Football: Contrasting styles at play as O'Neill faces General Brown for a state title
HIGHLAND FALLS – Coach David Moskowitz had a good hunch that his James I. O’Neill football team would finally punch through the early rounds of the state tournament and reach the finals.
“We came close the last two years,’’ he said. “We returned a lot of kids. I thought we had a chance to be really special (but) we hit a couple bumps along the road.’’
A season-opening loss to Chenango Forks 26-13 was one. A loss to league foe Burke Catholic 36-25 was another in the third game. But Moskowitz saw a lot of positives and resiliency and the Raiders have backed his faith with 10 consecutive wins and a berth in Saturday’s state Class C finals against Section 3 champion General Brown.
“These kids just kept fulfilling their potential and beyond,’’ Moskowitz said.
The Raiders' defense has been stingy, allowing 14 or fewer points eight times. The offense, featuring a run-pass option, has lit up foes with a balanced attack of both disciplines.
“I think we’ve just got great players at every position pretty much,’’ said senior quarterback Nick Waugh. “The line’s been doing a great job; the receivers are awesome – all four of them can make big plays – and then you’ve got the run game with Jordan (Thompson) and the line blocking for him.’’
O’Neill has 11 receivers with at least one catch, and five posting at least 15: Jadon Spain (57 for 841 yards, 9 TD); Marek Arbogast (45 for 946, 11 TD); Thor Swanson (28 for 378, 4 TD); Thomas McGuiness (13 for 253, 2 TD); and, running back Thompson (15 for 182, 4 TD). Thompson is also the workhorse in the backfield, running 172 times for 951 yards and 17 touchdowns.
“Jordan Thompson has just emerged as a real force on the ground and that makes … people have to defend the entire field,’’ Moskowitz said. “They have to worry about us running the ball and they have to worry about us throwing the ball. So Jordan’s been the key to everything for us.’’
State semifinal:O'Neill's stars explode in second half, send Raiders to the Dome
High-flying
Both teams feature potent offenses. O’Neill topped 40 points on five occasions and has been held under 30 only three times (and none since Oct. 14). General Brown has topped 40 points on eight occasions, including a 66-0 rout of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and 63-0 pounding of Westmoreland/Oriskany.
“I think it’s a really good game,’’ Moskowitz said. “You are looking at two really good football teams (with) contrasting styles. … We score fast, we get our plays off quickly.’’
General Brown’s scoring production has dropped during the playoffs.
“I think if we can get ahead of them by a couple of scores, I think they’re going to panic a little,’’ Moskowitz said of the Lions. “And if we fall behind and they’re eating clock, we might panic a little.’’ O’Neill did erase a 14-point deficit last week.
Last time out
General Brown is perfect in three playoff games. The Lions beat Holland Patent 41-0 on Nov. 13; Section 4 champ Waverly 29-14 on Nov. 19; and, Section 6 champ and then-state No. 1 Lackawanna 29-20 on Nov. 26, handing the latter its first defeat. It advanced the Lions to their first state Class C final since 2010.
A fumbled snap and subsequent sack of Lackawanna punter Billy Gechell left the Lions on the 5-yard line. Kaleb Natali punched over the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter and tacked on a 16-yard TD with 1:54 remaining.
Clearing the hurdle
O’Neill has captured eight Section 9 titles since state tournament play was initiated in 1990 (full bracket in 1993). The Raiders are 3-6 all-time in state play since 2001, bowing in the quarterfinals (or first round) in 2001, 2003, 2009, 2011 and 2021. Prior to this year’s two state playoff wins, O’Neill’s only other victory came against Woodlands in 2012, before falling in the semis to Hoosick Falls.
Like O’Neill, General Brown has never won a state football final.
Notable
The Raiders will depart Highland Falls on Friday and stay over in Cortland. Two busloads of students are expected to make the trip to Syracuse. … Though enrollment standards change every year, no Class C champ from Section 9 has ever reached the state finals. … Section 3 schools have won 14 titles, the most recent Cazenovia in 2015 (Class B), Skaneateles in 2017 (Class C) and Christian Brothers Academy in 2021 (Class A). … General Brown, located in Brownville, is 75 miles from the Dome and three miles from Watertown and nearby Fort Drum. O’Neill is roughly 230 miles. … The school is named for Gen. Jacob Jennings Brown, a pioneer of upstate New York. He commanded 600 militiamen and defeated the British in several battles in the War of 1812. From 1821 to his death at age 52 in 1828 he was Commanding General of the U.S. Army.
Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: James I. O'Neill, General Brown face off for NY state football title
