The tournament wraps up with four games. Good luck to all teams playing in their respective championships.
BOYS @ Glens Falls Civic Center
Class A Finals
5-Rochester East vs. 2-Scotia-Glenville - 1:30PM
Class AA Finals
6-Jamestown vs. 2-Green Tech - 3:15PM
GIRLS @ Hudson Valley Community College
Class D Finals
5-Romulus vs. 2-Fort Edward - Noon
Class C Finals
6-Chatauqua Lake vs. 2-Hoosic Valley - 1:45PM
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Saturday's Scoreboard
Saturday's scoreboard. Keep refreshing for the latest updates
Class A Semifinals
5-East 57, 9-Red Hook 45 - FINAL
2-Scotia-Glenville 81, 11-John Glenn 50 – FINAL
2-Scotia-Glenville 81, 11-John Glenn 50 – FINAL
Class A Final: 5-East vs. 2-Scotia-Glenville - Sunday at 1:30PM
Class AA Semifinals
6-Jamestown 64, 4-Union-Endicott 63 - FINAL
2-Green Tech 52, 11-Brentwood 44 - FINAL
Class AA Final: 6-Jamestown vs. 2-Green Tech - Sunday at 3:15PM
Class D Finals
3-New York Mills 57, 9-Coleman Catholic 50 - FINAL/OT
Class D Finals
3-New York Mills 57, 9-Coleman Catholic 50 - FINAL/OT
Class C Finals
2-Hoosic Valley 67, 6-Middle Early College - FINAL
Class B Finals
6-Olean 18, 3-Westhill 49 - HALF
GIRLS @ HVCC
Class D Semifinals
Class D Semifinals
5-Romulus 63, 9-Eldred 31 - FINAL
2-Fort Edward 46, 3-Hamilton 34 – FINAL
Class D Final: 5-Romulus vs. 2-Fort Edward - Sunday at Noon
Class C Semifinals
6-Chatauqua Lake 61, 1-Haldane 39 – FINAL
2-Hoosic Valley 55, 4-Harpursville 44 - FINAL
Class C Final: 6-Chataqua Lake vs. 2-Hoosic Valley - Sunday at 1:45PM
Class B Finals
3-Utica-Notre Dame 71, 5-Bishop Kearney 46 - FINAL
Class A Finals
5-Sutherland 57, 3-Jamesville-DeWitt 41 - FINAL
Class AA Finals
1-Ossining 69, 3-Cicero-North Syracuse 47 - 4th Quarter
Friday, March 14, 2014
Friday Scoreboard
Friday Scoreboard from the Glens Falls Civic Center. Keep refreshing for the latest updates.
Class D Semifinals
9-Coleman Catholic 65, 6-Sherman 51 - FINAL
3-New York Mills 57, 7-Moriah 24 - FINAL
FINAL: 9-Coleman Catholic vs. 3-New York Mills - Saturday, 5:30PM
Class C Semifinals
6-Middle Early College 72, 8-Friends Academy 66 - FINAL
2-Hoosic Valley 62, 3-Waterville 58 - FINAL
FINAL: 6-Middle Early College vs. 2-Hoosic Valley - Saturday, 7:15PM
Class B Semifinals
6-Olean 71, 1-Woodlands 63 - FINAL
3-Westhill 74, 10-Ogdensburg 67 - FINAL
FINAL: 6-Olean vs. 3-Westhill - Saturday, 9:00PM
GIRLS SCORES
All games at Hudson Valley Community College, Troy
Class
AA Final: 1-Ossining vs. 3-Cicero-North Syracuse - Tomorrow, 8:45PM
Class D Semifinals
9-Coleman Catholic 65, 6-Sherman 51 - FINAL
3-New York Mills 57, 7-Moriah 24 - FINAL
FINAL: 9-Coleman Catholic vs. 3-New York Mills - Saturday, 5:30PM
Class C Semifinals
6-Middle Early College 72, 8-Friends Academy 66 - FINAL
2-Hoosic Valley 62, 3-Waterville 58 - FINAL
FINAL: 6-Middle Early College vs. 2-Hoosic Valley - Saturday, 7:15PM
Class B Semifinals
6-Olean 71, 1-Woodlands 63 - FINAL
3-Westhill 74, 10-Ogdensburg 67 - FINAL
FINAL: 6-Olean vs. 3-Westhill - Saturday, 9:00PM
GIRLS SCORES
All games at Hudson Valley Community College, Troy
Class B Semifinals
