Area Number 1 Seeds Win Their First Playoff Round Matches Handily
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Playing at home as number 1 seeds, the area’s Varsity High School football squads certainly looked the part. All three won decisively, and, for the most part, in the manner expected from number 1-seeded teams:
- -In Class AA, Saratoga Springs (8-0) won handily in its second game against Bethlehem this year, 42-14, paced by Dakota Harvey’s five rushing touchdowns. The game was put away after Ryan Manlapaz romped for a 53-yard TD to put the Blue Streaks up 21-0 in the first quarter. However, Saratoga’s special teams did keep things interesting in the first half - fumbling away two punts and allowing Bethlehem to score on a kickoff TD of 83 yards. But then three straight Harvey TD’s snuffed out any faint hope that the Eagles had for an upset.
Saratoga looks to repeat the victory it had on September 25, when it hosts Shenendehowa (5-3) again on Friday, October 30. The Blue Streaks romped 40-14 over the Plainsmen, ranked third in the Empire Division, in that first meeting.
- -In Class A, Burnt Hills – Ballston Lake (8-0) alsowon easily against Gloversville, 48-13. Josh Craig had three touchdowns and Mike Leveroni had two for the Spartans. This was BH/BL’s second dominating win over Gloversville in less than a month, having won 50-14 on October 10.
BH/BL next hosts a first time opponent in Amsterdam (5-3), ranked second in the South East Division, on Friday, October 30. At stake is an incredible tenth consecutive berth for BH/BL in the Class A finals.
- -In Class B, Schuylerville (8-0) literally ran away from Hudson, 48-6, rushing for nearly 300 yards by halftime and scoring 48 unanswered points before Hudson could manage one late score. Both Joe Vanderhoof and Zach Pierce had two touchdowns, and Skyler Pierce, Derek Willson and Anthony Carpenter added one each – all on the ground. The Black Horses played many of their reserves for much of the second half.
Schuylerville hosts Schalmont (7-1), ranked number two in the Class B Reinfurt Division, for the first time this season, on Friday, October 30.
