By P.J. Harmer

Staff Writer

Now the fun begins.

The quest for a Section Four title begins Saturday for three area football teams. There’s no more worrying about divisional standings, tiebreaker points and jockeying for playoff position. Instead, it becomes a little more simple: Win or else.

In Class C, defending Section Four and state champion Sidney (7-1), fresh off a loss to Unatego to snap its 18-game winning streak, meets Division VI runner-up Trumansburg (6-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Binghamton Alumni Stadium. Greene (7-1) and Lansing (8-0) meet in the other semifinal at 7 p.m.

Division VII champion Walton (6-2) opens with Division VIII runner-up Newfield (5-3) at 10 a.m. Saturday at Union-Endicott’s Ty Cobb Stadium in the Class D playoffs. That game will be followed by Delhi (6-2), which finished second in Division VII, and Division VIII champion Candor (8-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Semifinal winners advance to the Section Four championships next Saturday at Ty Cobb Stadium.

Class C

Sidney vs. Trumansburg

This game seems to be turning into an annual meeting between the two teams. [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Since 2002, the two have met four times, with Sidney winning three of those. The two teams have played in a Section Four semifinal twice _ Trumansburg winning, 42-32, in 2004 and Sidney winning, 50-28, last season.

If history dictates anything, though, this game will be high-scoring and fun to watch. In the four meetings, the lowest-scoring game was a 24-22 Sidney win in 2002.

Sidney’s 16-12 loss to Unatego last Saturday should serve as a wake-up call for the Warriors.

"I think the kids definitely have to refocus," Sidney coach Jeff Matthews said after the loss. "We’ll regroup. They are a resilient bunch of guys. We’ll show up Monday and get ready to go to work."

Sidney likely will have to stop a well-rounded offensive attack as the Blue Raiders can pass and run effectively.

Quarterback Ben Robertson has rushed for 373 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries. He’s also completed 33 of 63 passes for 535 yards and six touchdowns. Running back Earl Brooks has rushed 24 times for 364 yards and five touchdowns.

Steven Moore (7 catches, 109 yards, three TDs) and Andy Finnigan (15-229) are the Blue Raiders’ top receivers.

Sidney counters with a strong offense again this season, despite losing two 1,000-yard rushers (Daily Star Player of the Year Aaron Zurn and Nick Kozak), a 2,000-yard passer in Kyle Morenus and a 1,000-yard receiver in Pat Simonds to graduation.

Though no Sidney back has broken through like the past few years, seniors Chase Mott (56-440, 7 TDs), Mike Burpoe (67-384, 6 TDs) and Jarred Mertz (59-383, 8 TDs) have emerged as go-to guys at different points during the season.

Senior Parker Umbra also has eased into the quarterback role. He’s completed 47 of 98 passes for 703 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Sidney’s top receivers are junior Anthony Mister (17-287) and senior Andy Foote (16-206).

Class D

Walton vs. Newfield

The object for Newfield is to attempt to stop Walton’s strong ground game _ a difficult task for anyone.

Leading the way is 6-foot-1, 220-pound junior fullback Richard Fletcher, who can run over defenders and has breakaway speed. He’s rushed 129 times this year for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior halfback Casey Killian has contributed 589 yards and four scores on 78 touches.

Newfield should also keep an eye on senior quarterback Sean Fisher, a converted running back who took over when starting QB Pat O’Brien broke his leg in Week 2. Fisher has rushed 42 times for 146 yards and also has completed 10 of 19 passes for 167 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

Walton’s top receiver is senior tight end Adam Pierce, who has 88 yards and three scores on five catches.

Newfield seems to be a pass-heavy team as quarterback Mike Armstrong is 87-for-157 for 1,234 yards and 13 touchdowns. Armstrong has mainly hit Aaron Catlin, who has 627 yards and five touchdowns on 36 catches. Dillon Shults (21-288, 2 TDs) and Andrew Wall (21-250, 3 TDs) are the Trojans’ other top receivers.

Sam Miller leads the Trojans’ rushing attack with 472 yards and five touchdowns on 120 carries.

Class D

Delhi vs. Candor

A year after losing in the Section Four Class C championship to Sidney, the Bulldogs play in the Section Four Class D semifinals.

If the Bulldogs are to reach a Section Four final for the second straight season, they will have to do something no other team has done this season _ beat Candor.

The Indians revolve around a ground game that features Dustin Quick, who has rushed for 1,532 yards and 13 touchdowns on 143 carries. Luke Thomas has 584 yards and nine touchdowns on 63 carries.

Quarterback Cody Rose has thrown when needed, completing 26 of 59 passes for 552 yards and eight touchdowns. His main targets are Pete Ahart (15-302, 5 TDs) and Thomas (7-176, 3 TDs).

The Indians also have to worry about stopping a strong rushing game.

Nate Rockefeller is the top Bulldog as the senior fullback has 1,028 yards and 13 touchdowns on 129 carries. He also has one receiving touchdown.

Senior Brenton Hood, a two-time Daily Star First-Team All-Star selection, is second with 667 yards and eight touchdowns on 85 carries. Additionally, senior James Card has rushed 54 times for 381 yards and seven touchdowns.

Delhi hasn’t had pass much as a result. Senior Pat O’Connell has completed 18 of 43 passes for 292 yards and six touchdowns this season, but he’s been picked off 10 times. Senior Chad Rockefeller, Nate’s twin brother, is Delhi’s top receiver, with nine catches, 181 yards and four touchdowns.

"We can’t look ahead too far," Hood said after Delhi beat Oxford, 34-14, last weekend to clinch a playoff spot. "Each week, we’ll play tougher teams. We really have to put it together against whoever we’re playing."

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P.J. Harmer can be reached at mailto:pharmer@thedailystar.com">pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.