By RYAN HAYNER
SYRACUSE — This just might shape up to be one of the quickest NYPHSAA football championship games ever.
The 2009 Class D title game at noon today in the Carrier Dome pits Section VII's Moriah (9-2) and Section VI's Randolph (11-1), two teams who share a distinct philosophy.
Run.
Run again.
Run some more.
The Vikings are playing in the Class D title game for the second year in a row, returning because of a stalwart and experienced offensive line that provides the necessary muscle to run Moriah's Power-I offense.
Primarily behind senior tailback Ron Schofield and senior fullback Nick Gilbo, the Vikings have amassed 2, 872 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns on the ground. Schofield was responsible for 1,475 of those yards and 19 touchdowns, while Gilbo has added 454 and seven scores.
In state playoff action, the Vikings have stayed true to their style. In wins against Rennselaer and Eldred, Moriah has totaled 556 yards on the ground, while attempting just 12 passes.
"If we can get movement on the line of scrimmage and get four, five yards a clip, we will take four or five yards a clip," said Moriah coach Don Tesar, using a line repeated often when he talks about his offense.
And, for the third time in three state playoff games, the Vikings play a run-oriented team. The Randolph offense set all sorts of records getting to the Carrier Dome. The Cardinals broke the NYSPHSAA records for most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in a single game, piling up 601 yards and nine scores in a 61-8 dismantling of Groton.
The Cardinals two primary backs both turned in big days. Alan Lockwood, chosen as Randolph's most valuable offensive player, tallied 220 yards on 16 carries with four trips to the end zone. Matt Hettenbaugh added 228 yards on 26 carries and two scores.
"We know what is coming and this is Randolph's style of football — here it comes, stop us, and that's pretty much our same style," Tesar said.
Along with those two milestones, the Cardinals are No. 2 in a several categories because of that win, including rushing attempts (60) and total yards (601). That's right — all of Randolph's yards came via the rush. The Cardinals didn't even bother attempting one pass. They haven't in the last three games.
Although the Vikings and Cardinals share similar styles, Randolph coach Pat Slater said it's hard to predict how the teams will matchup.
"There's no common opponent and you just don't know each other," he said. "You got to be ready, as the game goes, to be able to adjust."
The Cardinals haven't reached the state title game since 2005, but they are no strangers to playing in large, storied venues. Randolph defeated Maple Grove, 21-20, in the Section 6 title game played at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
If Maple Grove sounds familiar, it is because it is the defending Class D champions, the same team that rolled over Moriah in the Carrier Dome a year ago, 55-7.
Randolph making it to the state title game instead of Maple Grove may work out much better for Moriah. Last year, the Vikings defense had trouble stopping the high-flying Maple Grove offense that utilized several offensive formations including shotgun, trips, five wide and others to spread the field.
The Cardinals are the exact opposite, a run team that somewhat mirrors Moriah.
"The style is a bit different, but Randolph seems more like an eastern-style of play like we see rather than what we saw out of Maple Grove last year," Tesar said. "This year we don't have to change a lot of defensive formations."
After their tough outcome in last year's title game, the Vikings feel like they have smarted since the loss and are prepared to play in the Carrier Dome.
"We won't be like 'ahh' just from being in the Dome this year," said senior quarterback Nate Gilbo, who has passed for 522 yards and seven touchdowns this season. "We will be used to it, so we will come out ready to play."
NOTES: Tyler Mendell, a senior captain who plays middle linebacker and tight-end for the Cardinals, injured his knee in the team's semifinal win and Slater said he is unsure if he will play"¦ In the latest state rankings put out by the New York State Sportswriters Association, Moriah is ranked fourth and Randolph is ranked first.
E-mail Ryan Hayner at: rhayner@pressrepublican.com
