Pembroke’s quest for a back-to-back 8-Man state championship continues on Friday, November 29, when the Dragons face Section III’s Frankfurt-Schuyler in the NYS West Semifinals. Here’s what you need to know:
FRANKFORT-SCHUYLER MAROON KNIGHTS (11-0)
vs.
PEMBROKE DRAGONS (11-0)
How they arrived here: Pembroke (NYSSWA No. 1) had an undefeated regular season and continued its winning ways with victories over Red Jacket (46-14) and Holley (52-16) in sectionals, before defeating Frewsburg in the Far West Regional, 50-19. The Frankfort-Schuyler Maroon Knights (NYSSWA No. 2) won their Section III class title by beating Thousand Islands (70-14), Bishop Grimes (50-24) and Morrisville-Eaton (50-14). The Knights opened the state tournament with a 52-14 win over Holley.
Players to watch for Pembroke: Caleb Felski Sr. RB/LB (3,478 rushing yards, 52 TD, 42 tackles, five interceptions, three forced fumbles); Jayden Bridge Sr. G/DE (One rushing touchdown, 69 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks, one pick-six, one blocked punt, 14 hurries); Hayden Williams Sr. C/LB (45 tackles, two sacks, six hurries, two interceptions); Octavius Martin Sr. FB/DT (25 yards receiving, 51 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, 12 hurries); Jacob Johnson Jr. G/LB (56 tackles, three tackles for loss); Madden Perry Jr. TE/DT (54 yards receiving, 47 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, five sacks, 11 hurries); Wyatt Summers Jr. TE/DE (29 tackles, one sack, seven hurries); Vijay Dhanda Sr. QB/S (616 yards rushing, 111 yards passing, eight passing touchdowns, 10 receiving yards, 23 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries)
Frankfort-Schuyler: Martino Rocco Sr. QB/DB (70 completions, 1,377 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, 102 rushes, 1,395 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns, 77 tackles, two sacks, ), Lionell Coulthurst Sr. RB/DB (80 rushes, 905 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 24 receptions, 490 yards, nine touchdowns, three kickoff return touchdowns); Jerome Bowen Jr. RB/LB (31 rushes, 230 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 22 receptions, 426 receiving yards, five touchdowns, 82 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions); Daniel Palmisano Sr. QB/DB (two completions, 80 passing yards, 36 carries, 239 rushing yards, four touchdowns); Reese Bowen So. (24 carries, 172 yards, three rushing touchdowns, five receptions, 148 receiving yards); Michael Ferguson Sr. OL/DL (three sacks, 59 total); Thomas Eck Jr. RB/LB (89 tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception); Philip Tangorra Sr. TE/DL (four sacks, 68 tackles, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries)
Coaches: Brandon Ricci (Pembroke), Jeff LeGase (Frankfort-Schuyler)
History 101: This is a rematch of last season’s 8-Man regional, when Pembroke beat Franfort-Schuyler 107-64.
What’s next: Friday’s winner faces either Moravia (IV/at-large) or Charles O. Dickerson (IV) in the finals.
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