Moriah High School football finds themselves in familiar territory. After a first-round bye into the New York high school football Class D state regional finals to await the winner of the Section II tournament, the five-time Section VII champions got some much-needed rest to recover and gear up for their first state playoff game of 2025. “It’s really nice,” said Moriah senior lineman Patrick Welch. “We need to prepare for this game; we’re going to come in as the underdogs, but hopefully we come out on top.”On paper, the Vikings are coming as the underdogs against the Greenwich High School Witches in the Class D tournament. The Witches enter this contest at an undefeated 10-0 mark, where one of those wins came against the Vikings in their first game of the season with a 34-0 shutout victory for them. Moriah finished this past season with an overall record of 4-5. “We’re trying to fix our mistakes and fire on all cylinders and get touchdowns,” Welch said. “Just play hard and do everything the way it’s supposed to be done and hopefully come out with the win.”Moriah also saw Greenwich in last year’s regional finals, which also saw them take a 34-0 victory in last year’s state playoffs. Vikings head coach Casey Nephew knows how talented the Witches are and says limiting mistakes and playing high level of football for all four quarters will be key to a potential upset. “They have some athletes, they’re quarterback is quite talented, they have some talented receivers and a very talented tailback, and their line is big and physical,” Nephew said about Greenwich. “It’s going to be fun for us to be able to be in this football game,” he added. “We’re going to have to be disciplined, do our responsibilities, and play team football.”The extra week of rest may be key for a Moriah win, to give extra time for the Vikings to recover from the Class D sectional championship victory against the Ticonderoga High School Sentinels. That includes Owen Bobbie, one of Moriah’s senior leaders as a running back and defensive back, who was sidelined due to injury in the sectional final. “It means the world coming out and playing with my brothers again,” Bobbie said. “I love it, and I just love this sport.”Moriah will play Greenwich at Colonie High School on Friday, Nov. 21, at 4 pm. The winner of this game will advance to the Class D state final four at Middletown High School on Friday, Nov. 28, at 3 p.m.

PORT HENRY, N.Y. —

Moriah High School football finds themselves in familiar territory.

After a first-round bye into the New York high school football Class D state regional finals to await the winner of the Section II tournament, the five-time Section VII champions got some much-needed rest to recover and gear up for their first state playoff game of 2025.

“It’s really nice,” said Moriah senior lineman Patrick Welch. “We need to prepare for this game; we’re going to come in as the underdogs, but hopefully we come out on top.”

On paper, the Vikings are coming as the underdogs against the Greenwich High School Witches in the Class D tournament. The Witches enter this contest at an undefeated 10-0 mark, where one of those wins came against the Vikings in their first game of the season with a 34-0 shutout victory for them. Moriah finished this past season with an overall record of 4-5.

“We’re trying to fix our mistakes and fire on all cylinders and get touchdowns,” Welch said. “Just play hard and do everything the way it’s supposed to be done and hopefully come out with the win.”

Moriah also saw Greenwich in last year’s regional finals, which also saw them take a 34-0 victory in last year’s state playoffs. Vikings head coach Casey Nephew knows how talented the Witches are and says limiting mistakes and playing high level of football for all four quarters will be key to a potential upset.

“They have some athletes, they’re quarterback is quite talented, they have some talented receivers and a very talented tailback, and their line is big and physical,” Nephew said about Greenwich.

“It’s going to be fun for us to be able to be in this football game,” he added. “We’re going to have to be disciplined, do our responsibilities, and play team football.”

The extra week of rest may be key for a Moriah win, to give extra time for the Vikings to recover from the Class D sectional championship victory against the Ticonderoga High School Sentinels. That includes Owen Bobbie, one of Moriah’s senior leaders as a running back and defensive back, who was sidelined due to injury in the sectional final.

“It means the world coming out and playing with my brothers again,” Bobbie said. “I love it, and I just love this sport.”

Moriah will play Greenwich at Colonie High School on Friday, Nov. 21, at 4 pm. The winner of this game will advance to the Class D state final four at Middletown High School on Friday, Nov. 28, at 3 p.m.