All Your Upstate-Downstate Classics Are Belong To Downstate

For three years, all-star football players from Downstate New York have battled those from Upstate New York. In all three contests, it's been the Downstate team to take the bragging rights. This year, at least, the Upstate team put up a fight.

Downstate won the back-and-forth game on a 48-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter from Rich Czeczotka to Michael Richardson. The defense gave up another TD to the Downstate squad, but then held on over the last eight minutes.

The loss marred a great day for Upstate quarterback Tyler Johnson of East Syracuse-Minoa. Johnson completed 11 of 21 passes for 123 yards and three TDs.

More importantly, how did the Syracuse Orange recruits fare? Nation or Orange has a nice breakdown of each recruit and how they performed. In a nutshell...

OL Omari Palmer - "He had to have had over ten pancake blocks, and frequently got to the second and third level. Palmer was knocking guys around, literally throwing them at times, and was far too strong for anyone on the Upstate team to handle."

DB Wayne Morgan - Gave up a touchdown in the first play against him but did not yield a reception for the rest of the game.

RB Devante McFarlane - Gained fifteen yards on first carry and subsequently injured his shoulder, did not return.

DL Pancho Barnwell - Even though he's not coming to SU this year, Barnwell was impressive and might still don Orange down the road.

NOO also spoke with Syracuse commits Omari Palmer, Wayne Morgan, and Devante McFarlane about their experience.