5-Bishop Kearney 71, 1-Woodlands 58 - FINAL
5-Bishop Kearney 71, 1-Woodlands 58 - FINAL
3-Notre Dame 69, 2-Tamarac 55 - FINAL
Class
B Final: 5-Bishop Kearney vs. 3-Utica-Notre Dame - Tomorrow, 5:15PM
Class A Semifinals
5-Sutherland 43, 4-Maine-Endwell 39 - FINAL
5-Sutherland 43, 4-Maine-Endwell 39 - FINAL
3-Jamesville-DeWitt 44, 11-Harborfields 30 – FINAL
Class
A Final: 5-Sutherland vs. 3-Jamesville-DeWitt - Tomorrow, 7PM
Class
AA Semifinals
1-Ossining
69, 5-Gates Chili 62 – FINAL
(Ossining
last year’s Girls Class AA champions)
3-Cicero
North Syracuse 61, 8-Baldwin 50 – FINAL
Thursday, March 13, 2014
The NYSPHSAA 2014 Boys Basketball Tournament
Introducing the field for the NYSPHSAA Boys Basketball Final Four, which will be played starting Friday at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Class D Semifinal
Sherman vs. Coleman Catholic - Friday, 10AM
Source: Sherman's Stats via Section 6; Daily Freeman article on Coleman Catholic's win.
Source: New York Mills MaxPreps Stats; Moriah's MaxPreps Stats
Source: Middle Early College's Stats via Section 6; MSG Varsity boxscore for Friends Academy/Haldane.
Class D Semifinal
Sherman vs. Coleman Catholic - Friday, 10AM
Sherman
|
Coleman Catholic
|
|
Record
|
21-1
|
16-4
|
Section
|
6
|
9
|
Where
they’re from
|
Sherman, in southwestern NY, about 20 miles west of Jamestown.
|
Hurley, on the western outskirts of Kingston
|
How
they got here
|
Defeated Batavia-Notre Dame, 57-52.
|
Defeated Shelter Island, 73-46
|
Notable
Players
|
Andrew Graham - 14.8ppg, 1.9spg
Ryan Robson - 12.8ppg, 5.2rpg Jake Card - 9.4ppg, 9.1rpg |
Micha Simmons-Smalls - 18pts vs. Shelter Island
Dino Celadon - 18pts vs. SI Kevin Davis - 19pts vs. SI |
New York Mills vs. Moriah - Friday, 11:45AM
New York Mills
|
Moriah
| |
Record
|
21-1
|
21-2
|
Section
|
3
|
7
|
Where they’re from
|
New York Mills, about 5 miles west of Utica
|
Near Port Henry in east central Essex County
|
How they got here
|
Defeated Charlotte Valley 55-38.
|
Defeated Madrid-Waddington 51-41
|
Notable Players
|
Nick Comenale - 24.3ppg, 3.5spg, 54 three pointers
Zach Vennaro - 13.1ppg, 8.1rpg
Ali Hassan - 4.5rpg, 2.1bpg
|
Adam Jaquish - 18.1ppg, 12.7rpg, 2.6spg, 5.0bpg
Tyler Slattery - 8.9ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.6bpg Nick Gilbo - 8.1ppg, 4.2rpg |
Class C Semifinal
Middle Early College vs. Friends Academy - Friday, 1:30PM
Middle Early College
|
Friends Academy
| |
Record
|
18-5
|
16-2
|
Section
|
6
|
8
|
Where they’re from
|
Downtown Buffalo
|
Locust Valley on northern Long Island, 20mi east of the Bronx
|
How they got here
|
Defeated Clyde-Savannah, 62-54
|
Defeated Haldane 71-49
|
Notable Players
|
Bri'an Brown - 17.6ppg, 11.6rpg
Kevin Briggs - 17.3ppg Tarron Scott - 15.5ppg, 11.0rpg |
Tyrone Perkins - 20pts vs. Haldane
Cyrus Holder - 17pts |
Waterville vs. Hoosic Valley - Friday, 5PM
Waterville
|
Hoosic Valley
| |
Record
|
21-2
|
19-3
|
Section
|
3
|
2
|
Where they’re from
|
Waterville, 15 miles south-southwest of Utica
|
Schaghticoke, about 15 miles north of Troy
|
How they got here
|
Defeated Elmira-Notre Dame 61-55.
