The Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk football team is a year older, a year wiser and already one win better than last year’s team.
The Indians (2-0 division, 4-0 overall) maintained their share of first place in the Class B Reinfurt Division with Saturday’s 37-7 victory over Cohoes.
It was the third consecutive convincing win for a R-C-S squad that had an uncharacteristically poor 2009 season, in which the Indians finished with a 3-6 record that included an 0-5 divisional mark. It was R-C-S’s first losing season since 1993.
The kids worked hard in the off-season, said R-C-S coach Gary VanDerzee. `They learned a lot from last year, and they’re playing better.`
The first unit defense has been especially strong for the Indians. After a 21-20 opening week victory over Cobleskill-Richmondville, R-C-S’s starting defense has allowed one touchdown or less in wins against Johnstown, Cairo-Durham and Cohoes.
`Daryl Ford is doing a great job at linebacker for us, and R.J. Boomhower and Devin Clark have been playing well on the defensive line,` said VanDerzee.
Offensively, the Indians have been running over their opponents. They’ve averaged 241 yards per game led by Ford (220 yards and six touchdowns in the last two games) and Cory Watts (477 yards and eight touchdowns in four games).
`The offensive line got in the weight room, so now they’re a year older and a year stronger,` said VanDerzee. `And our running backs have done a good job.`
Saturday’s game was a continuation of R-C-S’s early domination. Watts rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while Ford racked up 123 yards and three touchdowns. Watts also caught a touchdown pass for the Indians, who led 20-7 after the first quarter.
R-C-S returns home Friday to face a Hudson team that owns a 2-2 record, but still has its sights set on making a push to unseat the Indians and Albany Academy at the top of the Reinfurt Division.
`They’re a quality team,` said VanDerzee. `They lost a couple of tough ballgames, but they were in both of those games.`
In other Section II football action this weekend, Bethlehem and Guilderland continue to make their bids for Class AA playoff berths. Bethlehem (1-2, 1-3) travels to Albany Friday, while Guilderland (1-2, 2-2) hosts Ballston Spa in Empire Division games.
The Dutchmen enter their Empire Division home game off a 34-26 victory over Albany last Friday at Bleecker Stadium. The Dutchmen built a 34-6 lead and then withstood a fourth quarter Falcon rally to earn their first divisional victory.
Running back Anthony Stanish ran for two touchdowns, and quarterback Ryan Smith threw two scoring passes to Dominic Litz for Guilderland, which scored 21 of its 34 points in the second quarter. Josh Sommers added two third quarter field goals.
Bethlehem is hoping for similar success against winless Albany after suffering a 35-6 loss at Ballston Spa last Friday. Jon Martin kicked two field goals to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead before the Scotties (3-1, 3-1) scored the next 35 points to pull away.
Voorheesville (1-2, 2-2) is also looking to bounce back following a tough defeat when it hosts Ichabod Crane Saturday in a non-league game. The Blackbirds fell to Class C South Division co-leader Chatham 42-13 last Friday.
Josh Keyes ` Class C’s leading rusher ` gained more than 300 yards on the ground and scored five touchdowns to lead the Panthers (3-0, 4-0). Max Schuster and Anthony Scaccia reached the end zone for the Blackbirds.“
