The class AA football landscape has been changed again.
With Queensbury moving up from class A, there are now 15 teams in class AA. That has precipitated a return to the three-division system following one season of two-division play.
We would prefer a two-division system, but there were a lot of factors that went into going to a three-division format, said Section II commissioner Gary VanDerzee. `There were rivalries, the number of games in divisional play and geography.
`We’ll revisit the divisional format after this year,` he added.
Queensbury joins a division that includes last year’s Section II runner-up Saratoga, Sectional semifinalist Shaker, Guilderland and Niskayuna. Shenendehowa, Colonie, Bethlehem, Ballston Spa and Columbia are in another division, while the five class AA Big 10 schools ` Christian Brothers Academy, Albany, Schenectady, Troy and defending Sectional champion LaSalle ` are in the third division.
`It’s going to be different,` said Queensbury head coach John Irion. `I think the double A teams ` as compared to the single A teams ` have maybe fewer weaknesses and more depth.`
`I have no problem with any of the teams in our division because we can play with any of them,` said Saratoga coach Blase Iuliano.
With the three-division format comes a new system for determining playoff teams. The top two teams in each division earn automatic berths, and two at-large teams will be selected from the eight teams that finish either third or fourth in their divisions. Last year, the top four teams from each of the two divisions earned playoff berths.
Here is a look at this year’s class AA field.
Albany Falcons
Head coach: Joe Burke
Outlook: The Falcons will be looking to improve on a 5-4 overall record from last season as they begin their season against Ballston Spa Saturday.
Jermain Schultz will quarterback the offense, while running backs Everett Tune, Craig VanAlstyne and Deon Wilson handle the ground game. Schultz will also have seven wide receivers and two tight ends on the roster to pass to.
Albany hopes to make the playoffs after being edged out of the final Sectional berth last year by Niskayuna in a four-way tiebreaker.
Ballston Spa Scotties
Head coach: John Bowen
Key veterans: Dom Monaco (quarterback/free safety), Chris Adams (defensive end/fullback), Anthony Scarpetti (running back/outside linebacker), Steve Duncan (strong safety/running back)
Key newcomers: Jake Davis (offensive line/middle linebacker), Dan Decker (offensive line/outside linebacker), Tim Spadaro (cornerback/split end), Eric Marciano (defensive end/fullback)
Outlook: The Scotties will have one of the smallest offensive lines in Section II. The biggest player they will have on the line weighs 220 pounds, and the others range from 185 to 200 pounds. `What they lack in size, they make up for in heart and determination,` said Bowen.
Bowen said being placed in a division with perennial powers such as Shenendehowa and Colonie will make Ballston Spa’s road to a Sectional berth tough. `You’ve got Shen, which is always good. They graduated a lot last year, but coach (Brent) Steuerwald always has a good team,` said Bowen. `And based on what’s on paper right now, Colonie has a good team.`
Bethlehem Eagles
Head coach: Ron Smith
Key veterans: Dave Plummer (quarterback), Dan Unright (tailback), Shane Myers (middle linebacker/running back), Scooby Dollard (tight end)
Key newcomers: Bryan Pauquette (running back), Kevin Kolbay (defensive end/offensive lineman)
Outlook: The Eagles lost several key players to graduation including a large chunk of their offensive line and leading running back Brian Nicholson. `We’re the absolute opposite of last year. We have skill players back, but where we’re lacking in experience is on the line,` said Smith.
Despite having to rebuild the offensive line, Smith is optimistic that his team can make the playoffs again. `I think (our division) is pretty even,` he said. `When you’re looking at being in the top two to make the playoffs and you look at the teams, I think it’s pretty even.`
Bethlehem opens its season Friday at Schenectady.
CBA Brothers
Head coach: Jim Smith
Key veterans: Luke Weaver (wide receiver), Michael Chaires (running back/defensive back), Joe Zappone (running back), Joe Rajczak (linebacker/fullback), Joe Vellano (offensive line/defensive line), Chris Ramsey (linebacker/offensive line), Dan Frost (offensive line/defensive line)
Key newcomer: Jimmy O’Brien (quarterback)
Outlook: The Brothers made noise during the regular season last year winning six of their seven games before losing to Shaker in the Sectional quar-terfinals. To match that mark, CBA will need its junior class to take charge. `Our key will be how quickly our juniors pick up the offense,` said Smith. `Right now, our defense is a little ahead of our offense.`
Though CBA gets to rekindle its rivalries with its Big 10 opponents, Smith said he prefers having the two-division format. `It’s a little easier to know who’s in and who’s out of the playoffs,` he said.
