Update No. 11: FINAL SCORE: RYE 16, ONEIDA 12.

Update No. 10: Rye’s Brian Pickup picked up the onside kick so Rye has 2:05 to kill for its third state championship in four years. Kyle Ramahlo then broke a 21-yard run that will finish it off. He cut inside to stay inbounds at the end of the play and appeared to injure his shoulder, but he’s not coming out of the game. Ten seconds remain.

Update No. 9: Oneida just finished a long touchdown drive, with a key fourth-and-10 pass completion and an eight-yard TD pass from Kramer to Brandon Miles with 2:09 left. But Joe McCormick missed another PAT kick wide right, so Rye’s lead is four—and Oneida needs a touchdown to win. It’s 16-12, Rye, with the onside kick no doubt coming up.

Update No. 8: END OF THIRD QUARTER: RYE 16, ONEIDA 6.

Update No. 7: No further scoring, but some bizarre stuff, as Oneida’s last drive, which failed, was highlighted by an unusual alignment. The Indians offensive line lined up way off to the left, leaving QB Ryan Kramer alone in a shotgun with the center, and his receivers off to the right. The result was a series of penalties against both teams, and much confusion, and three Rye pass rushers not being blocked. The Rye fans took up a chant of “Let’s play football.” The Garnets held and have the ball now, and their defense can try and come up with some answers to that scheme if Oneida tries it again.

Update No. 6: HALFTIME SCORE: RYE 16, ONEIDA 6.

Update No. 5: Rye drove to the Oneida two, but on fourth and a foot was called for a penalty. So Kelleher came in and kicked a 24-yard field goal … which was wiped out by another penalty. So he then kicked a 29-yard field goal. With 6:34 left in the half, it’s 16-6, Rye.

Update No. 4: END OF FIRST QUARTER: RYE 13, ONEIDA 6.

Update No. 3: Rye’s Pat O’Callaghan recovered an Oneida fumble at the Oneida 42, and after a pass interference penalty against the Indians, O’Callaghan caught a bullet from Connor Eck in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard TD. The PAT hit the right upright. Rye leads 13-6 with 1:24 left in the first.

Update No. 2: The best way to react to an early touchdown is to go get one right back, and that’s what Rye did with a 56-yard drive finished off by a 28-yard touchdown run by Cole McCormack. Jack Kelleher kicked the PAT and Rye’s up 7-6 with 7:13 to go in the quarter.

Update No. 1: The game had barely begun, and Rye was on its heels. A long opening-kickoff return by Ryan Kramer (Oneida’s quarterback) set up the Indians at the Rye 28, and a pass interference penalty led to a 16-yard touchdown run by Nate Mallinder. The PAT was wide right, so with 10:11 left in the first quarter it’s 6-0, Oneida.
——
Pregame: Well, the good news for Rye is that it doesn’t have to play a team from the Buffalo-area, because Section 6 teams have won each of the first four of the five championship games being played here at the Carrier Dome this weekend.

Here are the weekend’s results so far:

AA-Orchard Park (Section 6) 21, Monroe-Woodbury (9) 17.

A-Sweet Home (6) 35, Burnt Hills (2) 28.

C-Southwestern (6) 35, Croton-Harmon (1) 7.

D-Maple Grove (6) 55, Moriah (7) 7.

The Garnets, in search of their second consecutive state Class B championship, and third in four years, play Oneida. That game might start a few minutes late because the AA championship game ran long. It’s about 40 minutes until scheduled kickoff and the AA game is just ending now, with postgame ceremonies still to take place before Rye and Oneida can even get onto the field for warmups.

We will have updates here throughout the game.

You can watch the Rye-Oneida game by clicking here.