If North Tonawanda is going to become the first team from Niagara County to play in a state

championship game, it is going to have to get by one of the most famous football names in the

Southern Tier.

NT will face Baldwinsville of the Syracuse area in Saturday's Class AA state semifinal, one

of four state semifinals featuring Section VI teams to be played at downtown Rochester's

Marina Auto Park this weekend.

Baldwinsville is coached by Carl Sanfilippo, an All-Western New York tackle in 1971 for

Salamanca. He has a 152-71-3 record in 25 years at Baldwinsville, a coaching resume that

compares well with the one his famed father, Joe, put together at Jamestown and Salamanaca.

Joe Sanfilippo, who retired in 1982, is in 10th place on Western New York's all-time

coaching win list with a record of 170-60-7. He is a member of both the Chautauqua Sports Hall

of Fame (2003) and the Cattaraugus County Sports Hall of Fame (2004).

"We got quite a few calls this week from family members," said Carl Sanfilippo, whose

father still lives in Jamestown and has relatives in Kenmore. "I still get back there to visit

family and relatives, and I always check the paper to see how Salamanca and Jamestown did."

Sanfilippo attended Syracuse University on a football scholarship and has been in the area

ever since. He's part of a program celebrating its 100th football season; NT took part in its

100th T-NT rivalry game with Tonawanda this year.

"I'm impressed with [North Tonawanda] all across the board," he said. "They're physical,

ground-oriented and their kids play with great motors. They want to run the ball, just like we

do. They have a different offensive style, but the philosophy seems to be the same. We're both

big weight-room teams. There are a lot of similarities in the two programs."

All four games present impressive challenges to Section VI as it tries to send four teams

to the state finals for the second straight year.

Winners tonight and Saturday advance to Syracuse's Carrier Dome the following weekend. On

Saturday, Nov. 28, the Class D final is at noon, Class C at 3 p.m. and A at 6 p.m. The AA

final is Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m.

Class AA

Who: North Tonawanda Lumberjacks (11-0) vs. III-Baldwinsville Bees (11-0).

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.

State rankings: North Tonawanda No. 2, Baldwinsville No. 4.

History: As it is for NT, this is the first state semifinals for the Bees.

About Baldwinsville: The town 13 miles northwest of Syracuse has seen its football

team score at least 20 points in every game. The Bees overcame a late-season injury to

starting quarterback Niko Manning to win its first sectional title in 20 years.

Breakdown: Last week, NT used its depth at running back (namely Tom Sell and Joe

Medina) to adjust to injuries to Aaron Davis and Steve Kijowski. Davis is out for this

weekend's game with a tear in his abdomen. NT coach Eric Jantzi said Kijowski will be able to

play both ways. Baldwinsville has also shown its ability to adapt to change in the biggest

games. After Manning went down, the Bees have gone on a postseason run behind an offensive

line that has presented the Malik Burks Show. The 5-9, 180-pound senior has run for more than

2,400 yards. "The kid can torture you if you let him," said Jantzi.

Class A

Who: Sweet Home Panthers (11-0) vs. III-Whitesboro Warriors (10-1).

When: Tonight, 8 p.m.

State rankings: Sweet Home No. 1, Whitesboro No. 5.

History: Like defending champion Sweet Home, this is Whitesboro's second trip to the

state semifinals (1996).

About Whitesboro: Coach Tom Schoen is in his 36th season coaching the school about 4

miles west of Utica, with a record of 211-109-4. Senior quarterback Sean Jones is 58-104 for

816 yards and 12 touchdowns; senior RB Nick Mauro has 1,253 yards and 12 TDs on 138 carries.

Breakdown: Sweet Home is playing at a tremendously high level, as evidenced by its

thorough victory over Aquinas, behind senior quarterback Pat McMahon (73 for 140, 14 TDs,

1,119 yards) and talented D.J. Nettles, who has four of his 10 touchdowns in the postseason.

Whitesboro likes comebacks — it started off 6-0, lost its regular season finale to

New Hartford and then beat that same team, 60-30, in the highest Section III final in history.

The Warriors fell behind to Corning East last week, 13-0, then scored 27 straight points in a

27-19 win.

Class C

Who: Southwestern Trojans (11-0) vs. IV-Chenango Forks Blue Devils (11-0).

When: Saturday, noon.

State rankings: Southwestern No. 1, Chenango Forks No. 2.

History: The Trojans are in their second state semifinal and are the defending state

champions. Not bad, right? Chenango Forks has won six of eight state semifinals and has two

state titles.

About Chenango Forks: Hailing from a town about 12 miles north of Binghamton, the

team lives up to its trademark toughness — it has run for all but 106 of its 3,463 yards

this season.

Breakdown: If Southwestern is to repeat as state champions, it will have earned it.

Forks football has been one of the best programs in the state, and just as happened to

Southwestern a year ago, an enrollment dip has moved the longtime Class B power down to Class

C.

Class D

Who: Randolph Cardinals (10-1) vs. IV-Groton Indians (10-1).

When: Tonight, 5 p.m.

State rankings: Groton No. 1, Randolph No. 2.

History: Four-time Section VI champion Randolph won its only state title in 2005.

Groton is in its first state playoffs.

About Groton: Hailing from a town about 15 miles northeast of Ithaca, the Indians

lost their season opener (but it was to Chenango Forks) and ran over favored Westmoreland,

40-11, in the regionals.

Breakdown: One of the best subplots of what should be a smashmouth-fest — Will

Randolph attempt a pass? It hasn't in wins the last two weeks.

On the Web

Check out polls and informative links at the Prep Talk blog, and follow all four games at

Prep Talk Live. Go to buffalonews.com/highschool.