As they do every year, the Hamilton and Morrisville-Eaton football teams will gather again this Saturday at 12 noon to see who has the upper hand in a great rivalry.

This time around, though, the stakes are much higher. Essentially, the winner of this game is assured a Section III Class D playoff berth, and might grab a league championship, too.

Through three league games, the Warriors are perfect, staying so last Saturday afternoon with a 22-6 victory over Rome Catholic.

At 3-0 in league play (3-2 overall), M-E is tied with Frankfort-Schuyler for first place in the Class D Central league. They will meet each other on Oct. 13 to close out the regular season.

First, though, M-E will deal with Hamilton, and it won’t be easy. The Emerald Knights are 2-1 in league play, and 4-1 overall after last Friday’s 22-8 victory over Waterville.

Nick Sorosky led Hamilton on both sides of the ball, running nine yards for one touchdown, and returning an interception 30 yards for a clinching score in the fourth quarter. He had 26 carries for 128 yards.

Matt Martin had Hamilton’s other points, going two yards for a TD and belting a 30-yard field goal through the uprights in the third quarter.