CBA rides ground game in rout
Brothers avoid wind, pile up 375 rushing yards in victory
Windy pre-game conditions solidified CBA head coach Joe Burke’s decision to establish the running game early in the Brothers’ matchup on the road against Colonie.
The CBA ground attack was in high gear from the start and by the time the wind subsided, there was little reason for CBA to throw the ball as its offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and a talented fleet of runners combined for 375 yards on 49 carries as CBA knocked off Colonie 33-6 Friday night in Class A A action.
“We really thought we had to establish the run. We certainly expected to throw the football a little bit more but I was nervous with the wind,” Burke said. “For whatever reason tonight, we didn’t need to throw it.”
Fullback Nick Mattice set the tone with a 67-yard run on a dive play behind the block of center Dayne Degregory on CBA’S first play from scrimmage and Isaiah Scarlett followed it up with a 3-yard touchdown run up the middle on the next play to get CBA going.
“Great opening play, that really was the tone of the entire evening,” Burke said. “I can’t tell you how many times we called dive.”
CBA quarterback Fred Smith attempted just two passes in the game — one in each half — and completed both.
Scarlett added another firstquarter touchdown to give CBA (2-2 overall, Class A A) a 14-0 lead and the Brothers struck again on their next possession when Smith connected with Ben Curro on a 16-yard touchdown pass to cap a seven-play, 62-yard drive with 7:27 left in the half.
Mike Barber gained 5 of his game-high 143 yards late in the half with a touchdown run around the right end to give CBA a commanding 27-0 lead.
“Our offensive line is great. Without them, I couldn’t do anything,” Barber said. “I love those guys, they are great.”
Colonie (1-3, 1-3) finally found the end zone in the final minute of the first half as quarterback Shai Young connected with Josiah Kemp on a 16-yard touchdown with 24.8 seconds to play in the half.
The possession was the third time in the half the Garnet Raiders ventured into CBA territory but were turned away on downs the first two times.
“We moved the ball and we shot ourselves in the foot,” Colonie coach Eric Rouleau said.
CBA kept up the punishing ground game in the second half, controlling the clock and eliminating any hopes of a Colonie comeback.
“Right through the middle, right through the heart of us,” Rouleau said. “We just couldn’t seem to stop it tonight.”
Mattice finished the game with 133 yards on seven carries as he earned his yardage up the middle.
“Wind was a factor in the forecast so we knew we were definitely going to run the ball a lot,” Mattice said. “It gives us a lot of confidence that our offensive line can block, they are quick, they are fast, they are agile. It definitely helps us.”
Barber concluded the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as CBA won its second straight game after opening the season with a pair of losses.
Sean Martin, a local freelance writer, is a frequent contributor to the Times Union.