiming in.
     Gonnella's been known to call girls after games, singing them the song.
     "It's crazy," Sullivan said. "A lot of players have Ipods. But he has something the size of a laptop and has huge headphones (ones that a deejay would use)."
     Gonnella also may be the most superstitious person on the team. He arranges his shoulder pads, duffel bag and helmet in the locker room the same way before games. Gonnella checks his gamebag for an hour straight before the bus leaves. That didn't work last week.
     "On the 14th time he checked, he realized that he left his game pants at home 20 minutes before the bus was leaving," Monroe-Woodbury assistant Jim Hintze laughs.
     Of course, Gonnella raced back home, found his pants folded on his bed and made it back for the bus. There was no way that Gonnella was wearing new pants.
     Gonnella eats the same pregame meal: hot imported green tea (that he gets from the Lucky House in Monroe), a peanut butter sandwich and Big Mike's pizza (in Harriman).
     He listens to the same Coheed & Cameria 14-song mix CD in his car on gamedays.
     James "I Flex Entirely Too Much" Cappola — Cappola is the guy who's always looking at himself in the mirror. He wears sleeveless T-shirts any chance he gets. And Cappola carries his books in front of him so his biceps are flexed for the ladies.
     If Cappola could nickname himself, it would be "Jimmy Flex."
     "I flex like Rocky a lot," said Cappola, a reserve nose guard who plays special teams.
     Cappola, who is 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, benches 285 pounds. But he isn't all muscle.
     After Monroe-Woodbury games, Cappola "goes absolutely insane," in the locker room. He starts the beat to "Zombie Nation," a techno song. The team follows Cappola's lead. And the locker room is buzzing.
     Then Cappola breaks into impressions of head coach Pat D'Aliso and assistants Bernie Connolly, Hintze and Greg Sirico.
     "It's very unique," Sirico said. "Thank goodness he's a better football player than an actor."
     Tim "Rubber Mouth" Staiano — Staiano will do anything to boost team morale. He's the guy who provides comic relief or a show of bravado to keep his teammates smiling and loose.
     Sometimes, Staiano even takes requests.
     One challenge was to eat rubber from the turf at Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn during a practice. No problem. Staiano grabbed a palmful of turf and swallowed it.
     "I don't deny my teammates," said Staiano, a senior reserve guard who plays special teams. "I've never said, 'No' to them."
     Another time, Staiano had no problem diving, sliding and running through a huge puddle of water in 30-degree weather in front of his team.
     Staiano is almost as quirky as Gonnella. He wears game pants with pads on the bus ride to games.
     Before games, senior corner Keith Coincon drinks the first half of a warm Red Bull and Staiano finishes it. He rolls his jersey sleeves up four times before each game.
     Staiano eats the same breakfast on gameday: bacon, egg and cheese, salt and pepper, no ketchup and a lemon tea vitamin water.
     Staiano wears the same clothes every week during football season.
     "They are washed," Staiano swears.

By Kevin Witt  Times Herald Record
November 16, 2006 Monroe-Woodbury will bring a 23-game winning streak into its state Class AA semifinal football game tomorrow against Christian Brothers Academy, but that streak easily could have been stopped last week at 22.
Monroe-Woodbury's offense struggled, but its defense didn't — and the Crusaders beat New Rochelle 14-7 on Saturday. You can make the case that Monroe-Woodbury's defense, which operates out of a 4-3 alignment, hasn't had a bad game all season.
"You can give different looks up front and keep the same coverages, or you can keep the front the same and change the coverages," long-time defensive coordinator Bernie Connolly said. "There are so many different variations.
"You put more athletes on the field and we have good speed, so it gives us so much flexibility to adjust. Plus, they're also unbelievably coachable."
Monroe-Woodbury's 4-3 utilizes four linemen and three linebackers. Its "cover-2" secondary utilizes two cover guys and two deep guys who split the field.

Here is a breakdown of the guys who play that defense and Connelly's take on what each player contributes:

Mike Attanasio, senior
Stud end    6-2, 215
What he brings: "He's that physical presence on the defensive line, and probably has the toughest job because he always plays over the tight end."

Mike Rumler, senior
Tackle     5-11, 210
What he brings: "He always does his job, uses good technique and is very coachable. He can't let the guard single-block him to the outside, and makes the other team double-team him. That frees up a linebacker."