The Brothers open their season Friday against Section III power Henninger at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Colonie Garnet Raiders
Head coach: Mike Ambrosio
Key veterans: Heath Furbeck (running back/defensive back), Edsall Walker (tight end), Mike Kaiser (offensive line), Jeff Patterson (offensive line), Blake DiPace (offensive line)
Key newcomers: Tom Duff (quarterback), Jim Kehrer (tailback).
Outlook: The Garnet Raiders graduated several key offensive specialists including quarterback Hunter Moffatt, tailback Chris Wiley and most of their receivers. `It’s going to be more of a team thing this year,` said Ambrosio. `There aren’t going to be any stars. I think everybody’s going to have to contribute.`
Colonie gets tested right away by hosting Saratoga Friday, but Ambrosio said every game will be tough. `They’re all quality teams. If you’re not playing your ‘A’ game, somebody’s going to beat you,` he said.
Columbia Blue Devils
Head coach: Anthony Servidone
Key veterans: Jeff McCormick (fullback/linebacker), Bob Sommerville (offensive line/defensive end), Sean Weber (offensive line/linebacker), Mark Herrington (offensive line/defensive line), Nick Harrington (wide receiver/defensive back)
Key newcomer: Shane Mitchum (offensive line/defensive end)
Outlook: Servidone takes over a program that has been competitive but hasn’t had much luck in recent years. `This is a good group,` he said. `This senior class has been around for a long time.`
Columbia has a tough opener as it travels to defending champion LaSalle Friday. The Blue Devils then host Shen in their first divisional game Sept. 8.
`We know our goal is to come out of that division in the top two to secure a playoff spot,` said Servidone.
Guilderland Dutchmen
Head coach: Dan Penna
Outlook: The Dutchmen should be strong defensively with most of their starters returning from last year, but the offense is in flux following the graduation of several key players.
`Overall, we’ll be looking for the team to gel and work as a unit as we install a new offense with many talented players,` Penna said.
Senior Kyle Hussey will anchor a young offensive line, while quarterback Greg Barcomb will guide the attack. Penna said he is looking for contributions from newcomers Paul Booker, Nick Ranalli, Jason Lawrence, Jarrell Gatterson and Drew Smith.
Guilderland opens its season at home Friday against Shaker.
LaSalle Cadets
Head coach: Al Rapp
Key veterans: Mark Casale (center), Vito Angrisano (offensive line), Ryan Burke (running back), Chad Cassidy (defensive line), Colin Russell (defensive line)
Key newcomers: Jared Henkel (quarterback), Kyle Burke (offensive line), Evan Ryan (tight end), Dean Fagan (fullback), Sean Fagan (wide receiver)
Outlook: The defending champions have a lot of holes to fill following the graduation of nine offensive and eight defensive starters. `I’m happy with the work we’ve done so far and the progress that we’ve made, but we still have a lot of work to do,` said Rapp.
Friday’s opener against Columbia continues a rivalry between the Troy-based private school and the suburban school several miles down Route 4 in East Greenbush. `We’re next door to each other, and a lot of our kids know their kids,` said Rapp.
Niskayuna Silver Warriors
Head coach: John Furey
Key veterans: Steve Lefebvre (running back), Adam Pardi (quarterback), Nick DiSarro (wide receiver/free safety), Joe D’Alessandro (linebacker), Gary Chrys (center), Ricky Tapia (offensive tackle), Derek Gavin (linebacker), Zack Layton (defensive tackle), Colin Murray (defensive end), Taylor Pierce (outside linebacker)
Key newcomers: John Randolph (wide receiver/defensive back), Chris Hall (defensive back)
Outlook: With the graduation of quarterback Brian Grastorf and receivers Dan Halayko and Ryan Leach, the Silver Warriors won’t be the pass-happy team they were last year. `The offense is going to be a little different,` said Furey. `We’re going to do things a little differently.`
Furey likes his defense, which struggled at times last year. `I think we’ve got a good group returning. I think we have more size inside on defense than we’ve had in the past,` he said.
Niskayuna travels to Queensbury Saturday to open its season.
Queensbury Spartans
Head coach: John Irion
Key veterans: Jeff Benway (quarterback), Matt Howard (running back), Brad Middleton (running back), Jordan Mattes (offensive line/defensive line), Mark Mundy (offensive guard/linebacker), Tom Locascio (offensive guard/defensive line)
Outlook: The Spartans made a name for themselves in class A with its double wing-T offense ` a formation where three running backs and the quarterback all line up close together with the line to create uncertainty in opposing defenses as to who will get the ball.
`I’ll be very interested to see how they do because I think some coaches will have a lot of trouble defending them,` said Bowen, whose Ballston Spa team used to play Queensbury in the Foothills Council.
