After dropping its first two Liberty Division games, it looked like the Bethlehem football team’s chances of making the Section II, Class AA playoffs were remote.
But after beating Colonie 31-14 in last Saturday’s regular season finale, the Eagles earned the No. 3 seed out of the Liberty Division and a trip to Empire Division No. 2 seed Ballston Spa for Friday’s quarterfinal playoff game.
I thought it would have been pretty far fetched walking off the field in Schenectady [following a 48-13 loss in Week 4], said Bethlehem coach Rick Leach. `But the kids have been good at leaving things behind after a loss.`
The momentum swung in Bethlehem’s direction late in the second quarter when Trey Silver intercepted a pass. The Eagles (2-3 division, 3-4 overall) got deep enough into Garnet Raider territory to give Jon Martin a shot at a 41-yard field goal. Martin’s kick sailed through the uprights to put Bethlehem ahead 17-14 at halftime.
The Eagles then dominated the second half. They got touchdown runs from Mike Strohecker and Devin Stampley to build a 17-point lead, and the defense did the rest to secure the victory.
`Our defense played really well, and the drive at the end of the first half was really important,` said Leach. `That and coming out and scoring right away in the third quarter really put us in a great position.`
Tailback Casiem Maxwell led Bethlehem’s ground game with 162 yards and a touchdown. Strohecker contributed 92 yards, and Stampley added 75 rushing yards.
Bethlehem will try to use its ground game to counter Ballston Spa’s option-based offense in Friday’s quarterfinal game. The Scotties (4-1, 6-1) took the Eagles out of their element with a 21-point first quarter in their 61-13 victory over Bethlehem in Week 2.
`We have to control the ball ` keep our offense on the field, and keep their good quarterback [Mark Seager] off the field,` said Leach.
Ballston Spa enters the playoffs off a 39-0 Empire Division victory over Guilderland last Friday. Seager rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns to lead a balanced attack for the Scotties.
Guilderland (2-3, 3-4) had already earned the No. 4 seed out of the Empire Division after beating Albany 19-14 two weeks ago. The Dutchmen visit Liberty Division champion LaSalle Friday.
Blackbirds hit the road
In other Sectional playoff news, Voorheesville (6-1) received the South Division No. 3 seed and a trip to North Division No. 2 seed Cambridge (6-1) for Saturday’s quarterfinal game.
The Blackbirds are coming off a hard-fought 24-22 victory over Taconic Hills last Saturday in Voorheesville. Max Schuster’s 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter gave Voorheesville a 24-14 lead, but Taconic Hills (3-3) rallied within two points on a Nick Warren 9-yard touchdown pass to Chris McKay and a Nolan Boice two-point conversion run.
Schuster rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns, and James Currier added a 79-yard kick return for a touchdown for Voorheesville. Chris McKay scored twice for Taconic Hills.
Cambridge bounced back from a 21-19 loss to Hoosick Falls two weeks ago to defeat Granville 36-0 last Saturday. It was the Indians’ fifth shutout in seven games.“
