As has been the case in recent seasons, and as has been expected all year, the biggest regular season game in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association is here:
 
Canisius vs. St. Francis.
 
The Crusaders head to Polian Family Field in Athol Springs for a 7 p.m. Saturday night kickoff against the Red Raiders.
 
Both Canisius and St. Francis have played outstanding nonleague competition all season, just as both programs have done for decades.
 
In the MaxPreps rankings of Buffalo area high school football teams, St. Francis is No. 1 and Canisius is No. 2. The programs have the two toughest schedules in Western New York, per MaxPreps' rankings of strength of schedule.
 
Canisius' schedule includes three teams from Ohio, two from Pennsylvania, Section VI power Lancaster and Canadian national top 10 program Huron Heights; St. Francis plays three teams from Ohio, three from Pennsylvania and one from Massachusetts. Both teams lost to Cathedral Prep (Pa.) in the opening weeks of the season; Canisius won at Ohio's Benedictine in Week Five while Benedictine won at St. Francis in Week One.
 
In local rankings, WNY Athletics has Canisius at No. 4 and St. Francis at No. 5; The Buffalo News poll has St. Francis at No. 4 and Canisius at No. 5.
 
The Crusaders and St. Francis have reached this league showdown by both routing St. Joe's. Canisius dominated St. Joe's, 49-7, in Week Four to tie up the all-time rivalry series for the first time since 1987. St. Francis rolled to a 44-6 win at St. Joe's in Week Six.
 
A Canisius win would give the Crusaders a bye to the championship game, which CHS would host on Saturday, Nov. 11 on Koessler Field at Stransky Memorial Athletic Complex.
 
A St. Francis win would set up the 100th meeting in the Canisius-St. Joe's rivalry with the Crusaders hosting the MMAA semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 4. The rivalry series is currently tied at 48-48-3. The Crusaders have beaten St. Joe's eight straight times and have won 18 of the teams' last 19 games.
 
St. Francis has won six straight against St. Joe's and has taken nine of the teams' last 12 meetings.
 
Students and families interested in Crusader Football and the excellence only found in a Jesuit education at Canisius – voted "Best Private School" in The Buffalo News Best in 716 issue – can learn more at canisiushigh.org and make arrangements to spend time with us via canisiushigh.org/visit

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