|
Defeated Seton Catholic 67-47
|
Notable Players
|
Jon Piersma - 17.3ppg
Zach Sawyer - 13.4ppg Hunter Williams - 10.1ppg |
Mike Pierre - 22.1ppg
John Rooney - 19.8ppg |
SOURCE: Syracuse Post-Standard stats page; Albany Times-Union stats page
Class B Semifinal
Olean vs. Woodlands - Friday, 6:45PM
Class B Semifinal
Olean vs. Woodlands - Friday, 6:45PM
Olean
|
Woodlands
| |
Record
|
20-3
|
19-5
|
Section
|
6
|
1
|
Where they’re from
|
Olean, Southern Tier of NY, about 50 miles east of Jamestown
|
Hartsdale, just west of White Plains in Westchester County
|
How they got here
|
Defeated Charlotte 75-56
|
Defeated Southhampton 73-47
|
Notable Players
|
Sam Eckstrom - 20.8ppg, 9.5rpg
Wil Bathurst - 20.2ppg Nick Schmidt - 17.3ppg |
Brandon Johnson - 27pts vs. Southhampton
Ross Joseph - 18pts |
SOURCE: Section 6 stats; MSGVarsity.com
Westhill vs. Ogdensburg - Friday, 8:30PM
Westhill vs. Ogdensburg - Friday, 8:30PM
Westhill
|
Ogdensburg
| |
Record
|
23-0
|
23-1
|
Section
|
3
|
10
|
Where they’re from
|
Onondaga, just outside of Syracuse on the southwestern corner
|
Ogdensburg, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River
|
How they got here
|
Defeated Norwich 56-53
|
Defeated Plattsburgh 92-49
|
Notable Players
|
Jordan Roland - 23.0ppg
Tyler Reynolds - 16.3ppg |
Kinnon LaRose - 23.4ppg, 8.3rpg, 4.8apg, 3.9spg
Matt Piercey - 14.4ppg, 6.2apg |
SOURCE: Syracuse Post-Standard stats page; Ogdensburg's MaxPreps stats page
Class A Semifinal
East vs. Red Hook - Saturday, 9AM
Class A Semifinal
East vs. Red Hook - Saturday, 9AM
East
|
Red Hook
| |
Record
|
18-4
|
17-5
|
Section
|
5
|
9
|
Where they’re from
|
Eastern Rochester
|
Red Hook, in northern Dutchess County
|
How they got here
|
Defeated McKinley 69-55
|
Defeated Walter Panas 60-46
|
Notable Players
|
Tommy Banks - 19pts, 21reb vs. McKinleyZion Morrison - 19pts
Hunter Williams - 10.1ppg |
Dennis Hare - 19pts vs. Maine-Endwell
Will Avis - 10pts vs. M-E |
SOURCE: Syracuse Post-Standard stats page; The Daily Freeman writeup
John Glenn vs. Scotia - Saturday, 10:45AM
John Glenn vs. Scotia - Saturday, 10:45AM
John Glenn
|
Scotia
| |
Record
|
17-7
|
22-0
|
Section
|
11
|
2
|
Where they’re from
|
Elwood, on central Long Island
|
Scotia, about 15 miles northwest of Albany
|
How they got here
|
Defeated South 68-58.
|
Defeated Bishop Ludden 72-44.
