PANDEMIC POSTSEASON
Previews and predictions for Class AA postseason which kicks off Friday night
TROY, N.Y. » After a strange, condensed, football season this spring, it is safe to say that Fall II has worked from a football standpoint.
Sure, there have been cancellations because of COVID, but that is to be expected trying to have a season under the circumstances. The efforts from Section II and the Suburban Council have culminated into the postseason tournament for Class AA Football.
Both Colonie and Saratoga were forced to pause due to COVID and will not be able to compete in their matchups Friday night. That means the higher seeds in those matchups, Christian Brothers Academy and Guilderland, will automatically advance to the semifinals on April 23.
SHAKER (4-0) vs. BETHLEHEM (0-4), 7 p.m. at Shaker High School
HOW THEY GOT HERE Shaker − Week 1, 20-0 win over Shen; Week 2, 35-23 win over Guilderland; Week 3, 49-0 win over Saratoga; Week 4, 49-0 win over Schenectady.
Bethlehem − Week 1, 35-8
$43,000, cl, 3YO up, 1mi, tf., rain.
7 Crypto Cash, Ortiz, Jr. 3.60 2.40 2.20 1 a-The Last Zip, Carmouche2.602.20 8 Larceny, Cardenas 9.40 Off 1:22. Time 1:39.88. Good. Scratched_ First Line. Also Ran_a-Rhythm Section, Ninja Dust, You Are Awesome, Kid Chocolate, Orazio, Arithmetic. $1 Exacta (7-1) paid $3.55. $0.1 Superfecta (7-1-86) paid $20.40. $0.5 Trifecta (7-1-8) paid $28.25. a-Coupled. $70,000, mdn spl wt, 3YO up, 6f, rain. 1 War Terminator, Ortiz, Jr.18.406.90 3.60 3 Sheriff Bianco, Ortiz 3.30 2.50
9 King Angelo, Franco 2.80 Off 1:53. Time 0:00.00. Yielding. Scratched_Clear Humor, Rush to Honor, Bar Fourteen. Also Ran_Thunderbird Cafe, Noble Conquest, Scherzando, Mr. Buckley, Napoleon Complex, Taco Bean. $1 Daily Double (7-1) paid $13.80. $1 Exacta (1-3) paid $19.70. $1 Quinella (1-3) paid $7.60. $0.1 Superfecta (1-3-9-2) paid $36.90. $0.5 Trifecta (1-3-9) paid $33.12. $72,000, alc, 3YO up F&M, 1mi, rain. 3 Brattle House, Alvarado4.50 3.10 2 Pendolino, Gutierrez 19.60 5.70 5 Pleasure Luck, Ortiz 2.60 Off 2:25. Time 1:37.37. Sloppy. Also Ran_Cheatham Hill, Mabel Island, Fair Lassie, La Kara Mia. $1 Pick 3 (7-1-3) 3 Correct Paid $37.50. $1 Daily Double (1-3) paid $18.20. $1 Exacta (3-2) paid $85.00. $0.1 Superfecta (3-2-5-1) paid $189.25. $0.5 Trifecta (3-2-5) paid $197.00. 2.60 $55,000, st alc, 3YO up F&M, 1mi, rain. 6 Betsy Blue, Ortiz, Jr. 2.70 2.10 No Tix
2 Cherokee Song, Hernandez2.80No Tix Off 2:55. Time 1:37.62. Sloppy. Scratched_Killer Dress, Cross Island, Summer in the City, Mirabell Mei, Funny Bones Flag. Also Ran_Positive Power. $1 Pick 3 (1-3-6) 3 Correct Paid $30.25. $1 Consolation Pick 3 (1-3-5) 3 Correct Paid $18.00, $1 Consolation Pick 3 (1-3-8) 3 Correct Paid $18.00, $1 Consolation Pick 3 (1-3-1) 3 Correct Paid $18.00. $1 Daily Double (3-6) paid $2.80. $1 Exacta (6-2) paid $4.40. $1 Quinella (2-6) paid $3.80. $28,000, wvr cl, 3YO up F&M, 1mi, rain. 1 Choose Happiness, Ortiz, Jr. 5.30 3.30 2.30