Alex Wisnewski, senior
Nose guard      5-8, 185
What he brings: "He's our fourth linebacker, but we had to find a way to get him on the field. He's got very good hands because he's a wrestler, and is a kid who doesn't mind being double-teamed. He's also good enough to drop back into coverage."

Nick Gillan, senior
Will end     6-2, 205
What he brings: "He's our best pass rusher and usually our playmaker because he's very quick. When we've had our best defenses, we've had a good end like Nick."

Tim Dorsey, senior
Tex linebacker     6-0, 195
What he brings: "He plays the tight-end side, so he needs good strength. He also is probably the best naturally instinctive player that we have. He can flat-out run."

Keith Hale, senior
Mac linebacker     5-9, 195
What he brings: "Our smartest kid and hardest worker. He's always watching film and asking questions. He's a small guy, but he can hit, and doesn't make many mistakes and then repeat them."

Dan Mauriello, senior
Adjuster linebacker     5-11, 185
What he brings: "He has to be able to play in space like a strong safety, and make open-field tackles. But he also runs well and can cover people."

John Flannery, senior
Hero     5-11, 190
What he brings: "He does a little bit of everything pretty well, because he's a good run-support guy that can help in coverage. Made the biggest play of the year with that scoop and score against Newburgh."

Keith Coincon, senior
Cornerback     5-11, 160
What he brings: "Has very good ball skills — and has five picks, but he's also a sure tackler. He's also one of our most physical kids."

Ayoub Aouad, senior
Rover  5-11, 175
What he brings: "Our best all-around defensive back. He probably plays the toughest position because he has to be a good cover guy — and be a good run-support kid."

Jon Rivera, senior
Safety  5-9, 175
What he brings: "Our quarterback back there. He checks coverages, calls all the keys, making sure everything is right back there. Has to spend a lot of time in the middle of the field, so if he misses something, it's a touchdown

MONROE-WOODBURY is ranked No. 1 in Class AA by the New York State Sportswriters' Association. But the Crusaders can't break the top five in the MaxPreps poll.
What's up with that?
M-W is No. 6 in MaxPreps, which ranks teams of all sizes in one poll. The MaxPreps top five: St. Anthony's of Melville (Long Island), Marshall-Rochester, Mount St. Michael of the Bronx, Nassau County-based Chaminade and Rochester-area Churchville-Chili.
MaxPreps uses a computer program to gauge quality wins against highly ranked opponents and strength of schedule.
The case could be made that Monroe-Woodbury deserved to be ranked 64th when it was 5-0 because of its lesser-quality opponents. But not when you consider that it's the defending state champion. It finally moved from ninth to sixth, but not until after beating New Rochelle in the state quarterfinals.
Cornwall has made a more dramatic rise lately, going from 31st to 14th after beating Harrison in the Class A state quarterfinals.
"I never look at it,'' said Monroe-Woodbury coach Pat D'Aliso, not the least bit offended. "It's for the kids to have fun and you guys to put together. The bottom line is, there's no number one team in New York state. We're going to find out, I guess, (in the state tournament) who the number one team is in New York state at all different levels.''
Anyway, Monroe-Woodbury has nothing on Ramsey, N.J.-based Don Bosco Prep when it comes to poll snubs. Bosco, which has a few local players on its roster, was ranked No. 1 in the nation — the nation! — before pounding Camden Catholic 70-23 nine days ago. How did the win affect Bosco's ranking? It cost the Ironmen six slots. Bosco is No. 7 this week.