|
Notable Players
|
Darryl Daniels - 13.4ppg KeAndre Augustine - 13.3ppg
Jeff Park - 11.5ppg |
Joey Cremo - 25.0ppg
Alex Sausville - 16.0ppg |
SOURCE: John Glenn MaxPreps stats page; Albany Times-Union stats page
Class AA Semifinal
Jamestown vs. Union-Endicott - Saturday, 12:30PM
Class AA Semifinal
Jamestown vs. Union-Endicott - Saturday, 12:30PM
Jamestown
|
Union-Endicott
| |
Record
|
18-4
|
0-0
|
Section
|
6
|
4
|
Where they’re from
|
Jamestown, in southwestern NY
|
Endicott, 10mi west of Binghamton
|
How they got here
|
Defeated Greece Athena 61-52.
|
Defeated Mt. Vernon 69-66.
|
Notable Players
|
Zack Panebianco - 18.9ppg, 3.9apgQuinn Lee Yaw - 15.7ppg, 9.5rpg
|
Osama Barwari - 23pts vs. Mt. Vernon
|
SOURCE: Jamestown MaxPreps stats page; PressConnects U-E preview
Brentwood vs. Green Tech - Saturday, 2:15PM
Brentwood vs. Green Tech - Saturday, 2:15PM
Brentwood
|
Green Tech
| |
Record
|
22-2
|
16-5
|
Section
|
11
|
2
|
Where they’re from
|
Brentwood, on central Long Island
|
Northern Albany
|
How they got here
|
Defeated Farmingdale 61-41.
|
Defeated Proctor
|
Notable Players
|
Michael Almonacy - 22.3ppg
Femi Olujobi - 14.0ppg |
Jamal Hood - 16.1ppg
Ramion Burt - 11.8ppg |
SOURCE: Brentwood MaxPreps stats page (incomplete); Albany Times-Union stats page
Monday, March 10, 2014
2014 Football: Most intriguing and interesting matchups
Now that Regionals are done, we have a chance to talk football. Section 2 has released the 2014 football schedules. The full list can be found here (AA and A) and here (B, C and D).
Like we did last year, here's our thoughts on the most intriguing and interesting games week-by-week.
WEEK 1
Class AA: Guilderland at Colonie - Games that involve two teams who met in the playoffs are always a nice draw, especially when they ended the way last year's postseason battle did.
Guilderland won last year's quarterfinal on a last-second field goal after Colonie tied the game up with less than two minutes left.
While we cannot guarantee the same this time around, both teams will get to see how they look, competition-wise, at the end of 48 minutes.
Class B: Cohoes at Broadalbin-Perth - Like with Guilderland/Colonie, this gives us a rematch of a last year playoff game.
Broadalbin-Perth shocked the top seed of the Reinfurt division last year after a furious 2nd quarter comeback that sent the Patriots to Shenendehowa for the Super Bowl, and the Tigers wondering what could have been.
Class B: Glens Falls at Schalmont - Unlike the two games above, this doesn't involve a couple of teams who made the playoffs last year.
But what it does involve, are two teams hoping to make a statement in a non-conference game, as Schalmont moves to the Reinfurt to balance the league's conferences. Schalmont was 30 seconds removed from a championship last year when a gutsy Maine-Endwell drive ended with a touchdown and a 2 point conversion. The Sabres will be without their all-time leading rusher, Devon Willis, but will make up for it with Hunter Gac and Nick Gallo. The Indians are trying to restructure their squad into the team that made it to the Carrier Dome two seasons ago, having barely making the playoffs last year to continue their 15 year streak thanks to scoreboard watching.
Class C: Corinth at Lake George/Hadley-Luzurne - The last time these two teams met was 2011, when both teams met in a crossover game at the end of the season.
The merging of the Lake George program with Hadley-Luzurne ensures football will be played in the Village of Lake George for years to come. While the expense of this rivalry is the end of the Lake George/Warrensburg rivalry for the time being, the combined squads can now renew a rivalry with the Tomahawks.
WEEK 2
Class A: Queensbury at Troy - For both teams, it will be a different look than what we saw last year.
Queensbury lost some, but not all of their running core that made up their 2013 State Championship squad. They'll still have Brett Rodriguez and Erik Wettersten. Plus the play we saw from the next-in-line during late games also gives us reasons to think nothing but good things for the Spartans.
Troy will feature a new look, now that their longtime coach, Jack Burger, will no longer be on the sidelines. They also will no longer have the help of Joe Germinerio under center, as he, and his brothers, have transferred to LaSalle Institute. With a new coach, and a new quarterback, it'll be interesting to see how Troy enters this game.
