Two weeks from now will mark the beginning of the 2012 New York State high school football season. With that in mind, here's a quiz to test your Southern Tier gridiron acumen. The answers appear at the end of this story.
A special shout-out goes to the New York State Sportswriters Association, and member Paul Hutzler, in particular, for his exhaustive research in putting the state records together.
1. Who is the winningest coach in the history of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties with 202 career victories, and he is still active?
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Jehuu Caulcrick was a star running back for the Clymer Pirates from 1999 to 2002
P-J file photo
2. Which two running backs - both from northern Chautauqua County - are the owners of the seventh- and ninth-best single-game rushing efforts in state history?
3. This running back rushed for more than 100 yards in 34 career games, which places him third on the all-time state list. He is also fourth all-time in career touchdowns (101) and third in career points scored (706). Who is he?
4. In 1991, a running back from southern Chautauqua County scored seven touchdowns in a game. Six years later, a running back from the north county matched the feat. Name them.
5. Maple Grove quarterback Randall Secky threw 33 touchdown passes in 1998 when the Red Dragons won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D title. Twenty of those TD strikes went to one player, who is No. 2 on the state's all-time list. Who is the receiver?
6. This Southwestern running back is one of three Chautauqua Country football players to rush for more than 400 yards when he blitzed Fredonia for 408 in 2003. Can you name him?
7. Moriah advanced to the NYSPHSAA championship game in both 2008 and 2009 only to lose both times in convincing fashion. Can you name the area schools who claimed titles and by what scores?
8. This Jamestown running back has the fifth-most touchdowns in a season (47) in state history and is tied for sixth with 282 points that same campaign. Name him and the year.
9. These two kickers booted nine field goals in a season, which ties them for fifth on the state's all-time list. Can you name them?
10. OK. The final question is a tough one. Six area quarterbacks have passed for at least 1,700 yards in a season. Can you name them? Hint. Three of them are brothers.
ANSWERS: 1. Pat Slater, Randolph; 2. Larry Croft, Forestville (458 yards on 24 carries vs. Franklinville in 1997) and Travis Maxwell, Dunkirk (454 yards on 35 carries vs. Olean in 1997); 3. Jehuu Caulcrick (Clymer, 1999-2001); 4. Jason Parker (Falconer) and Croft (Forestville); 5. Josh Liddell; 6. Dustin Bowser; 7. Maple Grove won, 55-7, in 2008 and Randolph prevailed, 41-0, in 2009; 8. Aaron Leeper, 2000; 9. Ryan Rambacher (Maple Grove, 1996) and Tanner Hoose (Southwestern, 2011); 10. Randall Secky (Maple Grove, 1998), 2,098; Zack Sopak (Southwestern, 2009), 1,831; Chris Secky (Maple Grove, 2008), 1,810; Shane Smith (Fredonia, 2010), 1,788; Tom Secky (Maple Grove, 2006), 1,768; and Jon Williams (Silver Creek, 2005), 1,732.