REGION GAINS RESPECT ON STATE FOOTBALL SCENE

"THEIR TIME IS UP," Cornwall football coach Matt Buddenhagen told his team before it ran out to play Section 1 power Harrison. "This is our time now.''
It was Cornwall's time. The Green Dragons beat Harrison 13-10 in the state Class A tournament quarterfinals nine days ago. "The biggest upset for a Section 1 team in state tournament history,'' one Westchester County sportswriter labeled it.
Cornwall's time.
And Monroe-Woodbury's time.
And, finally, Section 9's time.
No longer annual punching bags in the state tournament, Section 9 programs are now standing up and throwing the first punches. They have rallied around the success of two state champs (Rondout Valley, 2000; Monroe-Woodbury, 2005) and one that just missed (Wallkill, 2004). Their coaches have relied on each other like never before. Their players have learned to believe in themselves.
Section 9 football is good, and getting better.
"Before it was just, 'Let's play a section game; let's get (the state tournament) over with and let's go home,''' Monroe-Woodbury coach Pat D'Aliso said. "I think it's a belief that you have to have to get there. And I'm not sure we all believed that before. I think after last year, our kids believe anything we tell them. That's important.''
Believe this: Two Section 9 teams spent this weekend playing for spots in next week's state title games. Monroe-Woodbury extended the state's longest active winning streak to 24 by beating Christian Brothers Academy 21-0 in the Class AA semfinals on Friday. Cornwall's eye-popping upset of Harrison set up last night's Class A semifinal against Potsdam-area Indian River.
In 2004, Wallkill lost to Binghamton-area Maine-Endwell in the final seconds of the Class A title game. Rondout Valley's Class B championship in 2000 was the first for a Section 9 football team since the tournament began its present format in 1993.
Section 9, with two state titles, has a way to go before it meets Section 1 at midfield. The downstate section has produced a state-best 17 titles. But if Section 9 isn't breathing down 1's neck, the downstaters are hearing mid-Hudson footsteps.
"I can't speak for all levels,'' said New Rochelle coach Lou DiRienzo, whose team lost to Monroe-Woodbury 14-7 in the quarterfinals, "but in terms of Double A football, Monroe has a shot to be a two-time state champ. So if that's not (the program) being well on their way, I don't know what is.''
The gorilla in Section 9's room always has been Section 1. Section 9 champs almost always open the state tournament against Section 1 champs, kind of like a big-market vs. small-market setup. Section 1 holds a huge advantage in sheer numbers, with 23 Class AA football schools to 10 in Section 9, and 13 Class A schools to six in Section 9. Section 1 has 10 Class C schools, Section 9 three. Section 9 does hold a 4-2 edge in Class D teams, but perennial Class D power Tuckahoe is from Section 1.
Section 9 teams are holding their own against the big boys because more and more of them are focusing on football year-round, whether through weightlifting, camps or clinics. Another factor has been coaching unity. Monroe-Woodbury assistant Greg Sirico and Spackenkill's Paul Valli helped form the Section 9 football coaches' association six years ago. Until then coaches were hesitant to share information, if not share company.
"It organized us and united us as a section,'' said Sirico, who as head coach turned Warwick into a local power.
Offseason training such as Warwick's 7-on-7 camp got schools and players "thinking about football in the springtime,'' said Sirico, the camp's founder. Fourteen teams participated in the inaugural 7-on-7 in 1997. This June there were 28 teams.
Teams that don't make a heavy offseason commitment risk being left behind.
Quarterback Justin Ropke plays for Port Jervis, once an annual power but 9-9 the past two seasons. "Honestly, I think that was a very big problem,'' Ropke said. "We started lifting two weeks before school started; other teams started two months before.''
Cornwall beat Port Jervis 41-7 during the regular season and 41-0 in a sectional semifinal playoff game. Ropke's first thought when he looked across the line at Cornwall? "Every single one of their guys,'' he said, "looked like a football player. Everyone was just, like, perfect.''
Other sections have noticed the difference, too.
"Nobody thought when we went to play (Section 1's) Nyack that we stood a chance to win that game,'' Wallkill coach Dave Der Cola said of his team's 2004 run. "I kept saying, 'Our kids believe.'''
Wallkill beat then-defending state champ Nyack, 21-18, in the quarterfinals. Maine-Endwell beat Wallkill 39-36 in the championship game on a 16-yard touchdown catch with 19 seconds left. Wallkill appeared to have won when a Maine-Endwell pass fell incomplete with 30 seconds left, but a defensive holding penalty kept the drive alive.
"There was always an intimidation that Section 1 brought to us,'' Cornwall star Matt Moretto said. "They would really strike fear in our hearts.''
But when Harrison took a 7-0 lead on Cornwall, Moretto remembers the consensus in the huddle: "That's seven points. We can do the same.''
No Section 9 team had played for a state title until Rondout Valley broke ground in 2000. It opened the tournament with a 28-14 win over Section 1's Somers, and captured the title with a 21-0 win over two-time state champ Lackawanna of Buffalo-area Section 6. Lackawanna had won 49 of its last 50 games.
Rondout Valley coach Jim Malak said the keys were senior leadership, togetherness and confidence. He said almost a dozen players took part in an offseason speed camp. Malak considers speed training the crucial component to Section 9 reaching another level.
"I was looking at this Monroe team and they are not huge by any means, at least compared to teams I've seen,'' Malak said. "I think it's their ability to get to the football.''
That would make perfect sense. Nobody is moving faster than Section 9.

