Again in 2009.

And once more in 2011.

Three times in four years the Southwestern Trojans appeared in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C semifinal. On each occasion, they won to advance to the title game at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

They’ll have another opportunity today when they meet top-ranked Section IV Susquehanna Valley at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Southwestern linebacker Tywon Wright leads a defense that has allowed just three touchdowns this season. P-J file photo by Tim Frank

The task looks to be challenging.

For when No. 2 Southwestern takes the field for the noon kickoff, it will do so against the defending state champions, who are the owners of the state’s longest active win streak at 24.

The Sabers almost didn’t make it to an even two dozen, though, as they barely held off Lowville, 44-36, in an epic quarterfinal game last week. Jahreed Isles’ sealed the win with an interception in the end zone, and quarterback Logan Haskell rushed for 279 yards and five touchdowns, pushing his totals for the season to 1,599 and 29, respectively. Haskell has also thrown for more than 900 yards and 11 touchdowns, including one against Lowville

“Most things go through Haskell,” Southwestern interim head coach Jake Burkholder said. “He seems to be their guy.”

While Susquehanna Valley’s victory in the quarterfinal came down to the wire, Southwestern’s 54-8 win last week over Section V Letchworth/Warsaw was dominant rather than dramatic, a fitting description for a team that has scored 49, 49, 53 and 54 points in its four playoff games.

The young man who has done most of the damage is senior running back Tywon Wright. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has rushed for 603 yards and 10 touchdowns in his last two games alone. For the season, he has amassed 1,504 yards and 25 TDs, and, thanks to a stout offensive line, only seems to be getting better the longer the season goes.

“He’s had a heck of a couple weeks,” Burkholder said. “He’s been working hard in practice, and I think he’s just getting started. He’s been playing out of his mind. If we can keep that going, it’s a beautiful thing.”

While Wright has been the driving force offensively in recent weeks, Southwestern features a balanced attack as sophomore quarterback Aidan Kennedy has thrown for 1,6011 yards and 23 touchdowns against only three interceptions.

That versatility could work in the Trojans’ favor given that the Sabers did give up a lot of yards in the state quarterfinal. In fact, Lowville quarterback Chad Bach passed for 335 yards and five TDs and rushed for 126 yards.

“We’ve got weapons all over the field,” Burkholder said. “There’s a lot to defend. I think focusing on one kid is going to be difficult and puts us at an advantage if they focus on Tywon.”

Meanwhile, seniors Cooper Pannes and Conrad Thomas anchor a starting defensive unit that has yielded just three touchdowns all season.

The winner of today’s game will meet either Gouverneur (10-0) or Valhalla (8-2) at 6 p.m., Nov. 29 at the Carrier Dome.

The Trojans would love to make it four trips to the title game since 2008.

“They have their own path to forge,” Burkholder said. “They know the (program’s) legacy a little bit, but they’re looking to set their own.”