7 Love Me Tomorrow, Carmouche4.00 2.50
5 Misty Taste, Juarez
Off 3:26. Time 1:37.54. Sloppy. Scratched_First Dawn, Big Red Girl. Also Ran_Make Or Break, Beyond Brown, Wear My Ring, Gagliano. $0.5 Pick 5 (5⁄7-1-3-3-1/2/6) 5 Correct Paid $65.00. $0.5 Pick 4 (1-3-3-1/2/6) 4 Correct Paid $26.50. $1 Pick 3 (3-6-1) 3 Correct Paid $9.30. $0.5 Trifecta (1-7-5) paid $12.45. $0.1 Superfecta (1-7-5-9) paid $5.30. $1 Daily Double (6-1) paid $4.20. $1 Exacta (1-7) paid $7.80. $74,000, alc opt cl, 3YO up F&M, 7f, rain. 5 Bank Sting, Carmouche 8.10 4.10 4.00 7 Secret Love, Ortiz, Jr. 4.40 3.90 10 Singular Sensation, Ortiz 4.00 Off 4:01. Time 1:23.21. Sloppy. Scratched_Irish Constitution, Courageous Girl. Also Ran_Forever Changed, My Roxy Girl, Wailin Josie, Fight On Lucy, Dublinornothin. $1 Pick 3 (6-1-5) 3 Correct Paid $22.60. $1 Daily Double (1-5) paid $13.50. $1 Exacta (5-7) paid $23.30. $0.1 Superfecta (5-7-10-1) paid $40.80. $0.5 Trifecta (5-7-10) paid $62.62. $84,000, alc opt cl, 3YO up F&M, 1mi, showers.
10 Velvet Crush, Ortiz
Tix
1 Stand for the Flag, Ortiz, Jr.2.40No Tix Off 4:31. Time 1:35.79. Sloppy. Scratched_Mia Bella Rossa, Jezebel’s Kitten, Crystal Cliffs, Lagom, Kissing Frogs, Capital Structure, Kilkea. Also Ran_My Sweet Wife. $1 Pick 3 (1-5-10) 3 Correct Paid $33.25. $1 Grand Slam (2⁄61/5/7-5/7/10-10) 4 Correct Paid $7.90. $1 Daily Double (5-10) paid $20.50. $1 Exacta (10-1) paid $7.50. 6.70 3.40 3.50
No $70,000, mdn spl wt, 3YO up F&M, 6f, rain.
4 Blame It On Mary, Franco3.902.90 2.40 8 Shamalamadingdong, Ortiz4.403.10 1 Write This Down, McCarthy 4.80 Off 5:00. Time 1:10.63. Sloppy. Scratched_Mondeuse, Dixie Kitten, Caumsett, Phenomenal Woman, Runaway Rumour, Lollygag. Also Ran_Kreesa La Wrote, Handle the Truth, Social Whirl, Fastelle, Spun for Lu Lu. $0.2 Pick 6 (3-6-1-5-10-4) 6 Correct Paid $255.50. $0.5 Pick 5 (6-1-5-10-4) 5 Correct Paid $167.25. $0.5 Pick 4 (1-5-10-4) 4 Correct Paid $38.75. $1 Pick 3 (5-10-4) 3 Correct Paid $51.75. $0.1 Superfecta (4-8-1-5) paid $25.40. $1 Daily Double (10-4) paid $9.70. $1 Exacta (4-8) paid $8.20. $0.5 Trifecta (4-8-1) paid $22.25. Attendance unavailable. IST $3,554,752. Handle $240,599. Total Handle $3,795,351. 2021 Equibase Company LLC loss to Guilderland; Week 2, 42-16 loss to Saratoga; Week 3, 28-7 loss to Schenectady; Week 4, 55-0 loss to Shen. BY THE NUMBERS Shaker has been the top dog in all of Fall II. They haven’t just won games, they have completely and utterly controlled them. There has only been one game this season when Shaker allowed points and that wasn’t against Shen. The Blue Bison have outscored opponents 153-25. They have scored the most points out of the eight Class AA teams this season. They have allowed the least amount of points as well. Porter Ninstan continues to be a horse for the Bison and add Dean Hartl and Dinovan Deguire to the backfield and you have just a few, of many, reasons why the offense has rolled in Fall II.
