Wednesday, October 31, 2012

NYSSWA Football Polls - Eighth Edition

Big news. Big, big news.

We've got a new top school in Class AA across New York State and we here at The Red Zone are fairly familiar with them. Shaker, who will take on Shenendehowa for the second time this season in Friday's Super Bowl, moves into the top spot in their class. The Blue Bison have never been to a Super Bowl in our modern system and haven't won a Section II title since 1969.

Things are pretty interesting here in Section II.

Under the cut check out the top 15 teams in the most recent NYSSWA poll. As usual, if you want to see the whole shebang, you can head on over to roadtosyracuse.com and check them all out. Here's hoping to see some of you at this weekend's impending Super Bowls!
- Laura

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

NYSSWA Football Polls - Seventh Edition

Under the cut, check out the NYSSWA latest state-wide football rankings. We've got 11 Section II teams ranked as we head into the semi-finals of sectional play this weekend.

As per usual head on over to roadtosyracuse.com if you want to see where other teams across the state rank up against our local squads.

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Football Semi-Final Schedule

Alright folks, I've got games and times and locations and, just for you guys, directions.

I've written out the semi-final matchups for each class, including Class D who is now in playoff action. Also, keep in mind all you Class C fans out there, the road between Stillwater High and Mechanicville will be closed by the DOT this weekend. So, you probably shouldn't go that way. I've written out the different routes I got from Section II coordinator Gary Vanderzee, just to give you an idea of where to head.

Enjoy!
- Laura

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Saturday, October 20, 2012

Sunday Mid-Morning Quarterback: Week Eight Edition



I’d like to start off our week eight – or first week of sectionals – review by saying one very important thing. I apologize.

I’m not sorry for missing scores or asking poor questions in the post-game interviews. I am also not sorry for wearing multi-colored polka dot rain boots to my game on Friday night. I am sorry though, that I went an embarrassing 0-for-5 in my picks for our first round of The Record’s video selections.

It wasn’t like I picked bad teams. Heck, we’re in sectionals, every team is good now. But, what I didn’t do was account for the insanity of those same sectionals times, because, and my 0-for-5 record proves it, sectionals are insane.

So, from now on, I promise all of you that I’ll try to make better picks. In the meantime, let’s take a moment to look back on these past two days of football; it was a good one.
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Friday, October 19, 2012

UPDATE: The Weather Strikes Again - Football Changes

Thanks to non-stop rain all day long, some of tonight's football games have been postponed and/or moved to other locations. As of 2:23 P.M. this is what we've got as far as switches. Whenever I hear something new I'll update this and rewtweet it so follow along if you're planning on going to a game with a grass-field.
- Laura

Class AA
Ballston Spa at Shaker - pushed back until 7:30 p.m.
Class A
Queensbury at Scotia postponed until Saturday at 5 p.m. - still at Scotia
Mohonasen at Burnt Hills at 7 p.m. - moved to Union College
Class B
Broadalbin-Perth at Ravena postponed until Saturday at 7 p.m. - still at Ravena


Crossover Games
Class AA-A
South Glens Falls at Albany postponed until Saturday at 2 p.m. - moved to Schenectady

Thursday, October 18, 2012

No Gleason for 'Vliet this Friday...and Possibly the Rest of Sectionals

Watervliet senior wide receiver and safety Jordan Gleason won't be suiting up with the rest of the Cannoneers tomorrow night as they prepare to take on Mechanicville in the first round of the Section II playoffs.

In fact, Gleason won't even be on the bus to Schuylerville High School, where the game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. The senior standout will miss the game and possibly the remainder of the Watervliet football season after recently reaggrivating a knee injury, which he also had surgery on over the off-season.

Gleason who led the team with 298 yards and six touchdowns on 22 receptions, averaged 13.5 yards a catch and was a major athletic presence for the Cannoneers thanks to his quick feet and ability to open up an opposing team's secondary.

No slouch on the defensive side either, Gleason currently sits in the top 10 among all Section II players with four interceptions and 13 tackles in the seven week regular season.

The decision to not participate in sectional competition was based mainly in part on Gleason's upcoming senior basketball season for Watervliet. The shooting guard, who has already been recruited by several Division I schools, was part of The Record's All-City and All-Area basketball team. He recorded over 440 points in  last year's season, culminating in scoring his 1,000th career point during the Cannoneers appearance in the NYS Class B Championship.

Cambridge Homecoming 10/19

Cambridge's homecoming game scheduled for Saturday has been moved to Stillwater High School, officials announced Thursday.

The Indians were set to take on the Rensselaer Rams at 1 p.m. in Cambridge, but conditions are unsafe at the Cambridge Central School field, according to a message on the district's web site.

