I’ve looked at scores and stats.

I’ve studied player matchups.

I’ve sought input from reporters, coaches, players and all you folks.

Now, it’s time.

Time to announce my prediction for “The Game” in Section 1 boys lacrosse.

John Jay vs. Yorktown.

John Jay is hoping for a strong showing from goaltender Chris Latino Friday night when it visits Yorktown. (Photo by Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

It’s been a season of highs and lows for both John Jay and Yorktown as all you folks who have been dissecting the twists and turns of the teams’ big games here at Lax to the Max know.

Here’s just a brief sampling of some things to consider.

Yorktown beat nationally ranked St. Anthony’s 14-9 on April 10. Two days later, St. Anthony’s beat John Jay 16-12.

In case you’re tempted to conclude the ‘Huskers are nine goals better than John Jay — or even better at all — how about this?

John Jay beat Brewster 16-6. Yorktown edged Brewster 11-10.

As we’ve learned from what’s been a season marked by increased participation leading to increased parity throughout all levels of lacrosse, comparing scores against mutual opponents has become pretty much a waste of time.

So let’s look at the big picture. The bottom line, I think we can all agree, is that John Jay is probably not quite as strong a team overall as it was last year. And that’s neither a surprise nor a disappointment. After all, that ‘07 team has to be regarded as the best in the school’s 30-year history of varsity lax.

The fact that this year’s team may be close talent-wise is actually pretty impressive. As we all know, the Indians had to plug in an entirely new starting defense and lost two all-America attackmen who are now playing at Division I programs. For most teams, those type of losses invariably lead to a huge drop in performance.

I think we can also agree that Yorktown is a considerably better team than it was last season when it would have finished with a losing record for the first time since 1979 had it not beaten Lakeland/Panas in the sectional final. The ‘Huskers then went on to beat a Niskayuna team in the state quarterfinals that has beaten John Jay this season. The ‘Huskers then played eventual state champ West Islip, now ranked No. 3 nationally, very tough in the state semifinals.

Yorktown’s strong finish last year — and its returning talented — prompted John Jay coach Nick Savastano to tell me this before the season started: “On paper, they (Yorktown) may be better.”

The ‘Huskers also have an attribute they have frequently lacked — size. Especially on defense.

Yorktown’s offense, meanwhile, is lethal when it gets its fastbreak attack in gear.

Which means — to no surprise — faceoffs will be as important as anything in this game. (Not exactly breaking news.) Like I always say, the three biggest keys in any showdown like this are faceoffs, faceoffs and then faceoffs. (Followed by ground balls and goaltending.)

The primary matchup to keep an eye on in the faceoff X will be Tyler Granelli (JJ) vs. John Ranagan (Ytown).

Both players are also key scorers for their teams too.

Another key matchup will of course be in goal where arguably the two leading netminders in Section 1 — John Jay’s Chris Latino and Yorktown’s Michael Bonitatibus — will square off. Latino and Bonitatibus were the goalies on last year’s Empire State Games team.

Now to a few important intangibles that have to be considered.

If John Jay is to win, it would mark its fourth straight win against the ‘Huskers with three of those victories coming on Yorktown’s home field.

For that reason, you may think I might be going with John Jay.

But I’m a firm believer in the law of averages, and the fact that Yorktown is more than due to win a game in a series it has traditionally dominated is impossible to overlook.

So now, let’s get to it.

After all the analysis and insights, the bottom line is, when two strong teams meet in lacrosse, it often winds up being decided in overtime.

And it frequently comes down to a play that’s impossible to predict.

Like Rhamel Bratton of Huntington taking an ill-advised shot on goal with his Huntington team leading John Jay 10-9 with less than a minute to play in regulation. Latino made the save, giving John Jay possession. The Indians then tied it to force overtime seconds later, and went on to beat the top-ranked team in the nation 11-10 in double overtime to advance to the state title game for the first time in school history while ending Huntington’s 63-game win streak.

And speaking of OT, maybe we should just start Friday night’s game heading into it right off the bat.

Because I think there’s a good chance that’s what will wind up happening.

With that in mind, no prediction in such a scenario can be made with a strong degree of certainty.

That’s not a disclaimer, it’s just a fact.

Nevertheless, I feel pretty comfortable with this one.

Yorktown 8, John Jay 7

It should be fun.

That’s my take. And I’m sticking to it.

Before you weigh in with your thoughts, I thought you might be interested in this:

John Jay vs. Yorktown: Facts and figures

Records: John Jay 12-4; Yorktown 12-2

Goals scored: John Jay 221, Yorktown 164

Goals allowed: John Jay 105, Yorktown 111

Head coach: John Jay (Nick Savastano, ninth year); Yorktown (Dave Marr, sixth year)

Leading players: John Jay (Chris Bocklet, sr., attack; Kevin Drew, sr., midfielder; Tyler Granelli; sr., midfield/attack; Chris Latino, sr., goaltender; James Whalen, sr., defense; Harrison Jones, sr., attack; Billy LaPerch, sr., midfield). Yorktown (Rocky Bonitatibus, sr., midfield; John Ranagan, jr., goaltender; Michael Bonitatibus, sr., goaltender; Brendan Kurpis, sr., attack; Kevin Interlicchio, so., attack; John Froats, sr., attack/midfield; Ethan Fox, jr., defense).

Seniors signed with D-I programs: John Jay (Bocklet, Virginia; Drew, Syracuse; Granelli, Syracuse; Latino, Binghamton); Yorktown (Rocky Bonitatibus, Albany).

All-time sectional championships: John Jay 6, Yorktown 31

Number of state titles: John Jay 0, Yorktown 6

All-time leading scorer: John Jay (Bocklet, Class of ‘08); Yorktown (Tom Nelson, Class of ‘83)

Alumni actors: John Jay (Andy Milonakis, MTV’s “Andy Milonakis Show”; Matt Del Negro, “West Wing,” “Sopranos”); Stanley Tucci (”Prizzi’s Honor,” “Road to Perdition,” “Big Night”); Campbell Scott (”Dying Young,” “Singles,” “Big Night”). Yorktown: Andy Kavovit (”As the World Turns,” “The Magnificent Seven”).

Random alum: John Jay (Robert Reich, secretary of labor under President Clinton); Yorktown (Alexis Venechanos, UMass women’s lacrosse coach).