There'll be a lot of eyes watching that week one Averill Park/Troy game for that sole reason.
Class B: Cohoes at Schalmont - Last year's #1 seeds meet up in what could turn out to be a huge deciding factor on how the Reinfurt Division will turn out.
In addition, two new entries into Class C get tested against the top teams of the class as Lake George/Hadley-Luzurne meet up with Hoosick Falls at home, and Schoburg travels to Chatham. Both of those games will give the newbies a chance to know what they're up against in this classification.
WEEK 3
Class A: Burnt Hills at Troy - Let's look back to Week 2 of the 2013 season.
Fresh off a loss to Queensbury, Troy returned home to face the Burnt Hills Spartans. On what could be nicely said as a "rainy" night, the two teams battled the elements. Troy had struck first, and held Burnt Hills scoreless until they were finally able to find the end zone in the 4th Quarter.
The two teams then continued their battle into the overtime series, then finally in the 4th Overtime series, Jash Quesada broke through the Troy defense and scored the game-winning touchdown.
The two teams would once again meet in the Sectional Semifinals, with the Spartans claiming victory on a night that was much dryer than the first meeting last year.
Class C: Granville at Corinth - One of Corinth's two regular-season losses last year came against Granville, and it wasn't pretty.
They want revenge, and they'll have their chance to produce it when these two teams meet in Week 3.
Class D: Rensselaer at Cambridge - Lately, it has come down to these two teams when determining the Southern Division champion. And not only the division.
Last year's top two teams came to Rensselaer and Cambridge. Entering the 2012 playoffs, it was these two as the top two in Class D, before Cambridge got shocked by Salem .
With only four playoff spots up for grabs this year, this game could be very important.
WEEK 4
Class AA: Saratoga Springs at Shenendehowa - Last year, Saratoga Springs controlled throughout as they knocked off Shenendehowa, forcing the Plainsmen into a must-win game against the Bethlehem Eagles for the last playoff spot.
Both teams have tough roads and could enter this game needing a win to keep their dreams of a playoff berth alive.
Class A: Scotia at Queensbury - The last time these two teams met, it was in the 2012 playoffs, with the Queensbury Spartans winning in a rain-delayed quarterfinal that set up a semifinal meeting of the Spartans.
With Scotia dropping to Class B for the 2013 season, these two did not get the chance to meet, but will get the opportunity to do so here.
Class A/B interclass: Schalmont at Burnt Hills - The Sabres are 27-1 in the regular season since the start of the 2010 season, with that lone loss coming against Burnt Hills in a non-league game in Week 2 of the 2012 season.
The Sabres will get a chance to avenge that 37-0 loss with a trip to Burnt Hills in a non-league game.
Class B: Cohoes at Glens Falls - These two opposite division teams met last season in Week 8, when the top-seeded Tigers finished off the Indians.
For the Indians this will be another measuring stick to see how far they have come since last season.
Class C: Fonda at Chatham - Last year these two finished 1-2 in the south. Fonda's lone divisional loss came at the hands of the Panthers, who soundly beat the Braves 44-14.
Class D: Whitehall at Warrensburg - Last year it came down to these two teams to settle who would pick up the #3 and #4 seeds in the North Division. This year, these two teams meet mid-season, and it could come down to this game when settling the dust in the division.
Warrensburg won the game last year in a game that was shortened by 4 seconds due to a injury to a Railroader during a pass play. It was a game that Whitehall had in control through the half, but then costly mistakes by Justin Hoagland allowed Warrensburg to come back for the victory.
WEEK 5
Class B: Hudson Falls at Glens Falls - Last year in this blog, I wrote how it was the Jug Game, enough said. While that sentiment will always carry with me regardless of the year, let's talk about this game in further detail.
In last year's edition of the Jug Game, Hudson Falls was poised to win, but a late storming comeback by the Indians, aided by some personal foul penalties by the Tigers, allowed Glens Falls to maintain the Jug. This, in turn, kept their playoffs alive.