Kick-off remains 1 p.m. and all homecoming activities will continue as planned, officials said.

The game, between two 7-0 teams, will decide the owner of the No. 1 seed in the Class D South Division.

Mechanicville's homecoming game last week was moved to Shenendehowa after the field failed to drain, coach Kevin Collins said. Their playoff game has been moved to Schuylverville.

Story in tomorrow's paper about that.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

NYSSWA Football Polls - Sixth Edition

Under the cut find the latest edition of the New York State Sportswriters Association statewide football rankings.
As we're heading into the first round of sectionals here in Section II, we've got another good showing of local squads. For a complete listing of the teams, make sure to head to http://www.roadtosyracuse.com/reference/rankings-2012-large.shtml

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Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sunday Mid-Morning Quarterback: Week Seven Edition

We have finished the regular season of Section II football. I might be the only one who thinks it, but that seems pretty crazy.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were running around, looking for rosters and proofing pages of our 72-page preview tab? Cue, the required references to “sunrise, sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof.

Before we can march into the bright, new day of sectional football though, we’ve – I – have a blog post to write. So let’s take a moment, collect ourselves before we figure out our seedings and matchups, and look over what was great, and no so great, about week seven.

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Hoosic Valley 10/11

Injuries have taken a toll on another Section 2 football team, as the Hoosic Valley Indians have opted to forfeit the balance of their 2012 varsity schedule.

Hoosic Valley Superintendent Douglas Kelley cited health and safety concerns in a message posted to the district's website, noting the team's roster has been reduced to 16 healthy players. 

That is the minimum number required to field a varsity football team in New York, but 10 members of Hoosic Valley's current roster are freshman or sophomores. The superintendent feared the team's younger players -- many of whom would be forced to play both sides of the ball -- would be going against teams with fresher, bigger and more experienced players, which could lead to serious injuries.

The Class C team, playing a Class D schedule this season after receiving the necessary approvals, will forfeit this weekend's match with Fort Edward and next weekend's bout with Warrensburg. 

They will finish the regular season at 1-7, their lone win coming in a Week 1 match against Bishop Gibbons, which had to forfeit its own Week 4 game against Cambridge due to injuries.
 
That 38-13 victory snapped Hoosic Valley's 22-game losing streak. But the Indians had been shut out five times in their next six contests and only mustered six total points.

Class B Johnstown forfeited its final four games of the 2012 season after multiple players sustained injuries during the team's first three games. The Sir Bills finished 0-7.

Bishop Gibbons returned to field a varsity football team in Week 5.

Hoosic Valley's modified football team will continue to play as scheduled, school officials said.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

NYSSWA Football Polls - Fifth Edition

The New York State Sportswriters Association has come out with their weekly state-wide football rankings and we've got another pretty solid showing from Section II teams.

Hoosick Falls stays firmly cemented at #2 in Class C, representing the highest-ranked area squad. Troy, meanwhile, is back in the rankings thanks to last week's victory over Averill Park, while Shaker continues to climb up the ladder in Class A.

Under the cut, find the top 15 in each class. For a complete listing, head over to http://www.roadtosyracuse.com/reference/rankings-2012-large.shtml

- Laura

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Sunday, October 7, 2012

Sunday Mid-Morning Quarterback: Week Six Edition

And then there was one.

There is one week of high school football left. Jeepers.

I am constantly reminded of the insanely quick passage of time by how quickly high school sports seasons seem to fly past. I’m not being metaphorical here or looking for some deeper meaning in life, I’m simply saying that time is moving past and we just played week six of the football season. 

That being said, what a week week six was. I say that every time I write this blog post, but I mean it every single time I sit here and type it. There are some really, really fantastic athletes in the Section II football world and if you haven’t been watching these kids play, there’s probably something wrong with you.

If you did however, find yourself braving homecoming celebrations and jam-packed bleachers this past weekend, you’ve come to the right place to relive all of the glory. And if you didn’t do just that; shame on you, take a moment now to read what happened while you were busy doing something else and get to a game next week. You’ve only got one more chance left.

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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

NYSSWA Football Polls - Fourth Edition



Brand new New York State Sports Writers Association football rankings came out earlier today.

As usual, I’m just listing the top 15 schools in each class, so if you’re interested in seeing the full list and honorable mentions, head on over to http://www.roadtosyracuse.com/reference/rankings-2012-large.shtml and check it all out.

Biggest stories - in my opinion - are: Hoosick Falls finally moved up from #3 in Class C - to #2. Troy, who lost 19-12 to Schenectady last Friday, drops out of the rankings entirely for the first time this season. 
For a Section II-focused perspective on team rankings come right back here for The Record’s weekly football poll.

-          Laura


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