Indian River’s Bobby Alexander, center, runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown Friday during the state Class A regional quarterfinals against Vestal at Cicero-North Syracuse High School in Cicero. Trailing by one point to Vestal at the end of the first quarter, Indian River wasted very little time getting the lead back.

Indian River’s potent offense revolves around a dynamic trio of running backs. But creating space for Kwazsi Gaddis, Guillermo Rosario-Acosta and Jayden Henhawk is a group of five Warriors known as the “Nasty Boys.”. Landon Clyde, Chase Lynch, Stone Bush, Garrett Decker and Nate Mills make up the offensive line that has been dominant for the Warriors (10-0) all season, so dominant that it deserved a nickname.

Jefferson Community College forward Liam Bonk, a former Indian River player, dunks the ball Wednesday during practice at the McVean Center Gymnasium. The Cannoneers men’s and women’s basketball teams open their seasons on Saturday. For the Jefferson Community College men’s basketball team, a new season means ... well, essentially a brand new team.

In less than four minutes Saturday, General Brown’s dreams turned into nightmares. For the third straight season, the Lions left the Carrier Dome disappointed as the No. 1 Holland Patent Golden Knights scored 14 unanswered points in the final four minutes of the game to defeat No. 2 General Brown 21-14 in the Section 3 Class C final.

General Brown treated its week of practice ahead of the Class C title game like any other. But there was no ignoring what lied ahead and what it meant. Not only will the Lions play for a Section 3 title today at noon in the Carrier Dome against Holland Patent, they will be trying to avenge past losses on that very same turf.

It wasn’t until the final minutes that it became clear Indian River was winning the Section 3 Class A championship. Yes, the Warriors held the lead ever since the 5:44 mark in first half, but Carthage continued to stick, for the most part keeping the deficit to one score. Despite the Comets’ effort, Indian River won first section title since 2014 by a 33-21 final.

Tonight, Indian River will participate in its third straight Section 3 Class A championship game. For the Warriors this will be their fifth trip to the Carrier Dome in six years dating back to 2013. But the 2018 campaign and title run has been more dominant than those in the past. The Warriors will enter with nine wins with no losses.

South Jefferson’s Clara Marlowe performs a dive during a meet earlier this season. Marlowe is competing in Section 3 championships and state qualifiers today and this weekend. In an attempt to earn a higher score, South Jefferson diver Clara Marlowe turns to what her coaches call her “best dive,” an inward one and a half.

The Watertown Rapids introduced Mike Wood as the field manager for the 2019 season in the lobby of The Jules Center at Jefferson Community College on Tuesday. A former JCC baseball player, Wood currently serves as assistant coach for the St. Lawrence University baseball team. He played third base for JCC in 2014 and 2015.

If the Section 3 Class A finale was scripted, it would look a little something like this: Indian River (9-0) versus Carthage (7-2). That’s exactly what we’ll get next Friday night in the championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. While No. 3 Carthage was busy dismantling No. 2 Whitesboro, 31-19, Indian River continued to dominate with a 45-14 victory over Auburn.

Sam Millich promised himself he wouldn’t get emotional. But standing in front of his team inside the small locker room adjacent to the Carthage football field, he couldn’t help but speak from his heart. Having served as the head coach of the Comets for nearly 20 years, Millich is now facing his final few games.

Sauquoit Valley’s Chris Callahan, left, knocks the ball out of the hands of Beaver River’s Dalton Finster for an incomplete pass in the end zone during Saturday’s Section 3 Class D quarterfinal game. There’s an old sports cliche “bend but don’t break,” and Beaver River bent as far as it possibly could without falling apart in its 28-22 victory over Sauquoit Valley in the Section 3 Class D quarterfinals Saturday.

There was no secret about what was at stake for the Carthage football team. A win and the Comets get another shot at Whitesboro in the Section 3 Class A semifinals, a loss and their 5-2 season is all for naught. Clearly, the No. 3 seed Comets wanted another shot at the Warriors, Carthage smoked No. 6 Jamesville-DeWitt, 38-15, in the quarterfinals of the playoffs Friday night.

After Beaver River’s first offensive series of every game, quarterback Sam Bush convenes with his wide receivers on the sidelines. It’s a moment for Bush and the receivers to get a sense of what they’re up against; the receivers report what the opposing defense is showing and that allows Bush to adapt accordingly.

The Frontier League’s boys cross country championship race kicks off on Tuesday at Sandy Creek High School. The Beaver River boys team and South Lewis girls team each repeated as champions. The Beaver River boys and South Lewis girls once again took first place in the Frontier League boys and girls cross country championships Tuesday.

Give Lowville a fifth quarter and it may have been able to complete the comeback. But after the 48 minutes of regulation, General Brown held on to win 24-12, clinching first place in the Section 3 Class “C” North Division. Despite keeping General Brown (6-1) scoreless in the second half, the Red Raiders (6-1) were climbing their way out of a hole from the start.