The Shenendehowa and Ballston Spa football teams have tough battles ahead of them Friday night if they want to advance in the Section II, Class AA playoffs.
Shen (5-2) hosts a Niskayuna team that features one of the most dynamic passing attacks in Class AA, while Ballston Spa (4-3) visits a Schenectady squad that has one of the best all-around offenses in Section II.
We know we’re going to get every bit of what Schenectady has to offer Friday night, so we have to give everything we’ve got to give ourselves a chance to win, said Ballston Spa coach John Bowen.
Shen’s secondary will be tested by Niskayuna quarterback Danny Peters, who leads Section II in passing yards (1,513).
`They have a very talented quarterback, they have two very good receivers (Peter Furey and Kadeem Miller) and they love to attack opposing defenses,` said Shen coach Brent Steuerwald.
Meanwhile, Ballston Spa’s defense will be tested by a Schenectady offense that is as comfortable running the ball as it is throwing it. Tailback Marc Thompson has rushed for 948 yards this season, while quarterback Nick Ottati has thrown for 988 yards.
`There is truly no one thing you have to stop against Schenectady,` said Bowen. `You can’t focus on Thompson because someone else can burn you.`
The one thing Ballston Spa and Shen have going for them entering Friday’s quarterfinal round is their offenses, which were on full display in last Friday’s Empire Division game between the two Saratoga County teams. The two teams accounted for more than 800 yards of offense, but it was Shen that came out on top 45-41 on Tyler Dehmer’s 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the final 25 seconds.
`They did a really nice job (on the kickoff return),` said Bowen. `They had a real nice block, and two of our kids slipped when (Dehmer) made a cut inside.`
`They squibbed kicks several times, and we had a difficult time fielding them,` said Steuerwald. `So, it was only natural that they would do that again. I would have done the same thing. But this time, it bounced fortuitously into (Dehmer’s) hands, and he took full advantage of it.`
Quarterback Mark Seager had a big game for Ballston Spa against Shen. The junior rushed for 174 yards and a touchdown, and he completed five of six passes for 99 yards. Fullback Van Huyben added 69 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Shen’s running game was also effective. Bronson Greene had his biggest game of the season, carrying the ball 18 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns, while Suhayb Banks had 146 yards on 20 carries. Banks also caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Kalish.
`Greene is coming along nicely,` said Steuerwald. `He’s only a sophomore, and he’s learning the game quickly.`
Both teams will have to play well offensively if they want to advance to next weekend’s Class AA semifinals.
`We’re going to have to score a lot of points (to beat Niskayuna),` said Steuerwald.
In Class A, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake enters Sectionals with a 7-0 record. The Spartans host Averill Park in Friday’s quarterfinal round, with the winner meeting either Troy or Gloversville in next weekend’s semifinals.
BH-BL enters the playoffs with a full head of steam after defeating Queensbury 42-6 last Saturday in its final regular season game. Quarterback Paul Layton rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Spartans.
Saratoga Central Catholic (1-6) won’t be going to the Class D playoffs, but the Saints can hang their hats on a 49-20 victory over Whitehall last Friday ` their first varsity win since 1987.
Shane Matthews scored four touchdowns including an 80-yard kickoff return to help Saratoga Catholic pull out the victory. Matthews finished with 226 rushing yards. “
