STATE CLASS D CHAMPIONS
RED-HOT DRAGONS
Maple Grove celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first state title with a scorching season that was one of the most dominant in state history
The News is paying tribute to the Section VI's state-record four football champions with color poster pages this week:
Class D: Maple Grove (today) C: Southwestern (Thursday) A: Sweet Home (Friday) AA: Orchard Park (Saturday).
How Maple Grove got there
1. Section VI championship: Maple Grove dispatched its recent playoff demons by clobbering Clymer, 48-13, as Chris Secky threw for a Section VI championship record 260 yards by completing all nine of his passes. Maple Grove won its first title since 1998, when the Red Dragons were quarterbacked by Randall Secky, Chris’ older brother.
2. Far West Regionals: It took just one minute, 37 seconds for Maple Grove to go up 14-0 in what would become a 57-12 trouncing of Dundee. Joe Caporale returned the opening kickoff 80 yards, Chris Secky ran for three scores and Jake Larson ran for two as the Red Dragons broke a 13-year-old Section VI record for points in a season with 557. The total would only get higher.
3. State semifinals: In a game some statewide onlookers billed as the “real” state championship, the Red Dragons were as dominant as ever in dethroning defending champion Walton, 49-14, to end the Warriors’ 24-game win streak. Adam Hover ran for four touchdowns, Josh Micek completed a halfback-option touchdown pass to Joe Caporale and Matt Fox had 18 tackles.
4. State final: The Red Dragons and Chris Secky left no doubt, as the junior ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter then connected with Joe Caporale for touchdowns of 63, 48 and 62 yards as Maple Grove took a 42-0 halftime lead on its way to its crowning achievement: a 55-7 win over Moriah. Maple Grove amassed 389 yards in just 12:22 of possession for the game.
Perfection / Game-by-game to 13-0
Regular season
Sept. 5 Catt./LittleValley, W, 41-7
Sept. 12 at Randolph, W, 37-6
Sept. 19 Portville, W, 38-8
Sept. 26 ChautauquaLake, W, 57-12
Oct. 3 at Franklinville, W, 40-6
Oct. 10 Frewsburg, W, 64-9
Oct. 18 at PineValley, W, 56-6
Section VI quarterfinal Oct. 24 vs. Brocton, W, 70-0
Section VI semifinal Oct. 31 vs. Randolph, W, 40-14
Section VI championship at Ralph Wilson Stadium Nov. 7 vs. Clymer, W, 48-13
Far West Regional at UB Stadium Nov. 14 vs. V-Dundee, W, 57-12
State semifinal at Paetec Park, Rochester Nov. 21 vs. IV-Walton, W, 49-14
State championship at Carrier Dome, Syracuse Nov. 29 vs. VII-Moriah, W, 55-7
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