Three area football teams have their sights set on winning the Section II Class A title this season. Here is a look at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Mohonasen and Scotia-Glenville.
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Spartans
League: Northwest Division
Head coach: Matt Shell
Key veterans: Dan Porter (junior RB), Eric Dillon (senior WR/DB), Ryan McDonnell (senior QB/K), Max Batty (senior WR/DB), Dan Nuzzi (senior TE/LB), Nick Marchesiello (senior OL/DL)
Outlook: Last season produced the Spartans’ first loss to a Class A opponent in four years when they fell to Amsterdam during the regular season. But, BH-BL bounced back and edged Amsterdam 26-23 for its third consecutive Section II championship.
This year, the Spartans return several key offensive players from the squad that reached the state Class A finals including McDonnell, Dillon and Porter.
“There’s experience back, but the way I look at it is you’ve got to prove yourself every year,” said Shell.
BH-BL will be tested out of the gate. The Spartans visit Troy Friday in what could be a preview of this year’s Sectional final (the Flying Horses are the favorite in the Southeast Division). Then, they host three-time defending Class B champion Schalmont in Week 2 before playing their first divisional opponent, South Glens Falls, in Week 3.
Mohonasen Mighty Warriors
League: Southeast Division
Head coach: Dennis Corbitt
Key veterans: Kenny Fortune (senior OG/DT), Dom Notar (senior RB), Mark Riggi (senior RB), Eric Pierone (senior LB)
Outlook: In order for the Mighty Warriors to make the Section II playoffs again, a new group of players must step up. “We lost a lot of our starting backfield, but we have most of our offensive line back,” said Corbitt.
Scotia-Glenville Tartans
League: Southeast Division
Head coach: Kevin Warren
Key veterans: Andrew Bailey (senior OL/DL), Kelsey Francois (senior WR/DE), Nicholas Georgelas (senior RB/LB), Joseph Graham (senior OL/DL), Anthony Mazzucco (senior OL/DL), Luke Philips (senior OL/DL), Dontrevius Porter (seniro WR/DB), Sean Sayles (senior WR/DE), Nicholas Schaub (junior OL/LB), Andrew Tabbert (senior RB/QB/DB), William Tuck (senior OL/DE), Nicholas VanAuken (senior OL/LB)
Outlook: With 24 players, the Tartans have a small roster by football standards. But Warren said he likes the composition of his team. “The majority of them can play,” said Warren. “We like to say we have 24 kids, and 24 kids can play.”
