The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake football team began its most important stretch of the season with a bang.
The Spartans scored on each of their first four possessions on their way to a 48-0 victory over Queensbury in last Saturday’s Class A Northwest Division opener for both teams.
BH-BL (1-0 division, 3-0 overall) spends the next four weeks playing only divisional opponents, and that will determine where the Spartans are seeded for the Section II playoffs.
We have to go to Gloversville this Friday, which just won a close one at Glens Falls last week, said BH-BL coach Matt Shell. `If we can go on the road Friday and get a win, that will be a good one for us.`
The Gloversville trip is always one Shell looks forward to, since he grew up in the Fulton County city.
`It’s my hometown, and it doesn’t matter how many years I’ve been at Burnt Hills. It’s still special to go to my hometown,` said Shell. `Plus, it’s a divisional game for us. So, I can’t get caught up in the emotion. I have to go out there to coach and do the best job I can.`
The team Shell brings to Gloversville has been on a roll. Since beating Lansingburgh 25-15 in the opening game, the Spartans have posted back-to-back shutouts against Averill Park and Queensbury, outscoring them by a combined total of 90-0.
`We had to move some kids into new positions, and we’re just getting comfortable in those new positions,` said Shell. `Our defense has allowed only one touchdown so far, so they’re playing well.`
BH-BL’s defense never let Queensbury’s double wing offense take flight last Saturday. Other than one series in which Queensbury drove inside BH-BL’s 20-yard line, the Spartans (2-1) had a hard time moving the ball, especially on the ground.
`We’ve seen a version of [the double wing formation] for the two weeks prior to Saturday,` said Shell. `It kind of prepared us ` as much as it can prepare you ` to go up there and face that offense.`
As good as the defense has played, the offense has been playing even better for BH-BL. Running backs Evan Nusbaum and Brandon Beatty have combined to rush for more than 700 yards and 12 touchdowns in the first three games, and receiver-turned-quarterback Keaton Flint has thrown a touchdown pass in each of the past two games.
`We have some young kids on the [offensive] line and some new starters, and they’ve been learning very quickly,` said Shell. `And our [running] backs have been running the ball well.`
Beatty and Nusbaum both had big games against Queensbury. Beatty rushed for more than 140 yards and two touchdowns ` one of which went for 84 yards ` while Nusbaum contributed 106 yards and three scoring runs, plus seven extra point kicks. Nusbaum has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of BH-BL’s first three games.
Flint didn’t have much of an opportunity to show off his throwing arm, since he left the game late in the second quarter after suffering a chest injury in the first quarter. But one of the three times he did throw a pass, it resulted in a 40-yard touchdown pass to Corey Parks.
`We won’t throw it a ton [this season], but when you can throw three passes and one of them is a touchdown, that’s a nice percentage,` said Shell. `As the season goes on, maybe we can throw the ball a little more. But we’re running the ball really well.`
Shell said he expects Flint to return to action Friday at Gloversville.
`We’ll do a little with him at practice [Tuesday], and we’ll do a little more with him [Wednesday],` said Shell. `We won’t do a lot, but we’ll make sure he’s prepared.`
In other football action this weekend, Shenendehowa (3-0) travels to Schenectady for a cross-divisional game, while Ballston Spa (2-1) and Saratoga Springs (2-1) host Empire Division contests. Ballston Spa faces Bethlehem, while Saratoga meets Christian Brothers Academy.
Shen remained perfect with a 7-0 victory over Ballston Spa last Thursday, while Saratoga shut out Albany 20-0 to move into a second-place tie with the Scotties.
The lone touchdown between Shen and Ballston Spa came midway through the first quarter when Plainsmen tailback Tony Fusco broke free for a 49-yard scoring run. Both teams had several chances to score after that, but the defenses held.
Tailback Jamie Perez scored touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters to help Saratoga defeat Albany. Quarterback Luke Fauler had the Blue Streaks’ other touchdown with a 10-yard run in the second quarter.“