Glens Falls may be needing a pick-me-up entering this week depending on their early-season encounter with Broadalbin-Perth and non-conference games against Schalmont and Cohoes. Hudson Falls will want some momentum for their following week games against Class A's Mohonasen and Broadalbin-Perth as they wrap up the season with three straight away games.
Class B: Ravena at Schalmont - Schalmont is used to playing Ravena. That's because the Sabres have played the Indians the last five years in a row, four of which have come in the Sectional Playoffs.
This, however, will be the first time these two teams meet as conference-mates.
Class C: Hoosic Falls at Corinth - These two met last year with the divisional title on the line in Week 7. This year, however, sees this game played out two weeks earlier. That doesn't mean this game will be any less intense, as both teams could come into this game still seeking an undefeated season.
Class D: Cambridge at Whitehall - Last year the Railroaders had to play Cambridge in the first round of sectionals, with rough results. It'll be interesting to see where the Railroaders position themselves through the season.
It could very well be a preview of the playoffs.
WEEK 6
Class AA: CBA at Saratoga - Saratoga's loss to CBA last year made the difference as CBA claimed the #1 seed in the tournament, and Saratoga became the #2 on the tiebreaker.
Class A: Troy at Amsterdam - Now as divisional rivals, these two teams meet in Week 6 in a match that could determine who gets the #1 and #2 seeds in the southeast division.
WEEK 7
Class AA: Guilderland at Shenendehowa - Sometimes early-season games can come back to haunt or help you. Case in point with the Dutchmen. Last year's win over the Plainsmen set the Dutchmen up to be the #3 seed, which gave them an away game at Colonie to which they won, earning them a spot in the semifinals.
While we don't know if Guilderland could have beaten Shaker in the #4 v. #1 match, the moral of the story here is that the Dutchmen got where they were last year because of one win in particular.
This year could come down to a difference in seedings as well, and how appropriate it's the final game of the regular season for these two squads.
Class AA: Colonie at Shaker - The 2014 renewal of the Colonie Cup is like 2013, the final game of the regular season for both squads. Last year's match determined who would be the #1 and #2 seeds.
Class A: Troy at Lansingburgh - These two schools haven't had the opportunity to play each other much, which is a shame given their close proximity to each other. But that will change as both squads are Class A schools.
The last time these two met, was in 2011 when the Flying Horses came away with the 26-0 win.
Class A: Queensbury at Burnt Hills - It doesn't matter which 2013 battle of the Spartans you remember - the epic game at Queensbury where an extra point going off the uprights made the difference between overtime and Queensbury winning, or the Super Bowl match that was settled with 80 seconds left to play when Kody Bruno stutter-stepped his way to the end zone to give Queensbury the lead for good.
It doesn't matter that these two are playing in a non-conference game.
What matters is that these two are playing each other. And that this could easily be a preview of things to come in the Class A Sectionals.
That isn't to say that any other game won't be interesting. But these are the match ups that caught our eye when the schedule was released. As in the case of 2013, we will look over our options and disclose our plans for live broadcasting of high school football in a few months.
Like we did last year, here's our thoughts on the most intriguing and interesting games week-by-week.
WEEK 1
Class AA: Guilderland at Colonie - Games that involve two teams who met in the playoffs are always a nice draw, especially when they ended the way last year's postseason battle did.
Guilderland won last year's quarterfinal on a last-second field goal after Colonie tied the game up with less than two minutes left.
While we cannot guarantee the same this time around, both teams will get to see how they look, competition-wise, at the end of 48 minutes.
Class B: Cohoes at Broadalbin-Perth - Like with Guilderland/Colonie, this gives us a rematch of a last year playoff game.
Broadalbin-Perth shocked the top seed of the Reinfurt division last year after a furious 2nd quarter comeback that sent the Patriots to Shenendehowa for the Super Bowl, and the Tigers wondering what could have been.
Class B: Glens Falls at Schalmont - Unlike the two games above, this doesn't involve a couple of teams who made the playoffs last year.
But what it does involve, are two teams hoping to make a statement in a non-conference game, as Schalmont moves to the Reinfurt to balance the league's conferences. Schalmont was 30 seconds removed from a championship last year when a gutsy Maine-Endwell drive ended with a touchdown and a 2 point conversion. The Sabres will be without their all-time leading rusher, Devon Willis, but will make up for it with Hunter Gac and Nick Gallo. The Indians are trying to restructure their squad into the team that made it to the Carrier Dome two seasons ago, having barely making the playoffs last year to continue their 15 year streak thanks to scoreboard watching.
