Streaks play big in the trenches
Offensive line a key to Saratoga Springs’ success
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Saratoga Springs football remained undefeated after beating Ballston Spa 39-0 last week. It was the Blue Streaks’ second straight shutout.
Senior center Demetri Swan a big part of the win that helped Saratoga Springs clinch its division.
“That was a huge win because it clinched the Empire Division, got the No. 1 seed, which brings us back home for playoffs,” Swan said. “We are very excited about that, got a nice home crowd waiting for us, and we are going to keep rolling and stay focused.”
This week, the team looks to go undefeated in the Empire division with a game against Albany.
Saratoga coach Terry Jones said that last week was a good win with the injuries the team had to fight through.
“It is the old cliché, next man up, and we had that situation last week, we have it in a few spots this week as well and possibly for the foreseeable future,” Jones said. “I think the biggest difference was Jake Williams getting the opportunity to get his first start at quarterback. As the game went on you saw him get more and more comfortable and show his ability. The touchdown pass to Carter Steingarber was perfect. He rushed for two touchdowns and the nice thing he had was the linemen in front of him were healthy and that is the same line we started with all year. The guys who were out there at running back, even though some of them don’t have a great deal of experience, they are all kids who have played around them. That was the biggest surprise, not in how he played, but how successful he was able to be in that circumstance. Because you are a sophomore starting in that position, on the road and we couldn’t have been more impressed and proud of the way he played.”
One of the keys to the success of Saratoga this season has been the offensive line’s ability to allow the offense to make plays. Whether a run play or a pass, the offensive line has given which ever quarterback and the running backs are behind them
to find openings in the defense.
Jones, who runs the offense for Saratoga, said the offensive line is where the game is won or lost.
“I don’t care how good your backs are, I don’t care how good your quarterbacks and receivers are, if you can’t run the football and you don’t have time to throw the football, those skill positions aren’t going to much matter,” Jones said. “When you have an offensive line that will perform their alignments, their assignments, and execute those assignment and then you put good backs behind them, a good quarterback behind them, it makes you a pretty powerful weapon. The guys execute their assignments, they communicate well with each other and over the course of the year they have certainly gotten more comfortable. We have three new starters on the offensive line this year. It takes a little while to gel, feel comfortable with each other and get an understanding of what the other person is going to do and I think we are there. I think they have grown well, worked well and certainly Kevin Toote and Demetri Swan, the returning guys have certainly helped. It allows our skill kids to shine, which I think we have seen.
“We have had big games out of (starting quarterback Wes Eglintine) throwing the football, we have had big games out of Wes running the football, we have had big games out of (starting running back Cam Adams) running the ball, guys receiving the ball and then last week we had big games out of Ashtone Capone and Nick Frank and that is what you want to see. When your offensive line is performing a lot of times you can plug people in and get the results we have been seeing.”
Swan, Saratoga’s senior center who is in his second year of starting, said getting the plays to be a success and helping his team up the field is big for him and the rest of his line.
“It is very satisfying when we run a play, like counter or jag, and we see our running back run for 30 yards or even a touchdown,” Swan said. “You get that satisfaction out of it knowing that you worked hard and your running back scored. Then we go into the end zone, give him a little pat on his back for running the ball hard and then get to the sideline.”
This week is spirit week for Saratoga and with that comes the possibilities of distractions.
Jones said that with different events going on every day, a pep rally and a dance on Saturday, Saratoga’s key to a win will be staying focused on what they have been doing week in and week out.
“They have an opportunity here to finish the Empire Division with a perfect record and that is our goal right now,” Jones said. “Albany is a program that has struggled a bit this season, but you watch them on film, they have certainly shown that they are capable of performing well. Our job is to perform at our ability and everything will take care of itself and that is what the kids need to do this week, block out the distractions of everything else that is going on. I have told them that if they really want to celebrate and enjoy homecoming, it needs to start with a win on the field Friday night. That is our focus, that is our goal and we will see how they do.”
Swan said he believes that Albany will fight in this game, but Saratoga will fight for the win.
“I think they are going to fight hard and they are not going to give up,” Swan said. “They are a tough program, tough kids and I think they are going to give it all they got and they are going to bring us what they have. If they can have a chance and an opportunity to ruin our homecoming, they are going to try to do that, but I don’t think we are going to let them.”