Miles logged to practices and games: Thousands.
Gasps of horror with each bone-crunching hit: Countless.
Being a mom of a championship-bound son: Priceless.

Behind every successful high school football player is a mother.
They wrap ankles and knees, ice sore shoulders and backs. They keep their gridiron giant well fed and nurtured with support and guidance. And they're huge fans who force themselves to fight their internal urge to run on the field each time their baby boy takes a breath-taking tackle.

Miss a game? Are you kidding?

They've been team mothers in Pop Warner. They know the difference between a good offense and a great defense. They remember every play, every interception, every moment their sons spent in pads and a helmet.

They're the unsung heroes of gridiron greats.

Those moms will be at the high school state championship for Cornwall and Monroe-Woodbury football teams today and tomorrow. The big game in the Syracuse Carrier Dome is a bittersweet moment for some moms, whose sons are playing their last high school game. After this weekend, they might never wrap another ankle or cringe at the sight of their boy getting laid out on the field. So for all the moms who'll make the trek to Syracuse this weekend, take a bow.

Cathy Coincon
Mother of: Keith (K.C.) Coincon, defensive back

You'll find Cathy Coincon on the sidelines, watching the games through a camera lens. For this mom, that location is everything. K.C. makes a great play; he's heading right toward mom for an approving chuck on the shoulder or a whisper of praise.
K.C. doesn't mind, shrugging his shoulders when asked how he feels about mom front and center. She's a staple. "She's been there for all of the games," K.C. says.
It might not have been this way. Shortly after K.C. was born, Cathy was diagnosed with cancer, Hodgkin's disease. She survived and now cherishes every moment, including tending to K.C.'s back injury by spraying it with gagging amounts of pain-soothing ointment.
"You can't go back and do it again. It's the one thing I learned when I was sick," Cathy says. "I want to be there, every moment, with them."

Sharon Thorsen
Mother of: Eric Thorsen, center

Sharon Thorsen ran one very, very important errand before every game.
To Subway.Got to get the six-inch BMT with lettuce, tomato, pickles, just a few olives, a little black pepper, oil and vinegar. Top it with a bag of barbecue potato chips, two chocolate chip cookies and a macadamia nut cookie. Wash it down with a Coke.
Dinner of a champion, provided by mom with love and a healthy dose of superstition.
Mom delivered Eric's BMT hours before last week's winning game, which secured their trip to Syracuse. It was the last winning sub.
What about tradition, superstition? "I don't know if that's going to matter," Sharon Thorsen says of the winning BMT combo. Seems Eric didn't have one last year, and his team took the title anyway. But, then again, Sharon says: "Maybe I should eat the sandwich."
There's a Subway at 720 University Ave., half a mile from the Dome, Sharon.

Maureen Gillan
Mother of: Nick Gillan, defensive end

Nick's a towering 6 feet, 2 inches and solid 205 pounds who wraps an arm around his mother, six inches shorter and way lighter, and pulls her close.
"My mom," he says, "has a soft spot for me."
Not to say Maureen Gillan is "soft." She hurls Hail Mary passes at Nick for a touchdown in family pickup games against dad, Dennis, and daughter Kelly. Hours before kickoff, she and Sharon Thorsen chat about strategy and defensive plays and, of course, the potential for injury.
"It's been a blessing for us to repeat," Maureen says. "It's so intense, my heart's just happy."
And then, well, there's the game-day horseplay.
"She tries to block me in the kitchen," Nick says. "She's the only one who can block me."

Diane Attansio
Mother of: Mike Attansio, defensive lineman

Michael is prone to broken bones. Wrists, fingers, you name it. Naturally, mom worries.
But it never keeps her away from a game.
Neither did her studies while pursuing a nursing degree. Diane, Mike and his sister, Nicole, ate meals in the car shuffling to and from practices and games. The stands often became Diane's study hall.
But she was always there.
"I always had a book in my lap," Diane says. "Those are the sacrifices that I made. Pretty much, I didn't have a life. It was all worth it. I always put them first."
She gives Mike the space he needs before game time. It's a ritual she supports by not talking to him and letting him secret himself away upstairs. It's mental preparation time.
"She's just always been there for me," Mike says.
In the next breath, he looks at mom: "You gave up everything."