Class C: Corinth at Lake George/Hadley-Luzurne - The last time these two teams met was 2011, when both teams met in a crossover game at the end of the season.
The merging of the Lake George program with Hadley-Luzurne ensures football will be played in the Village of Lake George for years to come. While the expense of this rivalry is the end of the Lake George/Warrensburg rivalry for the time being, the combined squads can now renew a rivalry with the Tomahawks.
WEEK 2
Class A: Queensbury at Troy - For both teams, it will be a different look than what we saw last year.
Queensbury lost some, but not all of their running core that made up their 2013 State Championship squad. They'll still have Brett Rodriguez and Erik Wettersten. Plus the play we saw from the next-in-line during late games also gives us reasons to think nothing but good things for the Spartans.
Troy will feature a new look, now that their longtime coach, Jack Burger, will no longer be on the sidelines. They also will no longer have the help of Joe Germinerio under center, as he, and his brothers, have transferred to LaSalle Institute. With a new coach, and a new quarterback, it'll be interesting to see how Troy enters this game.
There'll be a lot of eyes watching that week one Averill Park/Troy game for that sole reason.
Class B: Cohoes at Schalmont - Last year's #1 seeds meet up in what could turn out to be a huge deciding factor on how the Reinfurt Division will turn out.
In addition, two new entries into Class C get tested against the top teams of the class as Lake George/Hadley-Luzurne meet up with Hoosick Falls at home, and Schoburg travels to Chatham. Both of those games will give the newbies a chance to know what they're up against in this classification.
WEEK 3
Class A: Burnt Hills at Troy - Let's look back to Week 2 of the 2013 season.
Fresh off a loss to Queensbury, Troy returned home to face the Burnt Hills Spartans. On what could be nicely said as a "rainy" night, the two teams battled the elements. Troy had struck first, and held Burnt Hills scoreless until they were finally able to find the end zone in the 4th Quarter.
The two teams then continued their battle into the overtime series, then finally in the 4th Overtime series, Jash Quesada broke through the Troy defense and scored the game-winning touchdown.
The two teams would once again meet in the Sectional Semifinals, with the Spartans claiming victory on a night that was much dryer than the first meeting last year.
Class C: Granville at Corinth - One of Corinth's two regular-season losses last year came against Granville, and it wasn't pretty.
They want revenge, and they'll have their chance to produce it when these two teams meet in Week 3.
Class D: Rensselaer at Cambridge - Lately, it has come down to these two teams when determining the Southern Division champion. And not only the division.
Last year's top two teams came to Rensselaer and Cambridge. Entering the 2012 playoffs, it was these two as the top two in Class D, before Cambridge got shocked by Salem .
With only four playoff spots up for grabs this year, this game could be very important.
WEEK 4
Class AA: Saratoga Springs at Shenendehowa - Last year, Saratoga Springs controlled throughout as they knocked off Shenendehowa, forcing the Plainsmen into a must-win game against the Bethlehem Eagles for the last playoff spot.
Both teams have tough roads and could enter this game needing a win to keep their dreams of a playoff berth alive.
Class A: Scotia at Queensbury - The last time these two teams met, it was in the 2012 playoffs, with the Queensbury Spartans winning in a rain-delayed quarterfinal that set up a semifinal meeting of the Spartans.
With Scotia dropping to Class B for the 2013 season, these two did not get the chance to meet, but will get the opportunity to do so here.
Class A/B interclass: Schalmont at Burnt Hills - The Sabres are 27-1 in the regular season since the start of the 2010 season, with that lone loss coming against Burnt Hills in a non-league game in Week 2 of the 2012 season.
The Sabres will get a chance to avenge that 37-0 loss with a trip to Burnt Hills in a non-league game.
Class B: Cohoes at Glens Falls - These two opposite division teams met last season in Week 8, when the top-seeded Tigers finished off the Indians.
For the Indians this will be another measuring stick to see how far they have come since last season.
