PLAYOFF TIME
Local teams hit the gridiron for the first round of the playoffs Friday night and Saturday afternoon
TROY, NY >> For every class but Class AA, local high school football teams kick off post season competition this week. While some teams enter undefeated and ready to compete for not only a sectional title, but a state title, some teams enter excited to have the chance to even still be playing.
Let’s take a look at all the local teams competing this weekend to live another day.
CLASS A
Troy, 6-1 (6-0) vs. Scotia, 4-3 (3-3)
The top seed in the Capital Division will take on the fourth seed in the Grass Division Friday night at 7 pm.
The Flying Horses, who were undefeated against Class A opponents this season, come in after last week’s 42-8 win over Albany. Troy is led by Xavier Leigh, who has scored 17 touchdowns this season. Along with Leight, Xavier Ward and Makai Cruel contribute to a ground attack that looks to climb back on top of all of Class A.
For Scotia, the Tartans enter the postseason on the back of a 28-7 win over Gloversville last week. Scotia’s win last week
out them over .500 for the second time this season.
The last time the two teams met in the first round last season as Troy handled the Tartans to a 14-7 win. Troy took a 14-0 lead before halftime and never gave the lead up from there.
Averill Park, 5-2 (5-1) vs. Burnt Hills, 4-3 (4-2)
Averill Park comes in as the second seed in the Capital Divison and Burnt Hill is the third seed in the Grasso Division. Burnt Hills was last season’s Section II, Class A Champion.
This season, Averill Park comes in with a ton of experience and talent in hopes to compete for the Section title. Joe Milanese leads the scoring with 11 touchdowns, with quarterback Anthony Childrose right behind him with ten. Dan McShane adds eight touchdowns of his own to that total.
Averill Park is outscoring opponents 241-118 this season. The Warriors only Class A loss was to Troy, 3420. Last week, Averill Park fell to Shen 33-6 to end their regular season.
For Burnt Hills, Caeden LaPietro will be expected to have a big game as the Spartan’s leading scorer with ten touchdowns.
The Spartans outsocred opponents 198-93 this season, but ended the regular season with a 28-12 loss to Queensbury, who the Spartans beat last season for the Section title.
Queensbury beat Averill Park last season 53-18 in the section semifinal.
Ballston Spa, 5-2 (5-1) vs. Amsterdam, 5-2 (4-2)
The Ballston Spa Scotties play host to the Amsterdam Rams Friday night at 7 p.m. The Scotties are the second seed in the Grasso
Division and Amsterdam comes in as the third seed in the Capital.
Ballston Spa comes in after a 42-6 win over South Glens Falls last week. The Scotties put up 14 points in each of the first three quarters to give themselves a comfortable lead in that win.
Ballston Spa plays a spread out offense, with Aiden Thomas and Daid Rodak leading the way with four touchdowns apiece. James Prastio, CJ Guarino, and Tyler Beverly each have scored three touchdowns. Ballston Spa is outscoring opponents 215-84 this season.
Ballston Spa’s only Class A loss was to Queensbury in the first week of the season.
Amsterdam can not be taken lightly despite being the third seed in the Capital Division. The Rams are outscoring opponents 199132 this season with Peyton Ausfield totalling 16 touchdowns this year. Last week the Rams beat La Salle 2119 to clinch the third seed for the Division.
Queensbury, 7-0 (6-0) vs. La Salle Institute, 4-2 (3-2)
Queensbury will host La Salle Saturday at 1:30. Queensbury is the only undefeated team in Section II, Class A and get the opportunity to not only host the first round matchup, but will have home field advantage until the Class A Super Bowl.
Queensbury has rolled all season. Their closest matchup was in week one when they beat Ballston Spa by four points. The Spartans have outscored opponents 281-102 and Jason Rodriguez leads the team with 22 touchdowns. Rodriguez leads Section II, Class A in total points, rushing yards, and total touchdowns.
Last week Queensbury beat Burnt Hills 28-12 last week.
For La Salle, they are coming off last week’s loss to Amsterdam that made them the fourth seed in the Capital, forcing them to face the undefeated Queensbury in the first round.
Traydon Lawrence leads the Cadets with 11 touchdowns. La Salle is outscoring opponents 175-124 thanks to Lawrence, Bo Catherwood, and Eddie Yamin.
CLASS B
Schuylerville, 6-1 (5-1) vs. Cobleskill, 4-3 (4-2)
Schuylerville hosts Cobleskill Friday night at 7 pm as the second seed of the North Division. Cobleskill comes in as the third seed in the Reinfurt Division.
Schuylerville is outscoring opponents 220-76 while Cobleskill is outscoring opponents 193-159.
Schuylerville comes into the first round after a 41-13 win over Mohonasen last week. Cobleskill beat Hudson 32-6 last week.
Glens Falls, 7-0 (6-0) vs. Hudson, 3-4 (2-4)
Glens Falls hosts Hudson Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Glens Falls enters the playoffs as the unbeaten in Class B, Section II and the first seed in the North Divison. The defending Class B State Champs are riding this season, outscoring opponents 331-78. Griffin Woodell leads the Indians with 20 touchdowns.
Hudson enters the first round matchup as the fourth seed in the Reinfurt Division. The Blue Hawks are being outscored 205155 this season by opponents. Hudson fell to Cobleskill last week 32-6.
Holy Trinity, 6-1 (4-1) vs. Broadalbin-Perth, 4-3 (4-2)
Holy Trinity hosts Broadalbin-Perth Saturday at 1 p.m.
Holy Trinity, the second seed in the Reinfurt Division, is coming into the first round off of a 35-22 loss to Schalmont, the first seed in the Reinfurt Division. Holy Trinity is outscoring opponents 336-119 this season as Noah Foster leads the scoring with 19 touchdowns.
Broadalbin-Perth in the third seed in the North Division as they come into the playoffs on the back of a 34-28 win over Lansingburgh. The Patriots are being outscored 164-156 by opponents.
CLASS C
Stillwater, 7-0 (6-0) vs. Granville, 4-2 (3-2)
Stillwater hosts Granville Friday night at 7 p.m. Stillwater is the only unbeaten in Class C and is the first seed coming out of the Central Divison. Granville is the eighth seed in Class C, they come from the North Division.
Cambridge/Salem, 6-1 (50) vs. Voorheesville, 5-2 (3-2)
Cambridge-Salem hosts Voorheesville on Saturday at 1 p.m. Cambridge-Salem is the second seed in Class C out of the North Division. Voorheesville is the seventh seed in Class C, and they play in the South Division.
Watervliet, 5-2 (4-0) vs. Tamarac, 4-2 (3-2)
Watervliet hosts Tamarac Friday at 7 p.m. Watervliet is the third seed as they come out leading the South Division. Tamarac is the sixth seed in Class C and come from the North Division.
CLASS AA
Class AA is in their final week of the regular season. Shaker has locked up the first seed as the only undefeated team and face Colonie to end their season. Shen clinches the second seed as they play rival Saratoga Friday night.
The third and fourth seeds have yet to be decided between Bethlehem, Guilderland, Christian Brothers Academy, and Schenectady.
All four of them face each other in the final week. Both CBA and Schenectady are 4-3 and Guilderland and Bethlehem are 5-2. The winners of their games are guaranteed a playoff spot, the losers are out. Guilderland owns the tiebreaker over Bethlehem and Schenectady, meaning they would be the third seed if they were to beat CBA.