Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunday Mid-Morning Quarterback: Week Five Edition

Week five is in the books. I feel like a broken record here – and for those keeping track, records came before CD’s which came before MP3s, look it up – but this week in Section II was another solid one. I also can’t believe that we’re just two games away from the end of the regular season.

That being said, there’s still plenty to recap here and plenty to look forward to before we plow our way into sectionals. I know what I thought about this week – I’m typing it after all – but what did you think? Were you at the Shaker vs. Shen upset? Can you believe Watervliet hasn’t scored a touchdown on their home field all season? What’s eating away at your football-loving mind? Go ahead and type it out as well. That’s what the comment boxes are for.

So read away my friends.

-    Laura
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Friday, September 28, 2012

Where Are You? Week Five Football Poll

Week five of Section II football is about to get underway. So here we are, as promised, our weekly football poll.

Last week's games helped some playoff runs start to take shape, so under the cut, check out where everybody stands now, at the halfway point of the season.

Enjoy the games tonight folks!
- Laura

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

NYSSWA Football Polls - Third Edition

The NYSSWA football polls were released earlier this morning and we've got some new Section II teams making the cut.

Ravena, Chatham and Greenwich are ranked for the first time so far this season, while Shaker and Shenenedehowa are still slowly climbing the ranks in Class AA.

Under the cut, find the top 15 teams in each class and as, per usual, feel free to comment away on where our local teams rank. Also, make sure to check back here on Thursday night for the weekly rankings of just Section II teams from yours truly.
- Laura

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Sunday, September 23, 2012

Sunday Mid-Morning Quarterback: Week Four Edition

Week Four. We are done with you, but not quite over you. 

Lopsided victories, lopsided touchdowns for single players and a brand-new perspective on just who is and isn’t in the run for Super Bowl victories.

So now here we are again, Sunday Mid-Morning Quarterback. Let’s all look back and re-examine what exactly happened this weekend and why it was good, bad, and overall pretty exciting.

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Where Are You? Week Four Football Poll

We're about to crest the halfway point of the regular
season here in Section II football and trying to rank these teams is still just as difficult as ever.

Under the cut find the latest Record football poll. Agree, disagree, discuss it all in the comments.
- Laura

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Johnstown Football 9/20

Afternoon, everyone.

A bit of surprising news to come out this afternoon about the Johnstown Sir Bills. They're forfeiting the remainder of their 2012 varsity foobtall schedule because of "insufficient numbers," according to Section 2 football coordinator Gary Vanderzee. He released a statement to the media moments ago:
Ladies and Gentlemen,  

At 12:45 this afternoon I received an email from the Johnstown AD informing me that they would be forfeiting the rest of their Varsity Football schedule for the 2012 season due to insufficient numbers. I/We will make every effort to find games for Glens Fall, (sic) Hudson Falls, Schalmont and Schuylerville, the remaining teams on the Johnstown schedule. 

Thanks, 
Gary
I called the Johnstown Athletic Department and they confirmed the statement, adding the team had suffered too many injuries to field a varsity squad. A call to Johnstown coach Matt Benton's cell phone went unanswered, and the coach's voice mail inbox was unable to accept additional messages.

The Sir Bills were off to an 0-3 start in Class B this season, dropping games to Cobbleskill, Johnstown and Tamarac. They had been outscored 103-29 in those matches, and were scheduled to visit Glens Falls this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. They were scheduled to play Schuylerville Oct. 12.

More information as it comes to us.

UPDATE: I spoke with Glens Falls Head Coach Pat Lilac, who said his team wouldn't be able to find another opponent in time for tomorrow's game. They found out midway through Wednesday's practice and had tried to organize something with Waverly, out past Binghamton, at a neutral site.

It fell through, though, and his players will go through a full-contact practice today and have tomorrow off. It's not an ideal situation by any means -- you'd like to have a game every week to keep your players sharp -- but at least they'll be well-rested for next week's match with Broadalbin-Perth.