They are the players who weren't expected to make much of an impact. Maybe the late bloomer, or the hoops player trying football, or maybe someone finally deciding to make the commitment.
Every team has players who became pleasant surprises. Every championship team needs them.
Here's a look at some players for  Monroe-Woodbury who rose to the occasion this season:

Chris Boyce Junior fullback, 5-10, 205

Talk about having to fill some big shoes. Boyce had to replace Neil Ingenito, who ran for more than 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in helping Monroe-Woodbury win a state title last season.
Boyce hasn't put up those types of numbers this year, but he doesn't have to in Monroe-Woodbury's spread offense. What Boyce has done is help pave the way for quarterback Greg Sullivan, who's rushed for more than 1,400 yards this year, and provide a bruising change of pace from speedster David Landesberg in the backfield.
"In our offense, we have to establish the fullback," coach Pat D'Aliso said. "I thought he'd be good at the end of the year. He came on a lot faster — by the second or third game, he got it.
"And he's only a junior — he'll be great next year."

Andrew Gonnella Senior right guard, 6-5, 280

Gonnella didn't see much playing time last year and D'Aliso admitted that he didn't always look comfortable on the field.
But D'Aliso needed to fill holes on his offensive line this year, so he told Gonnella he was going to be a starter.
Gonnella certainly had the size to be an effective lineman. But would he have the comfort level?
The answer: Gonnella helped the Crusaders put up nearly 200 yards on the ground in the semifinal win over CBA on Friday.
"He's been one of our best linemen this year," D'Aliso said. "He's intense, he's smart. He's got everything."

Alex Wisnewski  Senior nose guard, 5-8, 185

A part-time linebacker last year, Wisnewski wasn't going to crack the starting lineup this year. Not when the Crusaders run a 4-3. But they needed help on the defensive line and defensive coordinator Bernie Connolly decided to stick Wisnewski at nose guard.
Suddenly, Wisnewski was giving up pounds and inches.
But Wisnewski is a wrestler, which he said has helped him grappling with offensive linemen. "You work with your hands a lot in wrestling," he said.
"He was like a natural," Connolly said. "From camp, the first time we saw him live.\
"And against CBA (in the state semifinals) he probably played his best game of the year."

The crowd. The noise. The stakes.
It'll be a whole new world for Cornwall when the Green Dragons step onto the turf at the Carrier Dome in Syrcause for their state Class A title game against Corning East at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
\But for Monroe-Woodbury, which will play Auburn for the Class AA title at 3 p.m. Saturday, it's a familiar environment. The Crusaders walked into the Carrier Dome last year and walked out with a state title.
Here's some advice from the defending champs to the would-be champs on how to handle the biggest game of their lives:

Sr. RB David Landesberg

"When you're up in your hotel room, get a good night's sleep. You have to block out all the distractions. It's a lot louder (in the dome) — everything echoes. They say it's really cold in there, but I had to take off my extra layer of spandex. I was dying in there."

Sr. OL/DL Nick Gillan

"Drink a lot of water beforehand. We didn't and after the first quarter, we were sucking wind. It was really dry in there, you don't get as much fresh air as you would playing outside."

Sr. QB Greg Sullivan

"Don't be happy just to be there. Try and block out the fans, the community and the media. You'll have plenty of adrenaline, but don't overthrow in the pregame warm-up. They show the play clock here, too, and the referees follow it. You won't get a break like you might in the regular season."

Sr. LB Keith Hale

"Definitely don't mess around in the hotel the night before. (The game) is fast-paced, if (player) adjustments are made you have to get them in and out quickly. You have to rush (the play call) and get it in. The referees will go by that play clock."

Sr. OL/DL Eric Thorsen

"Just don't let it overwhelm you. You gotta play the game. You can't let the Carrier Dome get in your head. Snap count's a big thing, listen to your quarterback. Just go out and block. Do the job you've done all year."

Keith Goldberg THR

They hand out a postgame statistical package at the state championship games that rivals the NFL and major-college football. Every play is carefully documented, from who ran or threw it, for how long and who made the tackle.

In other words, the running back's girlfriend isn't carrying the clipboard, so these stats are legit.

Trying to squeeze out every bit of analysis possible yesterday led me to the 2005 Class AA championship game package, detailing Monroe-Woodbury's 32-10 victory over Webster Thomas.

One line stands out. It illustrates how Cornwall can beat Corning East in the Class A final tomorrow, and how Monroe-Woodbury can beat Auburn for the Class AA title Saturday.

