It took a daring play for the Niskayuna football team to reach the Class A semifinals.
Wide receiver Brendan Krol scored on a hook-and-ladder play as time ran out in the fourth quarter to lift the Silver Warriors (6-2) to a 20-14 victory over Queensbury in last Friday’s Sectional quarterfinal game in Niskayuna.
The play started with quarterback Kyle Bayly throwing a screen pass to Ryan Alden, who then turned and pitched the ball to Krol. The junior then sprinted down the left sideline to complete the 45-yard touchdown play that sent Niskayuna into this week’s semifinal against top-seeded Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
In that situation, it’s usually a good play because the defense is usually far enough back that you can complete a short pass, said Niskayuna coach John Furey. `And then when they come up to tackle the player with the ball, he can pitch it to the other kid, and usually there’s plenty of running room.`
In a way, Alden’s pitch to Krol was symbolic of the entire game. While Alden ` Niskayuna’s leading scorer ` was held without a touchdown, Krol entered the end zone three times. He caught first-half scoring passes of 35 and 76 yards from Bayly to help the Silver Warriors take a 14-7 halftime lead.
`He’s been a little bit under the radar for us all year, but he’s done a great job,` Furey said of Krol.
The other underrated part of Niskayuna’s football team came up big as the defense shut down Queensbury’s double wing-T offense. The only big play the Silver Warriors allowed was Payton McKinney’s 24-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that tied the game for the Spartans (4-4).
`Our defense has been outstanding all year,` said Furey. `I thought they defended Queensbury as well as any team has in a long time.`
Niskayuna’s defense will have to be on top of its game Friday when the Silver Warriors visit BH-BL. The Spartans (8-0) wore down the Silver Warriors defenders in the second half on their way to a 46-7 victory over Niskayuna Sept. 11, and they haven’t slowed down since.
`We are very different [from that first game],` said Furey. `We’ve become a much stronger defensive team than I thought we’d be early on, and we’re more experienced on offense.`
Queensbury visits Scotia-Glenville Thursday in a crossover game.
Sabres score historic win
In other Sectional football action last weekend, Schalmont earned its first playoff win with a 32-12 victory over Albany Academy in a Class B quarterfinal game.
The Sabres (6-2) spotted the Cadets (4-4) a 6-0 lead before scoring 32 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to take control.
`It means a lot to the community,` said Schalmont coach Josh Whipple. `I’ve had former players come up to me over the past few days and congratulate me.`
Albany Academy’s offense was dealt a blow when it lost talented tailback Zay Richardson with an injury. Without Richardson, the Cadets had a hard time moving the ball against Schalmont’s defense.
`Any time you lose one of your key players, it’s going to have an effect,` said Whipple. `It might have been a closer game if Zay was in there, but I think my kids would have played well defensively either way.`
Quarterback Vincent Gallo did much of the work for the Sabres. The senior rushed for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Tailback DeShawn Banks added a pair of touchdown runs, including a 59-yard scoring scamper in the third quarter that sealed the victory.
Schalmont hosts Cohoes in Friday’s Class B semifinal game, and Whipple said the Sabres will be in for a battle from the Tigers.
`We can’t play 47 minutes and 52 seconds against this team,` said Whipple. `We have to play 48 minutes, and the kids know that.
`We need to take care of the ball and avoid turnovers. They’ve scored a lot of their points on other team’s miscues,` he added.
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