I also asked Vanderzee how this affects the Section 2 standings. Here's his answer:
They will be forfeit wins and 7 quarter points will be awarded to each of those teams for playoff seeding purposes. As for records they will get the forfeit if they cannot get a game if they get a game they will count that game.
 Until next time,
MC



Wednesday, September 19, 2012

NYSSWA Football Polls - Second Edition



The NYSSWA has released their second poll of state football rankings and we’ve got another fairly good showing by Section II teams.

Under the cut, the top 15 teams in each class across the state. As per usual, feel free to sound off on a certain teams rankings in the comments. Is your team not where you think it deserves to be? Sound off about it.

Remember, The Record’s own football poll will right here on this blog on Thursday night.
-         Laura

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Sunday, September 16, 2012

Sunday Mid-Morning Quarterback: Week Three Edition



It’s difficult to believe that we are almost halfway through the regular Section II football season. Three games in and some teams are starting to post consistently strong numbers and are breaking away from the pack, while others are falling back into the group.
So let’s take another look at what exactly was the best and the worst about the third week of Capital District football. As always, feel free to sound off in the comments about what you think is right and wrong. I really want to hear. 

Players of the Week
Ryan Griffin (Shaker, RB): Griffin may have only rushed for just under 80 yards but he did rack up four touchdown runs, plowing past the Columbia defense to lead Shaker to a 47-12 Class AA victory on Friday night.
Pat Chamberlain (Troy, QB): The Flying Horses quarterback passed for his first game of 100 yards and rushed for a touchdown on Friday to help Troy grab a dominant 55-6 victory over Scotia. 
Brad Burns (Hoosick Falls, RB): The senior running back carried the ball 14 times and racked up 155 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers cruised to a 47-8 victory over Taconic Hills on Friday night.
Taylor Hotaling (Averill Park, QB): The Warriors' quarterback finished with 101 yards rushing including two touchdown scores and also ran in for a pair of two-point conversions to lead Averill Park to a 34-20 victory over Mohonasen. 

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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Where Are You? Week Three Football Poll

Fresh off the release of the NYSSWA first state-wide football poll, I humbly present my own rankings of our Capital District squads.

I'm finding it tough to believe we're already into week three of the season, but with the movement comes team break outs and drop offs. As per usual I've ranked the top five teams in each class and, also per usual, if you agree or disagree, sound off in the comments. I want to hear from you! What did I pick right? What did I pick wrong? Let me know.

- Laura

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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

NYSSWA Football Polls

The New York State Sports Writers Association released their first poll of NYS football teams this afternoon and – as per usual – Section II had a pretty good showing.
Keep in mind that these NYSSWA take everything from points scored, to wins and losses and strength of schedule into account when they rank teams.
So if you find you don’t agree with a certain ranking, comment about it. I am 100% genuinely interested in what you guys are thinking.
Also, make sure to check out our own Section II football poll in Friday’s Record and right here, on this very blog, on Thursday night.
- Laura
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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Sunday Mid-Morning Quarterback: Week Two Edition

We can’t blame anything on first game jitters anymore.
Week two is over and teams are starting to pull away from the pack, while others are simply falling farther backwards.
That being said, there were still solid story lines, good, bad and ugly, in the Section II football world this past Friday and Saturday.
Let’s recap, shall we?

Top Players of the Week:
Brad Burns (Hoosick Falls, RB):
In just two games, the Panthers’ senior running back has accumulated 269 yards and three touchdowns on only 23 carriers. He’s averaging just over 11 yards a carry and in this week’s 42-10 victory over Granville Burns recorded 152 yards on the ground. Watch out opposing defensive lines.
Gabe Smith (La Salle, WR): The Cadets’ senior wide receiver wasn’t much of a factor in the first half of Friday’s Collar City Cup against Troy. But midway through the fourth quarter and the score tied at seven all, that changed. Smith picked off Troy’s Pat Chamberlain in the endzone, returning the ball back to the Flying Horses’ 27. Three plays later he beat Chamberlain’s secondary coverage to score the game-winning touchdown and secure the 14-7 victory.
Anthony Walker (Lansingburgh, RB): The junior tailback simply was not satisfied with his week one performance of 207 yards and four touchdowns. So in ‘Burgh’s home opener on Friday night, Walker upped the ante, rushing for 219 yards and five touchdowns as the Knights cruised to a 47-12 victory over Green Tech.
Chris Landers (Shaker, QB): The Blue Bison’s senior quarterback continued to prove he can run an offense, as he passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more to lead Shaker to a 48-0 victory over Colonie. Landers was 5-of-8 in the air for 73, while adding another 87 yards on the ground off of eight carries.