It was the one that showed Monroe-Woodbury quarterback Greg Sullivan had completed 11-of-15 passes for 169 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Every good high school team can run the ball, and the better ones also play good defense. But the odds of winning a state championship get pretty long if you can't throw the ball enough to get the other team to respect the pass.

Monroe-Woodbury and Cornwall make you respect the pass, running variations of the spread offense. Sullivan, now a senior, is the godfather of this offense locally, and comes into this game with a 24-0 record as a starter.

The basic premise is this: Line up in three- and four-receiver sets, with each player drawing coverage and bodies away from the middle of the field. Then connect with those receivers like Sullivan has, throwing for 1,121 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

If Sullivan decides to keep the ball and run, which he often does, there are fewer defenders close to the defensive line because they are in pass coverage. This year, he's run for 1,417 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Junior quarterback David Boisture is directing the Cornwall offense for the first time, but also has had considerable success. If it looks like he throws the ball like a center fielder, it's because he is one. He was a varsity starter as a freshman on a team that lost in the state final, which makes him one heck of an athlete. A tough one, too.

Boisture has thrown for 981 yards and 10 touchdowns, and has the best target on either local team in 6-foot-4 tight end Brian McNally. McNally had several key catches last week against Indian River in the semifinals and reminds me a lot of Brandon Sebald, who played on Rondout Valley's 2000 state Class B championship team then went off to the University of Miami.
Boisture also is no slouch keeping the ball, running for 805 yards and 10 touchdowns.
So if you're in the Carrier Dome this weekend, keep you eyes on the passing game.

Pine Bush RB Will Loeb, whose team lost to M-W 32-13: "The speed of their linebackers is something. You get 1-on-1 with one of their cornerbacks and you think, 'I just have to beat him.' But it's not just him — there are always players pursuing you. They always seem to be in position to make a play, even when you don't think they are."

Valley Central coach Ron Introini, whose team lost to M-W 55-0: "Watching Greg Sullivan over the last two years — he would take a shot and he's not the most muscular-looking guy — he would just pop back up. He's the key to that team. In the open field, he can run. We tried not to give up a deep ball because he likes to throw those. We'll stay back and give him a hitch pass, but he can pick you apart with short passes."

Cornwall, on Friday, and Monroe-Woodbury, on Saturday, will play for state championships at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Its coaches are quick to say that the teams haven't won anything yet. But they have the makeup, and they have the characteristics that make up the anatomy of a champion.

Coaching
Head coach Pat D'Aliso has been part of the program for 25 years and the boss since 1988. Defensive coordinator Bernie Connolly has been his right-hand man since 1988. As if that weren't enough, Greg Sirico, who went 67-27 in 10 years as the boss at Warwick, joined the staff this year.

Poise
Oct. 6. Down 17-0 to Newburgh Free Academy at halftime, 17-game winning streak on the line. The Crusaders scored 21 straight second-half points to pull out a 21-17 win. The winning streak is now at 24. That sound like poise to you? "Sometimes, we don't know how to lose," quarterback Greg Sullivan says.

Experience
You can't have more experience than winning it all last year. And 27 players return from last year's title team. They've seen it all, except a loss. "We do have a lot to lose," Sullivan says. "It would break a lot of team records."

Leadership
You want leaders? The Crusaders have leaders. Hale was making locker-room speeches last year ... as a junior. "We lead by example," Sullivan says. "You can't talk down to (the younger players), you have to be their friend."

Killer instinct
\If you have a flaw, the Crusaders will find it and bury you with it. Players say the coaching staff's exhaustive pregame scouting prepares them for anything. "You know what their weakness is before the game," linebacker Keith Hale says.

Speed
From the backs to the linemen, the Crusaders can scoot.

They attribute it an off-season speed camp, twice a week for a month before their summer football workouts. "Everyone got a little faster," senior RB David Landesberg says. "When the coaches made us run in practice, we were ready for it."

Star power
It's a veritable galaxy in Central Valley. Start with Sullivan, the reigning co-state Class AA Player of the Year and the Sunday Record Player of the Year.
There's also OL Eric Thorsen and Hale, Sunday Record first-team picks last year.

