The Bethlehem football team had a 10-7 lead on Liberty Division-leading LaSalle after the first quarter.
After that, it was all LaSalle (4-0 division, 6-0 overall) as the defending Section II, Class AA champions defeated Bethlehem 42-10 Saturday in Delmar.
Cory Rifenberick scored on a 1-yard run early in the second quarter to give the Cadets the lead for good. Rifenberick added touchdown runs of 19 and six yards in the third quarter to break the game open.
Bethlehem’s Jon Martin kicked a 36-yard field goal to give the Eagles (1-3, 2-4) a 3-0 first quarter lead. LaSalle’s Mike Murray connected with Vinny Planz on a 10-yard touchdown pass to put the Cadets ahead 7-3, but Casiem Maxwell took off on a 72-yard scoring run on the next play from scrimmage to give Bethlehem the lead back.
Maxwell carried the ball 19 times for 146 yards for the Eagles, who will need a victory over Colonie and a Shaker win against Columbia this weekend to earn a Sectional berth. Columbia (1-3, 2-4) owns the tiebreaker over Bethlehem, courtesy of its 24-7 victory over the Eagles last month.
In other football action last weekend, Guilderland defeated Albany 19-14 in an Empire Divison contest, while Voorheesville edged Canajoharie 26-22 in a Class C South Division game.
Quarterback Ryan Smith rushed for a touchdown and passed for another in the first quarter to give Guilderland (2-2, 3-3) a 13-7 lead. Smith then connected with Luke Stark on a 27-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter for what proved to be the winning points.
Smith passed for 168 yards and ran for 22 yards to lead the Dutchmen, who close out the regular season Friday at Ballston Spa in an Empire Division game.
Voorheesville quarterback Ryan Duncan had a big day against Canajoharie. Duncan threw for 163 yards and four touchdowns three of which went to James Currier to lead the Blackbirds (5-1) to victory. Duncan’s fourth-quarter 30-yard scoring strike to Elliot Stryker sealed the win.
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk’s hopes of making the Class B Sectionals ended with last Friday’s 28-0 Reinfurt Division loss to Hudson.
The Indians fell to 0-4 in the division (1-5 overall) with a game against Lansinburgh left in the regular season.
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