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Friday, September 7, 2012

Saratoga Springs 21, Bethlehem 13 9/7

We've already talked about the Saratoga Springs defense, which starred in the team's 21-13 win at Bethlehem Friday night.

So let's talk about Saratoga Springs quarterback Jake Eglintine who, although his statline won't indicate it, actually had a really strong performance in the team's win.

His final stats? 10 carries for 1 yard and 1 touchdown. And 3-for-7 passing with 12 yards and a pick.

He was sacked for big losses a couple of times, which really killed his statline, but Eglintine had a 22-yard run that set up his own 2-yard touchdown in the third quarter. And those two plays were a big momentum shifts as they helped give Saratoga a 21-7 advantage over the Eagles.

Bethelehem's Mike Graves would cut the gap to 21-13 when he scored on a rushing touchdown a few minutes alter, but the Eagles missed the extra point. Regardless, Saratoga now had an 8-point advantage heading into the final quarter versus a one-point edge. That's a pretty big deal.

Though he threw an interception in the first quarter, he also picked off a Bethelehem pass. Consider that category a wash for him, but his teammates absolutely dominated that category. Five turnovers in the first half. That is huge for a team that was trying to minimize its mental mistakes.

Alex Chandler, who has quietly put together a really good season for the Blue Streaks, had another pick. Ben Place really stood out with two fumble recoveries, while Doug Dinon added one. And don't forget Calvin Millar, who recovered a muffed punt that eventually set up Saratoga's first score.

Jordan Wilcox probably had the best game out of any Blue Streak. Terry Jones had a lot to say about him after the game. Quotes from Jones, Wilcox, Eglintine and Saratoga's statistics after the jump.

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Week Two Football Schedule

Friday night, part two.

There can be no denying that last week's Section II football season opener was exciting. We had surprises, records, two-year loss streaks broken; and that was just week one.

After the cut, check out where everybody will be lining up tonight and Saturday afternoon, as we head straight into the heart of the football season.

As for your friendly neighborhood Record and Saratogian reporters, we'll be making the rounds at La Salle, Lansingburgh, Saratoga, Ballston Spa, Burnt Hills and Shenendehowa. Make sure to follow along for live tweets, updates and info on all the games in Section II

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Where are You? Week Two Poll

We've got some movers and shakers in The Record's poll this week's. There were some surprises in week one of Section II football and those show in where our local teams rank up going into tonight's matchups.
Check out where your team stands and let me know if you think my, admitted, opinion is a little off. Enjoy the games tonight, folks!

- Laura

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Sunday, September 2, 2012

Sunday Mid-Morning Quarterback: Week One Edition

We have survived. The first week is over. Now, is a time of reflection.

So what was good, bad and somewhere in between about the first week of Section II football? Let’s take a look.

Top Players of the Week:
Billy Pine (Hoosick Falls, QB):
The senior quarterback, returning for his second season starting under center, threw for four touchdowns on Friday night’s opener against Mechanicville. Pine, who promised to be a much more vocal leader for the Panthers’ this season, went 7-of-12 for 170 yards. For good measure, he also ran a punt back 68 yards.
Jordan Gleason (Watervliet, WR): As one of only a handful of returning seniors to the Cannoneers’ squad in 2012, Gleason pulled in three touchdown receptions to start the season.
Anthony Walker (Lansingburgh, RB): The junior tailback said in the off-season he hoped he had another big game like last year’s play against South Glens Falls. It didn’t take him long. The boy-wonder rushed for over 200 yards and four touchdowns in the Knights’ 36-35 victory over Scotia.
Jordan Nelson (Troy, WR): The senior wideout had never once stepped onto a football field as a competitive participant before Friday night. A track and field standout he was handpicked by coach Jack Burger to anchor the Flying Horses receiving unit. So he did, catching a 20 yard pass in the fourth quarter as Troy topped Burnt Hills 17-7.

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