Irion said he is hoping this inaugural season in class AA will yield a playoff berth, given that he has a veteran group. `I have a pretty good team, and what I’m wondering is if we don’t make a run and I have one of my better teams, what does that mean in the future?` he said.
Saratoga Blue Streaks
Head coach: Blase Iuliano
Key veterans: Dan McLaughlin (quarterback), Vonzel Legall (tailback/wide receiver), James Deloatch (tailback), Zorry Williams (tailback), Jimmy Minogue (quarterback/kicker)
Key newcomers: David Schewey (tackle), Adhem El Sawi (tackle), Colin Murphy (offensive line)
Outlook: The Blue Streaks will have one of the most explosive offenses in class AA with their trio of talented running backs. `They’re as good of a backfield as you’ll find in Section II,` said Iuliano of Legall, Williams and Deloatch.
Where Saratoga lacks experience is on the offensive and defensive lines, but with a core of players who have been to the Super Bowl each of the last two years, the Blue Streaks will be favored to get back to the championship game.
`I think we’ve got a lot of guys who know what it takes to get there,` said Iuliano.
Schenectady Patriots
Head coach: Vince Pagano
Key veterans: Domonique Henderson (wide receiver), Darrin Earring (quarterback), Lamar Hunter (wide receiver), Jahi Chandler (running back), Gary O’Neal (running back/nose guard)
Key newcomers: Mark Thompson (running back), Garrett Gross (left tackle/defensive end), Marcus Brandon (defensive end/tight end)
Outlook: Pagano is hoping his Patriots will be better this year after going through a rebuilding process in 2005. `We’re a little young and inexperienced on the (offensive) line,` he said.
One thing Schenectady is looking forward to is being in a division with all Big 10 teams. `I think it’s good for our league,` Pagano said. `Certainly, the Big 10 produces teams that are competitive and represent Section II well.`
Shaker Blue Bison
Head coach: Dennis Bender
Key veterans: Eddie Cross (wide receiver/quarterback/defensive back), Brian Tourtellot (wide receiver/free safety), John Kyratzis (offensive line/defensive line), Tyler Vernieu (offensive line/defensive line), Keith Bateman (defensive end/tight end)
Key newcomers: Ryan Gifford (quarterback), Sean Fruscio (tailback), Mike Hayes (tailback), Ryan Thomson (fullback), David Bogdan (fullback), Will Purcell (fullback)
Outlook: The Blue Bison have a lot of holes to fill on offense following the graduation of nearly every skill position player including quarterback Vernon Cross, running backs Owen Harris and Paul Burgdorf and wide receiver/kicker Erik Elken.
`They’ve really got to come together quickly. The first game is Guilderland,` said Bender.
Shaker’s schedule isn’t favorable. Outside of Guilderland, the Blue Bison face nothing but teams that made the playoffs last year. Still, Bender said he thinks the division they’re in is a good one.
`I think it’s going to be pretty open. Saratoga, on paper, is probably the strongest team, but everyone else is pretty well balanced,` he said.
Shenendehowa Plainsmen
Head coach: Brent Steuerwald
Key veterans: Kevin Lee (defensive back/quarterback), Jim Schwendtner (linebacker/fullback)
Key newcomers: Charles Miller (quarterback), Jason Bedard (running back), Justin Anderson (offensive line/defensive tackle)
Outlook: After graduating most of last year’s starters, the Plainsmen are rebuilding with a group of juniors due to a lack of seniors. `We normally have a senior class of near 20 (players). This year, we only have 14,` said Steuerwald.
Still, Shen will be considered the team to beat in its division, given Steuerwald’s history of piecing together winning teams. `We’re still a young group, and we’re hoping to put together a group of juniors who can fill in at the starting positions,` said Steuerwald.
Shen opens its season by hosting Troy Friday.
Troy Flying Horses
Head coach: Tony Fruscio
Key veterans: Mike Krogh (linebacker/tailback), Chris Gross (offensive tackle/defensive tackle), Mike Rezek (offensive guard/defensive tackle), Steve Leisenfelder (wide receiver/outside linebacker), Matt Marsh (defensive end/tight end)
Key newcomers: Zach Dolan (quarterback), Alex Reo (offensive line/defensive end)
Outlook: After struggling to score points last year, Fruscio is hoping a veteran offensive line will mean better offensive production. `We need to be able to run the ball, but we also have to protect the quarterback,` said Fruscio. `With the mix of veterans that we have, hopefully we can get the job done.`
The Flying Horses are looking to make the playoffs after missing Sectionals last year ` a rarity for a program that dominated class AA for several seasons.“