Burnt Hills solid in 50-7 win over Amsterdam
BURNT HILLS, N.Y. » Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake football managed to bring the offense and defense to the game against Amsterdam and take a big 50-7 win to stay undefeated on the season.
“We came out and we were able to get some momentum, which is nice,” Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake football Coach Matt Shell said. “Fundamentally, I thought we played a solid game, a couple things here and there were wrong, but that happens. We are real happy with how they performed for four quarters.”
Burnt Hills scored first on their opening drive. Burnt Hills quarterback Darien LaPietro managed to work the ball down the three yard and get the ball to Jacob Stanko, who ran it in for the touchdown and the early 7-0 lead.
DJ Lashley scored for the Spartans on their second drive of the game, breaking through the defense and working the ball into the end zone from 44 yards out to bring it to 14-0 after one quarter
Amsterdam made it game a by scoring two plays later with Deathony Colon hitting Louis Fedullo for a 28 yard touchdown pass, making them trail by a touchdown 14-7.
It was all Burnt Hills from there.
LaPietro managed to work the ball down the field again and hit Michael Levan for a 31 yard touchdown pass and the 21-7 score at halftime.
In the first play of the second half, Stanko started it with a 46 yard run, Vincent Daviero ran for another four, Bryce Mussen pounded it in for two more yards and Stanko finished it off with an eight yard run for the touchdown and the 28-7 lead.
The Spartans worked over the Rams defense and picked off Colon’s pass. Lashley cut in front of the receiver and on the next drive the team scored again.
“Interceptions are momentum swings and that is a big play,” Shell said. “You knock it down and they punt and we get in our offense, but we intercepted it, which brings a different excitement to the play. When you have that excitement in your favor it is just a momentum thing. Sports in general, momentum are huge and the momentum from the explosive play that DJ was able to create gives your offense that momentum.”
Stanko ran it in again from 37 yards out, for his third touchdown of the game and the 35-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Shell said he is happy with how his running backs have performed this season and how strong his offense has been.
“He is a tough runner and he has very good instincts,” Shell said of Stanko. “He has really good vision and when you have that type of package it is tough to handle. He really likes to compete and he is a pretty special player. It is also nice to have a full back that runs tough inside and let the outside develop a little bit as well. I am real happy with all the backs because it allows each to bring different strengths to the table which allows you to be pretty effective.” Daviero got the ball in the Spartans’ first drive of the fourth quarter and pound it in from four yards out for the 43-7 lead after a missed extra point.
Cameron Rhodes took over on the next drive of the game at quarterback and get it to Ryan Stone, who ran it in from four yards out for the 50-7 score and the win.
Burnt Hills stays undefeated on the season and looks like a strong contender to make it far into the playoffs.
“We have to want to compete,” Shell said. “We have to look forward and I talk about it all the time with the willingness to compete. Fundamentally, we need to get better. That is no different than any team I have had, we also talk about fundamentals. The willingness and the want to compete is huge going forward.”