The Schalmont football team gave itself some breathing room in the race for the Class B West Division title.
The Sabres (3-0 division, 4-1 overall) scored the game’s final 24 points to defeat defending Section II champion Cobleskill-Richmondville 30-7 last Friday in Cobleskill.
It was a great victory, said Schalmont coach Mike DiCocco. `Cobleskill is a great team. They played hard.`
As with their previous four wins, the Sabres did much of their damage on the ground. Junior tailback Vincent Gallo rushed for 154 yards on 31 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Quarterback Kyle McKelvey also got into the act. The senior completed seven of his 10 passes for 122 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown strike to Trevor Gaughan in the second quarter that put Schalmont ahead for good at 14-7. McKelvey added a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Hyde late in the second quarter.
The victory maintains Schalmont’s one-game lead over Hudson Falls in the West Division standings with one league game left ` an Oct. 17 visit to Broadalbin-Perth. A win there would assure the Sabres their first divisional title since classification play was introduced several years ago.
`Obviously, a divisional title would be wonderful for the school and the community,` said DiCocco.
Before Schalmont can focus on Broadalbin-Perth, it faces a long road trip to eastern Washington County Saturday to play Class C school Granville.
`The kids are excited to play them. They like to play anywhere,` said DiCocco.
In other weekend football action, Mohonasen hosts Averill Park, and Scotia-Glenville hosts Lansingburgh in a pair of Friday night Class A Division I games, while Niskayuna visits Colonie in a Class AA Liberty Division contest.
Scotia-Glenville enters its game with Lansingburgh off a 21-7 victory over Mohonasen last Friday. Joe Angley and Adam Tabbert combined for 254 rushing yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tartans, who won their first game of the season in five tries.
Bryan Ziobrowski threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Mike D’Elisiis for Mohonasen (1-4).“