Tyler Olbrich celebrates a touchdown with his Aquinas teammates during the team’s state semifinal game against Liverpool.
Aquinas celebrates their 17-16 win over Liverpool.
USA TODAY, for the second consecutive week, has Aquinas as one of the top 25 high school football teams in the country.
Aquinas actually moved up a slot to No. 22, after the Section V champion held off Liverpool 17-16 Saturday to advance into the state final.
Saratoga Springs of Section II, the Albany-region, defeated New Rochelle the same night to set up the state championship game, 3 p.m. Sunday inside Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome.
Earnest Edwards, a senior defensive back/running back/receiver at Aquinas, blocked an extra-point attempt by Liverpool with 3:53 remaining that kept Aquinas in the lead.
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Aquinas guts out win in state semifinal
Aquinas senior quarterback Jake Zembiec completed 18 of 27 passes for 256 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Collin Cup, a senior rarely called on to kick field goals this season, made a 24-yard attempt that gave Aquinas a 17-7 lead with 7:12 remaining in the third quarter.
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association final on Sunday is a chance for Aquinas to win its second state championships in three years and sixth overall. Aquinas won state titles in Class A in 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2007.
Zembiec, who gave a verbal commitment last November to play at Penn State, was named the 2013 Class AA state player of the year after Aquinas won the Class AA state championship.
JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM