It's time once again to take a look at the Winners and Losers from Week 5 in high school football, and what games are the ones you're going to want to attend.
Be sure to check out the updated standings page.
CLASS AA
WINNERS
Shaker (4-1) - On a Thursday night, the Shaker Blue Bison propelled to the top of the Liberty Division thanks to their win over LaSalle, coupled with a heartbreaking loss for Bethlehem. After their 34-16 season-opening loss to CBA, the Blue Bison are back and looking to potentially return to Bob Ford Field in November.
LOSERS
Bethlehem (4-1) - The Eagles have had some narrow victories, including squeezing out a single point win over LaSalle in Week 4. But an overtime loss to Colonie has opened the door for Shaker, and could be a game that pushes Bethlehem from a potential #1 seed down to a potential #3 seed.
GAMES TO WATCH
CBA (4-1) at Saratoga Springs (3-2) - Friday, 7PM: The winner of this game will get to play at home come Week 8. For Saratoga Springs, it's their chance to show they're contenders for the Class AA Sectional Title after dropping games to Shaker and Shenendehowa this season. CBA is in the same boat, where they want to show they can knock off good competition on their way to the top.
Shaker (4-1) at Bethlehem (4-1) - Friday, 7PM at Bob Ford Field: It's homecoming for the Eagles, and they need the fan support in a big way after dropping their game last Thursday in overtime against Colonie. A win for Bethlehem will give them a chance to control their own destiny for the #1 seed next week, but a loss, as noted above, could drop them down to the #3 seed. Shaker still has the Colonie Cup coming up next week, and would love to enter knowing they can win their way to the #1 seed.
Schenectady (3-2) at Colonie (3-2) - Friday, 7PM: Schenectady needs a win as a loss here could force the Patriots into a must-win situation against LaSalle next week in order to save their playoff chances. Colonie yielded a game to LaSalle a few weeks ago, and currently holds the #3 seed by virtue of their win over Bethlehem. The Garnet Raiders still have a chance for the top seed, and a win here would make next week's Colonie Cup a battle for the #1 seed. The losing team will have to fight hard next week to keep themselves from having to face Shenendehowa in the first round.
CLASS A
WINNERS
Bishop Maginn (5-0) - Critics are going to argue that the Bishop Maginn Golden Griffins win over Troy isn't legitimate, with Troy sitting players due to suspensions (see below). But what is legitimate is their 5-0 record that they possess heading into Week 6, with Lansingburgh and Amsterdam still to round out their schedule. They haven't won big, but they've done what they needed to in order to remain unbeaten.
LOSERS
Troy (2-3) - Troy makes this list not because of their loss against Bishop Maginn. The loss hurts -- it makes this week's game against Amsterdam more important, but it's off-field issues that puts the Flying Horses on this list. 22 players and cheerleaders were suspended due to illicit and illegal pranks conducted during Troy's homecoming. Hopefully the kids who were benched for the game will learn the lesson that there is a time and place, and this wasn't one of them.
GAMES TO WATCH:
Amsterdam (3-2) at Troy (2-3) - Friday, 7PM: It's a key game for both teams -- more for Amsterdam. Amsterdam doesn't have the tiebreaker over Averill Park, Troy does. Both teams really doesn't want to travel to face Queensbury or Burnt Hills in the first round. Amsterdam still have to face Bishop Maginn next week.
CLASS B
WINNERS
Schalmont (5-0) - The Schalmont Sabres didn't just beat Ravena to get full control of the Reinfurt Division last week, they rolled over the Indians and made it look easy. And with the two basement teams left on their schedule, they can cruise control their way to the #1 seed.
Hudson Falls (3-2) - The Hudson Falls Tigers won their first Jug Game since 1997. That's great, but what's even better is that they are back in the playoff hunt with that win. A loss to Glens Falls would have put the Tigers playoff chances on thin ice, needing help from Cobleskill this week to set up a winner-takes-all match next week with Broadalbin-Perth.
LOSERS
Glens Falls (2-3) - Likewise, the Jug Game loss for the Indians means they need to help themselves if they are going to get into the playoffs. A way of accomplishing that will be this Saturday when they face Schuylerville, but their win-or-go-home moment will come the final week of the season when they host Johnstown.
GAMES TO WATCH:
Cohoes (2-3) at Albany Academy (2-3) - Saturday, 2PM: The final stop on the Cohoes Tigers road trip will be at Albany Academy, where the Cadets will hope to gain the edge over the Tigers for the #3 seed in the Reinfurt. Win or lose, Cohoes will have a chance to play for the #2 seed next week when they host Ravena, but a win will clinch them a spot in the playoffs.
Schuylerville (5-0) at Glens Falls (2-3) - Saturday, 1:30PM: The Indians suffered injuries to their quarterback and running back in their Jug Game loss, and hope to have them back for a battle with division-leading Schuylerville. A win for Glens Falls makes things very interesting for the division entering Week 7, and a loss will clinch the Black Horses the #1 seed.
CLASS C
WINNERS
Greenwich Witches (4-1) - The Witches looked rough in their loss to Corinth in Week 4. They looked more polished in their win over a previously unbeaten team that until Week 5, had only given up 16 points and never trailed in a game. The win should help Greenwich earn the support they need to be one of the wild card teams in the upcoming playoffs.
LOSERS
Coxsackie-Athens (4-1) - Coxsackie-Athens exhibited why extra points matter in their loss to Greenwich. They converted none of their extra point tries, only getting six for their three touchdowns, which ended up being the margin that they lost to the Witches by. It should be a lesson that the Indians take into their next match...
GAMES TO WATCH:
Coxsackie-Athens (4-1) at Fonda-Fultonville (4-1) - Saturday, 2PM: Since returning from their loss to Westhill at the Carrier Dome in Week 1, the Braves have outscored their opponents by an average of 50-7 per game. And the Braves appreciate last week's loss against Greenwich, as it shows them some ways on film that Coxsackie-Athens can be beat. Coxsackie-Athens is having a great season, and a win here will be an exclamation point. The winner clinches the Southern Division.
CLASS D
WINNERS
Whitehall Railroaders (5-0) - It wasn't pretty, but the Whitehall Railroaders took advantage of six Cambridge turnovers as they remain undefeated. The win doesn't give the Railroaders the #1 seed for the playoffs just yet, as Rensselaer could be a determining factor when they come to Ambrose Gilligan Field next Saturday. However, the Railroaders are chugging down the tracks with their first win over Cambridge since 1989.
LOSERS
Fort Edward (0-5) - The Fort Edward/Argyle Flying Forts had one last opportunity to remain in the playoff race, but that came to an end with their loss to Canajoharie that cemented the four teams who will be playing at Schuylerville come November 1st. The Flying Forts and the Warrensburg Burghers are outside looking in, and will meet to see which team will scoop up their first win of the season next Saturday.
GAMES TO WATCH
Canajoharie (2-3) at Rensselaer (3-2) - Friday, 7PM: The Rams, with a win, will still have a shot at a top seed, but will need to win out their final two games and then hope they have enough Quarter Points to top Whitehall and Cambridge. Canajoharie doesn't want to sit as the #4 seed, and can do something about that with a win on Friday. A Canajoharie win will clinch the #1 seed for Whitehall.
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