Week 10: Queensbury 14, Burnt Hills 7

This post is a reflection from the press box, and not a total recap of the game... Thoughts are that of the author himself.

Wow.

18 hours after the play, I'm still stunned.

The Queensbury Spartans had a hard time figuring out how to beat the Burnt Hills Spartans.  Their lone score was defensive, when Christopher Johnson picked up a fumble deep in Queensbury territory, and ran it back 90 yards for the score.

Queensbury was able to get some offense, but once the ball crossed midfield, the Burnt Hills defense clamped down and stopped any progression of the Queensbury running backs.

Aiden Switzer threw.  But it was more trying to break things to open the run.  Brett Rodriguez threw, twice after the first try was called back for holding.

But then the final 4 minutes occurred.

Finally, holes that the Burnt Hills Spartans clogged up opened up.  Queensbury was finding openings.  Runs started adding up.  But Queensbury still had to find the end zone ... they have not once tried a field goal this season and if Queensbury has a field goal kicker, John Irion's keeping it a good secret.

Then came Kody Bruno's 21 yard run with 1:18 left.  He ran to the left, encountered three defenders and faked them out and got them to bite enough that he was able to leap for the pylon for the score.

The Burnt Hills side closest to the press box, stunned.  The Queensbury side, on the Route 146 side of the stadium, roaring loudly.

The play gave the Queensbury Spartans their third Sectional Title, and the first since 1998.  It gave John Irion his third 10-win season in his 17 years of coaching the Spartans, with the first two ending in trips to the Carrier Dome.

Also, the win should give the Queensbury Spartans the top spot of Class A when the New York State Sportswriters Association rankings are unveiled Tuesday afternoon.  Sweet Home, the state's runner-up to Burnt Hills last year, was ranked #1 until they fell to Williamsville-North 21-12 in the Section 6 final Friday night.

Who knows how far this ride will take us.  Last year we had no idea that Glens Falls was going to power their way into the state tournament.  The same this year.  You never know.  But we'll be along for the ride however far Queensbury takes us.

Which means several more trips to Queensbury High School to interview John Irion.