CHITTENANGO -- For the third year in a row New Hartford has knocked off East Syracuse-Minoa in the playoffs. In the Toyota High School Game of the Week, New Hartford’s running game was too much for ES-M as the Spartans from Oneida County rolled past the Spartans from Onondaga County 38-14 at Chittenango High School.

It was a defensive battle in the beginning, but late in the first quarter New Hartford quarterback Anthony Acevedo would put his Spartans on the board with a one yard touchdown run.

That seemed to light a spark under New Hartford as they would go up 24-0 at the half. Joe Carcone would add two touchdowns in the second quarter busting loose for 57 yards on one of his scores.

The second half was more of the same from New Hartford. Carcone would add a touchdown early in the quarter, but the play of the game came late in the third quarter by Acevedo. After an ES-M fumble deep in New Hartford territory, Acevedo took the ensuing play 99 yards for a touchdown.

New Hartford head coach Bob Jones says he has an athletic backfield with Carcone and Acevedo but it’s the guys up front who deserve a lot of credit. “We have a veteran offensive line and they’ve done a great job all year,” said Jones. “But our quarterback and running back are exceptional athletes and they get the job done,” said Jones.

ES-M’s running back Dustin Moss finished off a great career with a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. He would finish the game with nearly 200 yards on the ground.

New Hartford will take on Whitesboro for the Class A title next weekend at the Carrier Dome.