This is the third of five breakdowns of Section 1 Championship games this weekend at Mahopac High School.

Class B championship
Sleepy Hollow (5-3) vs. Nanuet (8-0)
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Preview meeting: Nanuet defeated Sleepy Hollow 28-14 on Sept. 26
Common opponents: They played in the same league and both beat Pelham and Ardsley, and Pleasantville and Kennedy in cross-overs/playoff games. Sleepy Hollow lost to Lourdes, which Nanuet beat.
How’d they get here: Nanuet beat Briarcliff 41-7 and then defeated Kennedy 21-7 in the semifinals. Sleepy knocked off Irvington 13-12 and then powered past Pleasantville, 28-19.

Position-by-position breakdowns
Quarterback: John Bucci is a talented thrower for Sleepy Hollow but hasn’t really been called on to carry the offense at any point this season. Tom Hanney is one of the best at the position in Section 1 with his power-running ability and efficient passing (35 for 49). Edge: Nanuet.
Running backs: This matchup will come down to the two best backfield in Class B. Gabe Ostrow (845 yards and 16 touchdowns) and Bret Bonomolo have been a steady, consistent combo all season for the Golden Knights. Nobody has been better of late than Bobby Small, who has 755 yards and seven scores in the last four games. The emergence of L.J. Garrant evens this matchup. Edge: Push.
Receivers: Neither team throws the ball all that much. But Nanuet has a pair of talented receivers in Greg Mooney and John Brezovsky, who each could be called on to make a big play in this game. Edge: Nanuet.
Offensive line: The Golden Knights have as solid a unit as there is outside of Class AA. Lyle Birrittella, Kevin Willison, Brendan Siegrist, Ryan Maroney and Tyler Esposito are a stellar quintet. Sleepy has rock-solid core with A.J. Sims, Pete Del Monico, Steve Hart, Jarae Williams, and Nick Fanelli. Although good, Nanuet is slightly better. Edge: Nanuet.

Defensive line: With 10 players starting on both sides of the ball, many of Nanuet’s guys flip to the other side of the ball. Willison and Maroney stuff the middle of the field. Mike Segarra, Sims and Williams are extremely versatile and get after the quarterback. They’re part of a group where 5-6 players rotate in. Edge: Nanuet.
Linebackers: Nanuet has a stellar group in the middle. Ostrow and Birrittella are punishing hitters and Bonomolo does a tremendous job covering both sidelines. Del Monico and Jonathan Martin are linebackers who makes so many plays creeping up to the line. Kayzon Stovall is quick to the edges and John Randazzo controls the middle. Edge: Nanuet.
Secondary: The speed in Sleepy Hollow’s secondary is incredible. Small finds his way in on so many tackles and L.J. Garrant is an excellent coverman. Nanuet’s Rob Leonard has locked up every receiver he’s gone against, and Hanney is a field general at safety. Edge: Push.
Special teams: Sleepy Hollow has a decent kicking game while Nanuet has one of the area’s most consistent legs in Brian Purvis. But where the Horsemen have a huge advantage in this is in the return game with Garrant and Small, who have been awesome all season. Edge: Sleepy Hollow.

Bottom line: Forget what happened in Week 3. Sleepy Hollow isn’t that overconfident, disorganzied team anymore. Nanuet has improved, too, of course, but not nearly at the rate of Sleepy Hollow. The longer this game stays close, the better Sleepy Hollow’s chances. But I think Nanuet’s ball-contol, power-running game will allow it to survive this one.

PREDICTION: Nanuet 24, Sleepy Hollow 14