The Saratoga Springs football team cruised into the Section II, Class AA semifinals with a 34-6 victory over Colonie in last Friday’s quarterfinals.
The Empire Division-champion Blue Streaks (7-1) jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter on a 20-yard touchdown run by Tony DeLoatch and a 1-yard scoring plunge by Tyler Bates. Colonie (3-5) threatened to score in the second quarter, but Shawn Sweeney intercepted a Mike Branche pass in the end zone to end the threat.
Bates put Saratoga in cruise control shortly thereafter when he broke free for a 78-yard touchdown run to give the Blue Streaks a 20-0 halftime lead.
Fullback Ford Plowman and quarterback Luke Fauler each added short touchdown runs in the third quarter to seal the victory for the Blue Streaks.
Saratoga will try to punch its ticket to the Class AA Super Bowl Friday when it hosts Schenectady in a semifinal game. The Patriots (6-2) are coming off a 33-13 quarterfinal victory over Shenendehowa last Friday on a rain-soaked field in Schenectady.
The Plainsmen (5-3) led 13-7 at halftime before the wheels came off. Schenectady’s Mister Taylor intercepted a Vincent Menneto pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, and D’Metri Gilbert added the extra point to put the Patriots ahead 14-13. From there, Schenectady scored the final 19 points to pull away for the victory.
Quarterback Tim Cox had touchdown runs of 16 and 65 yards to lead the Patriots’ second-half surge. Herman Seise contributed a 45-yard scoring run in the third quarter.
Tailback Bronson Greene led Shen with 135 rushing yards, including a 77-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that gave the Plainsmen a 7-0 lead.
Ballston Spa (7-1) hosts Guilderland (4-4) in Friday’s other Class AA semifinal game. The Dutchmen pulled off a big upset by beating Liberty Division champion LaSalle 34-33 in overtime last Friday, while the Scotties narrowly avoided an upset by beating Bethlehem 21-14.
Quarterback Mark Seager led Ballston Spa’s offense with 140 rushing yards, but it was fullback Nick Tubolino who handled all the scoring. Tubolino found the end zone three times, the last trip coming with 4:19 left in the fourth quarter to break a 14-14 tie. He also had a 60-yard scoring run in the first quarter.
In other Sectional football action last Friday, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake advanced to the Class A semifinals with a 49-0 victory over Averill Park, while Saratoga Central Catholic edged Lake George 17-14 in a Class D quarterfinal game.
Evan Nusbaum scored two touchdowns and added seven extra points for BH-BL (8-0), which hosts Niskayuna Friday in a Class A semifinal game.
Tim Pompa kicked the winning field goal late in the fourth quarter for Saratoga Catholic (3-5).`