Bethlehem will be coming into the postseason looking to pick up their first win of the season. They ended the regular season last week with a shutout loss to Shen. Bethlehem has scored just 31 points this season while allowing 160, the most of any team in Section II, Class AA in the very condensed season. Joe Harvey is a two way player for the Eagles that can have a game. Quarterback Landen Lawczak will be forced to get the ball out quick against the Shaker defense. PREDICTION Shaker has been the best team all season. They are
the safe pick. The Bison scored seven more points in their win over Saratoga than Bethlehem allowed in their loss to Saratoga. Stranger things have happened, but it’s hard to pick against the Bison at all in this post season tournament.
FINAL: 42-7, Shaker over Bethlehem
SHENENDEHOWA (31) vs. SCHENECTADY (2-2), 7 p.m. at Shen High School
HOW THEY GOT HERE Shen − Week 1, 20-0 loss to Shen; Week 2, 41-6 win over Colonie; Week 3, 46-7 win over CBA; Week 4, 55-0 win over Bethlehem
Schenectady − Week 1, 38-0 win over Colonie; Week 2, 28-0 loss to CBA; Week 3, 28-7 win over Bethlehem; Week 4, 49-0 loss to Shaker
BY THE NUMBERS Shen kicked things off in Fall II with an opening weekend loss to Shaker. After that loss, however, Shen hasn’t had any issue bullying other Class AA teams in Section II. Shen has outscored opponents 142-33 and their numbers are much more similar to Shaker’s than that week one loss would have you think. The Plainsmen have only allowed 13 points in the last three weeks. Shen’s weapons are pretty numerous with guys like Dyvante Terrelonge, Brody Vincenzi, Michael McElrath, and Kyle Acker being able to pop off at any given moment.
Schenectady is 2-2 this season and have scored 18 less points than they have
allowed all season. Scoring 66 points and allowing 84 isn’t all too bad when compared to other Class AA teams in the section. They allowed the most points to CBA and Shaker, which can also be said about Shen. Seniors Chris Davis and Seven Terry will be leading the way for the Patriots. Other senior leaders for Schenectady are Jah-Sean Haggray, Denzere Woolcock, Jeremiah Davis, and Marquize Barmore. PREDICTION
It’s pretty hard not to pick chalk in the only tournament matchups Friday night but with objectively the two best Class AA teams in Section II playing in the only games it’s fair to say they get the advantage in their respective games.
FINAL: 35-7, Shen over Schenectady
CBA, BYE WEEK
HOW THEY GOT HERE Week 1, 40-0 win over Saratoga; Week 2, 28-0 win over Schenectady; Week 3, 46-7 loss to Shen; Week 4, 30-7 loss to Guilderland BY THE NUMBERS CBA gets to advance with Colonie being sent to quarantine. They were the higher seed in the matchup but it is fair to say all coaches and players in the situation wish they would get the chance to play that playoff match. Instead, they will travel to Burnt Hills for a game to keep rolling and put some work in so as to not sit back.
CBA has been an interesting case study in Fall II. They kicked things off with a 40-0 win over Saratoga.
Dylan Jones, Zach Gregory, and Brenden Simek all looked like they couldn’t be stopped. They rolled that win into another in week two against Schenectady. From there CBA dropped games to Shen and Guilderland to end the regular season at .500. Odds of them meeting Shen, Shaker, or Guilderland in the second round on April 23 are quite high.
GUILDERLAND, BYE WEEK
HOW THEY GOT HERE Week 1, 35-8 win over Bethlehem; Week 2, 3525 loss to Shaker; Week 3, 48-6 win over Colonie; Week 4, 30-7 win over CBA BY THE NUMBERS Guilderland is up on top of Class AA alongside Shaker and Shen in Fall II. The Dutchmen’s only loss this season was to Shaker by just 10 points. They’ve outscored opponents 13856 and roll into the postseason with a dominating win over CBA and then a week off. A Shen and Guilderland matchup has the potential to be a shootout.
Senior Logan Broomhall is leading the Dutchmen from under center and along with weapons like Caleb Jacobson and Jaxson Wicks proving to score big time points. Broomhall has proved to be a threat through the air on the ground and Wicks has been getting to the outside of lines and eating up yards. Guilderland could be the team to give Shen and Shaker a run for their money.