Saratoga looks to Shen for some help
Think about this statement: the Saratoga football team and its fan base will be rooting hard for Shenendehowa to prevail Friday night.
Blue wishing well upon Green. Who would have thought it possible?
Anyone that knows anything about the rivalry in all sports between Saratoga and Shenendehowa realizes its takes an extraordinary set of circumstances for one program to be wanting success for the other.
But that is exactly what the Blue Streaks’ football team will be doing Friday. First, of course, Saratoga (2-1 league and overall) must take care of its road contest at Bethlehem (2-1).
Saratoga had a chance to knock off Shaker on Friday, but several big plays from the Blue Bison helped them hold off the Blue Streaks 48-28 in Week 3. Shaker (3-0) now plays host to Shenendehowa (3-0) on Friday night in a showdown of the only two remaining undefeated Class AA squads in the area.
Since Saratoga already lost to Shaker and still has a date remaining at Shenendehowa in Week 8, any hope of landing a No. 1 seed in the newly formed playoff system with four teams revolves around a Shenendehowa win. If Shaker prevails Friday, it would own decisions over two of its main rivals with a Week 5 contest at home vs. Guilderland (2-1) upcoming.
Friday’s contest in Latham features the top two scoring offensive units in Class AA. Shenendehowa is averaging an impressive 41.3 points per game, yet that pales in comparison to Shaker. The Blue Bison, coming off a season-low 48 points vs. Saratoga, averages 60 points per game.
Tortello nearly perfect
After enjoying a sophomore campaign at quarterback with relatively few distractions in his way when he wanted to throw, Holy Trinity quarterback Joe Tortello knew he was spoiled by having an all-senior starting offensive line to operate in front of him in 2017.
The Pride certainly reaped the rewards as Tortello threw 39 touchdown passes — a Section II record — in leading Holy Trinity to the Class C state final and a program-best 11-2 campaign.
This season’s second game for Tortello is one he would like to forget as he was under siege
often when he attempted to throw as the Pride dropped a 35-17 home verdict against Cambridge/salem.
Tortello was sacked three times against the Indians and finished just 8-for-15 passing for 115 yards and two interceptions.
Determined to produced a huge bounce-back performance, Tortello exceeded his own expectations Saturday with a career-best outing when the junior quarterback completed 18 of 19 passes for 403 yards and eight touchdowns to lead the Pride past Canajoharie/fort Plain 56-20 in Class C Central Division play.
The lone incompletion from Tortello was a dropped pass.
“He was on, for sure,” Holy Trinity coach John Barber said.
Barber challenged his thirdyear starting quarterback to raise his level after the loss to Cambridge/salem.
Tortello responded with his best showing of his career.
“We got on him during the week about getting set in the pocket and getting his feet set to throw the ball. That’s what he did,” Barber said. “He worked on it during the week. One of the long touchdown passes to Noah (Foster), Joe got hit right after he threw it. He hung in there and just threw the ball well all afternoon. What he did was impressive.”