In one quarter, the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake football team turned a close game with Lansingburgh into a rout and established itself as the Class A team to beat.
The Spartans (2-0) scored five touchdowns in the second quarter on their way to a 60-14 victory over the Knights on a rainy night last Friday in Burnt Hills.
We thought if we played hard and came out and played well, we’d have a good chance of winning, said BH-BL coach Matt Shell. `We got that first touchdown, and it just snowballed from there.`
Quarterback Paul Layton beat Lansingburgh with his arm and his feet. Layton threw for nearly 140 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed for nearly 120 yards and a pair of scores before resting most of the second half.
But as much as Layton was responsible for building BH-BL’s lead, it was the Spartans defense that made certain Lansingburgh (1-1) didn’t cut into the lead. BH-BL didn’t allow a first down until late in the fourth quarter and kept leading rusher Marcus Hepp in check, allowing the senior tailback only 21 yards on seven carries.
`Any time you can keep an offense like that under control, it’s huge,` said Shell.
The defense also provided the back-breaking moment of the game. Tyler Paluba intercepted T.J. McLaughlin and ran 30 yards the other direction for a touchdown midway through the second quarter that put the Spartans ahead 28-0.
Wide receiver Keaton Flint caught touchdown passes of 19 and 60 yards, and senior tailback Erik Vuillaume rushed for 90 yards to contribute to BH-BL’s dominating performance. The Spartans offense outgained Lansingburgh 460-185, with most of the Knights’ yards coming in the second half.
`The backs ran hard, and the (offensive linemen) came off the ball and blocked well,` said Shell. `We just made plays.`
BH-BL enters the divisional portion of its schedule when it travels to Gloversville Friday for a Class A Division 2 contest. The game marks a homecoming for Shell, who grew up in the Fulton County city.
`(Gloversville coach) Tom Ciaccio and I are good friends,` said Shell. `I love (going home), but it’s just the way it is. You have to prepare the kids the same every week.“