Let’s talk turkey – and titles – in New York State, Long Island football

It's Thanksgiving Week and, in New York, that means it's football title time. It's been that way since 1993, when the state finals made their debut at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, where they continue to be played.

Here's a rundown of the five NYSPHSAA title games:

Class AA – Newburgh Free Academy (Section 9) vs. Jamestown (Section 6), Saturday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m.

Newburgh Free Academy is riding high after a 20-19 overtime win against Shenendehowa in the semifinals last weekend in Kingston. Aaron Forbes scored on a 20-yard TD run on the first play of the OT for NFA, which then broke up a 2-point conversion pass play by Shenendehowa after Shen scored on its OT series. Jamestown downed Henninger, 28-12, in the other semifinal in Rochester.

Class A – Queensbury (Section 2) vs. Indian River (Section 3), Sunday, Nov. 30, 3 p.m.

Queensbury, which is looking to become the first Section 2 squad to repeat as state champions, defeated Cornwall, 28-21, in its semifinal. Indian River, meanwhile, will take a 12-0 mark into the final after beating Irondequoit, 49-22, in its semifinal.

Class B – Schalmont (Section 2) vs. Maine Endwell (Section 4), Sunday, Nov. 30, noon.

Here's hoping the Carrier Dome maintenance team checks the power in its scoreboards before what promises to be a score-a-thon shootout. Defending state champ Maine Endwell beat weather-weary Cheektowaga, 54-28, in its semifinal. Schalmont, meanwhile, downed Marlboro by 49-14, and is equipped with a quarterback, Nick Gallo, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and thrown for another 1,000-plus as well.

Class C – Hoosick Falls (Section 2) vs. Chenango Forks (Section 4), Saturday, Nov. 29, 3 p.m.

Hoosick Falls is just perfect heading into this one, improving to 12-0 after beating Millbrook, 29-0, in its semifinals. Hoosick Falls has won 36 of its last 37 games. Chenango Forks (12-1) downed Maple Grove/Chautauqua Lake, 27-0, in the other semi.

Class D – Chester (Section 9) vs. Randolph (Section 6), Saturday, Nov. 29, noon.

Perhaps the best individual performance of the state tournament was turned in by Chester running back Angel Suarez in a 47-14 semifinal win over Cambridge/Salem. He rushed for 401 yards and scored six touchdowns – five on rushes, one on a reception. Chester has won 10 straight after an 0-2 start and will make its third state final appearance in the last four years. Randolph (11-1) downed Tioga, 20-8, in the other semifinal.

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Long Island Championship Preview

It also promises to be an interesting weekend on Long Island, with four class title games to be decided. Here's a look at some storylines surrounding those games:

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This title's for Tom: There's little doubt where the thoughts and minds of Shoreham-Wading River's players were after the Wildcats wrapped up a 47-10 win over Elwood-John Glenn in the Suffolk County Class IV championship game last Saturday. The last time the teams met on Oct. 1, Tom Cutinella, an offensive lineman, died after suffering a head injury.

Moments after the title game, Wildcat players joined together to hold Cutinella's No. 54 jersey. Tom's brother, Kevin, a sophomore for the Wildcats who was playing in his first game since his brother's death, made a pair of tackles on special teams for SWR, whose 6-foot-5 quarterback, Danny Hughes, rushed for 302 yards and six touchdowns. SWR now faces Roosevelt in the Long Island Class IV final on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m. at Stony Brook University. Roosevelt beat Mineola 41-14 to win the Nassau title as Shamari Alexander rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns.

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Red-hot Carey carries long win streak into final: Defending Long Island champ Carey (11-0) will take a 23-game win streak into the Long Island Class II title game against East Islip on Sunday, Nov. 30 at noon at Stony Brook University. Carey's latest win was a 21-6 victory against Garden City in the Nassau County final, led by the play of junior quarterback Mike Catanese and wide receiver/defensive back Nick Spillane. East Islip defeated Half Hollow Hills West, 27-14, to win the Suffolk title.

Syosset ends long drought to win Nassau title: Ian Berg's 2-yard touchdown with just over three minutes remaining gave sixth-seeded Syosset, making its first Nassau County title-game appearance in 40 years, a 26-20 win over previously undefeated Baldwin. Junior quarterback William Hogan threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Syosset plays Lindenhurst for the Class I title on Friday, Nov. 28 at noon at Hofstra University. Lindenhurst defeated Patchogue-Medford by 30-27 to win the Suffolk championship.

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Lawrence faces Sayville for Class III crown: Lawrence meets Sayville in the Class III championship game on Friday, Nov. 28 at 4:30 p.m. at Hofstra University. Lawrence beat Plainedge, 49-19, to win the Nassau title. Sayville edged Islip 28-21 to take the Suffolk championship.

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Multimedia news and sports editor and producer Joe Lombardi is director of media initiatives and managing editor of the DailyVoice.com, as well as the primary author of the most recent edition of "Lacrosse for Dummies." Follow Joe on Twitter @Joe_Lombardi or e-mail jlombardi@dailyvoice.com