text: NYSPHSAA Class A football semifinals: Canandaigua vs. Carthage
  Class A football state semifinals: Canandaigua, Carthage share several similarities
  Football is a game of matchups and Friday's Class A state semifinal between Canandaigua and Carthage is no exception.
  But this one? This one could be real fun to watch.
  Because when the Comets (10-1) of Section III and Braves (10-1) of Section V line up for an 8 p.m. kickoff at Cicero-North Syracuse, it comes down to strength vs. strength. Both teams like to run the ball, and both teams like to stop the run.
  "They're a well-coached team that doesn't make a lot of mistakes," Canandaigua coach Jeff Welch said of Carthage, a town in Jefferson County east of Watertown that's known to lacrosse players across the country as the home of the Powell brothers Casey, Ryan, Mike and Mason.
  The Comets come into the game averaging 323 rushing yards per game, powered by Fombo Azah, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound senior who has rushed for 2,308 yards and 37 touchdowns.
  Canandaigua, meanwhile, has rushed for 2,509 yards as a team with a committee approach. But both come into Friday's game with plenty of pride in their defense and the ability to shut down the running game of their opponent.
  That's where the matchup part of the equation comes into play, so whichever team is the quickest to adapt and discover the matchup that favors its plan is the team that will have the edge.
  Carthage on offense
  The Comets have won nine straight games since losing to Utica Proctor in Week 2. Carthage rushed for just 73 yards in that game, so it's a safe bet the Canandaigua coaches have studied film of that game to see what was so effective.
  Up front, Carthage is big. The offensive line averages 264 pounds and it's an athletic unit that pulls and pops to clear lanes for Azah, who averages 10 yards a carry and 209 yards a game.
  "They have a solid line with a talented back," said Welch. "They make the holes and he finds them."
  Senior quarterback Nick Cavellier offers some balance, completing 47% of his passes for 758 yards. But he's only passed for seven touchdowns against five interceptions.
  The Comets are averaging 45 points per game and there are no secrets. They rely on the run big-time and have the numbers to show they're doing it effectively.
  Canandaigua on offense
  The Braves have won 10 straight since losing their opener to Victor and even though they have offensive balance, they still like to establish the run to set it all up.
  Junior Dom Comella (872 yards), senior Seth Vigneri (421) and senior Zach Wantuck (473) give the Braves three backs with more than 400 yards. Comella brings the speed and quickness, Wantuck is the muscle and Vigneri brings a bit of both to keep the running styles varied.
  The Braves also have a strong passing game in sophomore QB Bryan Boldrin. He's completed 67% of his passes for 1,183 yards with 18 TDs and three interceptions.
  Options for Boldrin include senior Matt Vierhile (29 catches, 343 yards) for the quick out patterns, which also give Vierhile a chance to make a play out of it like he did on a 58-yard TD last Friday against South Park. Senior Casey Herod has the speed to get down field and is averaging 32 yards a catch on his 10 catches for 320 yards.
  Joe Urlacher and Sam Bennett are reliable targets as well.
  Carthage on defense
  Again, the Comets here are big with the front consisting of linemen who also play offense. They usually go with four down linemen and linebackers who cheat up close so they can pressure QBs or support the run defense.
  Carthage is allowing just 14 points per game and the front four certainly may be able to hold its own, but it will be interesting to see what the Comets do with their linebackers, who may need to drop back a few steps to account for Canandaigua's passing game.
  "They like to bring the pressure and their linebackers like to creep up on most plays," said Welch. "They want to stop the run and that's our strength so we'll need to be a bit more balanced."
  Canandaigua on defense
  The front four for Canandaigua has been the strong point, especially in the postseason. Seniors Dalton Boylan, JC Clifford, Ryan Welch and Lucas Malcomson bring size and quickness that's difficult to block. The unit has been solid in reading plays and reacting to make the initial stop — or at least disrupt it enough — to allow time for linebackers Wes Allen, Vigneri or Vierhile to arrive and finish the play.
  The Braves held South Park to 264 total yards last week and East High to 193 total yards in the Section V title game the week before that, and that included just 24 rushing yards for the Eagles.
  Welch knows his team will have its hands full on Friday, but he's confident.
  "Our front has done a great job of stopping the run all season," he said. "We're built that way."
  Carthage doesn't do anything fancy to gain its yards on the ground with a straightforward running game, so the CA defense will respond in kind.
  "We'll just stick to the plan and trust our abilities," said Welch.
  Friday's winner advances to the Nov. 29 state championship to play the winner of the other Class A semifinal between Cornwall of Section IX and Rye of Section I. Kickoff for the Nov. 29 final is 3 p.m. at the dome in Syracuse. Canandaigua hasn't reached the state final since winning it all in 1999.
  These teams are similar in a lot of ways, including the colors of their uniforms.
  Both have the size to do what they want for and against the run, so whichever team establishes itself in the trenches first and is able to maintain that will have the advantage.
  The quick-strike ability for Canandaigua could also come into play if the game becomes a defensive standoff. Herod can stretch the field and the Braves have plenty of options for short passes to athletic players who can make something out of not much.
  Carthage has not been tested much outside of its 12-7 loss to Proctor, which was a Class AA finalist in Section III. Outside of that, the closest game for the Comets was a 20-point win.
  To that, adversity and how it's managed during a game could be another factor. At this level with two solid teams, plans will not unfold as expected at times so the reaction to that will be important in terms of not allowing the mental aspect of competition affect judgment and focus.
  Fewer mistakes will mostly likely lead to more points for the team whose season will continue with berth in the Class A state championship.