Monroe-Woodbury and Cornwall playing for state football championships is an incredibly cool thing, but it sure makes for a hectic week on our end.
We want to do the coverage up right, and that takes a lot of thought and preparation — most of it coming yesterday morning.
There's a phone call to boss Matt Pepin, who has tons of good ideas and wants to know mine. We're adding Kevin Gleason and Keith Goldberg to our coverage, so that's huge. News reporters also are getting involved, so there's really a big commitment.
And there should be. No high school sport captures an audience like football. Not just parents and classmates, but community members who have no other connection to the team.
I've already made calls to the folks at Auburn and Corning East. Both athletic departments were helpful, even though our area is the "enemy." Corning East coach Randy Holden gave me about 15 minutes. Seems like a good guy, and was fairly open about his team. So is Auburn coach Dave Moskov. I got him last night.
It's funny how things have changed over the years, mostly because information is freely available. You would barely get a team nickname from a coach 10 years ago, now Holden and Moskov are telling me about their top guys.
Spoke with Cornwall coach Matt Buddenhagen and Monroe-Woodbury assistant Bernie Connolly yesterday afternoon. Monroe-Woodbury coach Pat D'Aliso was busy getting ready for practice and not available until later last night. No problem.
I've known D'Aliso for 15 years, Connolly probably 10. I covered Buddenhagen when he was a kid at Delaware Valley in the early 1990s. They know I'm anxious to do a good job, and want to be very respectful of their space. But I also need their help and access. So as long as both sides are patient, everybody benefits.
The first thing Buddenhagen and Connolly told me was how tired they already are — and Cornwall doesn't play until Friday, Monroe-Woodbury on Saturday. I've got a feeling we're all going to be. But it's going to be worth it, because we're going to have some great stuff in the paper and online all week.
Hopefully, both sides come home with some hardware.

M-W's opponent didn't expect to make state tournament

Auburn senior quarterback Darnell Murphy (7) lets the ball loose before the Union-Endicott defense can stop him. 1112.FballPhotoPg4.ak Angela Kershner / The Citizen

The thrill of playing in a state football championship game takes on a little extra meaning for Auburn, which plays Monroe-Woodbury in the Class AA game Saturday.
Late last month, Auburn was thrilled to even be in the Section 3 tournament.
For nearly a week, Auburn was out of it — apparently losing a three-team tiebreaker with Corcoran and Christian Brothers Academy. Auburn (9-3) was given a crossover game with Central Square, scheduled for the same day the eight-team playoffs opened.
"I told them that even though they were out of it, they got to play for each other," Auburn coach Dave Moskov said. "The kids worked hard for those four days, and those four days — to me — are why we are here."
One day before the scheduled Central Square game, Auburn got the news Corcoran used an ineligible player for two games and was out of the tournament. So Auburn got the spot, facing Henninger in the quarterfinals.
Auburn trailed 40-20 with barely six minutes left — but rallied with 27 unanswered points and won.
"We recovered three on-sides kicks in a row and scored all three times," Moskov said. "We just kept telling the kids to go out there and have fun."
Auburn won its next two games, including a 42-14 victory over Rome Free Academy in the Section 3 final. In the state tournament, Auburn beat Union-Endicott (39-17) and Marshall (20-18).
"It's amazing that they're getting a chance to prove they are one of the best teams in the state," Monroe-Woodbury coach Pat D'Aliso said.
"I was thinking about when our banquet was going to be, and when we were going to start weight training again," Moskov said. "Now this. It's pretty wild."
Moskov believes his team was helped by one of the most balanced level of Syracuse-area big-school competition in recent years. He said running back Quendel Ellison, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior, has "a little over 2,000 yards." D'Aliso calls Ellison a "Division I talent," and the best back Monroe-Woodbury will face this year.
Auburn's offensive and defensive lines are anchored by 6-5, 350-pound tackle Nick Lepak, who many area observers believe will be heavily recruited by major Division I college programs.
Monroe-Woodbury (12-0) is the defending Class AA state champion and owns a 24-game winning streak, the longest active in New York.

Monroe-Woodbury’s Thorsen anchors the Crusader’s line of scrimmage

By Russ Crespolini

The Crusaders have earned another trip to the dome in Syracuse to play for the state title.

Thorsen knows the outcome of the championship game isn’t paramount to what he takes with him when he leaves this season. “When it is all over, it won’t be the winning, the touchdowns, or the publicity that I will miss, but it will be the time spent with my teammates and coaches and the bonds we have formed,” the captain said. “They have truly been a special group.”

Russ Crespolini is the Online Editor for Straus Newspapers and can be reached at 845.782.4000 or at webmaster@strausnews.com.