Croton Faces Briarcliff for a Title Game Berth

VALHALLA, N.Y. -- It has taken a few days, no thanks to the freak snowstorm that blanketed the area last weekend, but Croton and Briarcliff will finally get to play football, Tuesday.Croton, seeded first, will take on Briarcliff, seeded fourth, in a Section 1 Class B Football Championship semifinal, 6 p.m., at Valhalla.The winner will face second-seeded Our Lady of Lourdes, Saturday, 2 p.m., at Mahopac High School. Lourdes played last Friday and rallied to a 28-27 win over Irvington.The teams come into the game on different ends of the spectrum. The defending champion Tigers are undefeated (7-0) and only been challenged once this season -- in a 7-6 win over Lourdes. Quarterback Jesse Mainiero has been unstoppable running and throwing the ball.Croton’s defense has been quite stingy. Only one team has scored in double digits this season against the Tigers.Briarcliff roared out of the gate, winning its’ first four games behind an aerial offense, led by quarterback Ryan Hooper and receivers Jackson Plimpton, Colin Orr and Jonathan Marrero. However, the Bears have suffered three consecutive losses, including a 30-0 setback to arch rival Pleasantville, last week. The Bears had less than 100 yards total offense against the Panthers. Briarcliff played the second half against Pleasantville without Hooper, who was injured.

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