Class C: Fonda at Chatham - Last year these two finished 1-2 in the south. Fonda's lone divisional loss came at the hands of the Panthers, who soundly beat the Braves 44-14.
Class D: Whitehall at Warrensburg - Last year it came down to these two teams to settle who would pick up the #3 and #4 seeds in the North Division. This year, these two teams meet mid-season, and it could come down to this game when settling the dust in the division.
Warrensburg won the game last year in a game that was shortened by 4 seconds due to a injury to a Railroader during a pass play. It was a game that Whitehall had in control through the half, but then costly mistakes by Justin Hoagland allowed Warrensburg to come back for the victory.
WEEK 5
Class B: Hudson Falls at Glens Falls - Last year in this blog, I wrote how it was the Jug Game, enough said. While that sentiment will always carry with me regardless of the year, let's talk about this game in further detail.
In last year's edition of the Jug Game, Hudson Falls was poised to win, but a late storming comeback by the Indians, aided by some personal foul penalties by the Tigers, allowed Glens Falls to maintain the Jug. This, in turn, kept their playoffs alive.
Glens Falls may be needing a pick-me-up entering this week depending on their early-season encounter with Broadalbin-Perth and non-conference games against Schalmont and Cohoes. Hudson Falls will want some momentum for their following week games against Class A's Mohonasen and Broadalbin-Perth as they wrap up the season with three straight away games.
Class B: Ravena at Schalmont - Schalmont is used to playing Ravena. That's because the Sabres have played the Indians the last five years in a row, four of which have come in the Sectional Playoffs.
This, however, will be the first time these two teams meet as conference-mates.
Class C: Hoosic Falls at Corinth - These two met last year with the divisional title on the line in Week 7. This year, however, sees this game played out two weeks earlier. That doesn't mean this game will be any less intense, as both teams could come into this game still seeking an undefeated season.
Class D: Cambridge at Whitehall - Last year the Railroaders had to play Cambridge in the first round of sectionals, with rough results. It'll be interesting to see where the Railroaders position themselves through the season.
It could very well be a preview of the playoffs.
WEEK 6
Class AA: CBA at Saratoga - Saratoga's loss to CBA last year made the difference as CBA claimed the #1 seed in the tournament, and Saratoga became the #2 on the tiebreaker.
Class A: Troy at Amsterdam - Now as divisional rivals, these two teams meet in Week 6 in a match that could determine who gets the #1 and #2 seeds in the southeast division.
WEEK 7
Class AA: Guilderland at Shenendehowa - Sometimes early-season games can come back to haunt or help you. Case in point with the Dutchmen. Last year's win over the Plainsmen set the Dutchmen up to be the #3 seed, which gave them an away game at Colonie to which they won, earning them a spot in the semifinals.
While we don't know if Guilderland could have beaten Shaker in the #4 v. #1 match, the moral of the story here is that the Dutchmen got where they were last year because of one win in particular.
This year could come down to a difference in seedings as well, and how appropriate it's the final game of the regular season for these two squads.
Class AA: Colonie at Shaker - The 2014 renewal of the Colonie Cup is like 2013, the final game of the regular season for both squads. Last year's match determined who would be the #1 and #2 seeds.
Class A: Troy at Lansingburgh - These two schools haven't had the opportunity to play each other much, which is a shame given their close proximity to each other. But that will change as both squads are Class A schools.
The last time these two met, was in 2011 when the Flying Horses came away with the 26-0 win.
Class A: Queensbury at Burnt Hills - It doesn't matter which 2013 battle of the Spartans you remember - the epic game at Queensbury where an extra point going off the uprights made the difference between overtime and Queensbury winning, or the Super Bowl match that was settled with 80 seconds left to play when Kody Bruno stutter-stepped his way to the end zone to give Queensbury the lead for good.
It doesn't matter that these two are playing in a non-conference game.
What matters is that these two are playing each other. And that this could easily be a preview of things to come in the Class A Sectionals.
That isn't to say that any other game won't be interesting. But these are the match ups that caught our eye when the schedule was released. As in the case of 2013, we will look over our options and disclose our plans for live broadcasting of high school football in a few months.
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